This is not the time of year to turn on the oven or stove. But that’s not going to stop me. The tomatoes are starting to ripen, and it’s time to celebrate. You don’t need more than a knife and a cutting board for this recipe. It’s simple, and it’s oh-so-much-more than the sum of its ingredients. Continue reading
Tag Archives: tomatoes
Let the Growing Season Begin!
The first time I joined a community-supported agriculture (CSA), almost ten years ago, its kickoff late on a Thursday afternoon sent me racing out of the office at the end of the day. The first week’s bounty included lettuce greens, herbs, onions, kohlrabi, radishes. Adults chatted and children hopped around like happy rabbits as we waited for strawberries to arrive. After a long winter, we all hungered for fresh food. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Tomato Quinoa Risotto
The most important part of this beautiful dish is the gorgeous tomatoes. First find the tomatoes, and then organize the rest of your ingredients. The rest will all come together beautifully once the tomatoes are chosen.
Plan to make this recipe only if you’re going to be around to keep your eye on it. It’s a great choice for a small group of friends planning to spend the day together and looking for something special to make. It goes great with a mixed green salad and a glass of wine. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Armenian Vegetable Stew
If you’re starting to think ahead, and you’ve got time to stop at the produce section, then try this gorgeous stew. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Oven-Dried Grape Tomatoes
At the farmer’s market this past Sunday morning, I brought home a bucketful of tomatoes for this recipe. It’s simple, elegant, and (most importantly) out of this world! And it keeps you in tomatoes for just a little while longer… Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Ratatouille Pasta
Here’s something special to make with a group of friends on a weekend evening. Give everyone an assignment, along with a glass of wine, and it will all come together in no time! Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Rustic Zucchini Layered with Tomatoes
A long time ago, I spent an exciting albeit exhausting day climbing inside the Pyramids at Giza. Later that night, I ate a dish just like this in a restaurant in Cairo. Having worked up quite an appetite, my memories of that meal are layered through with the sounds of noisy waiters and clanging pots, the smart smack of pottery plates being gathered to and from tables, and the sight of dozens of cats walking silently above us on the ceiling beams of that busy restaurant. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Tabouleh Like You’ve Never Seen It!
I’m still collecting recipes for July 4th! This particular tabouleh is a Mediterranean masterpiece! If you’ve never tried sumac and za’atar, you are in for a treat — packed with phytonutrients and flavor, they make for a major mouth rush! If you don’t have any and you’re not inclined to go find some, then just substitute a teaspoon of thyme and don’t give it another second’s thought. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Smoky Tofu and Black Bean Chili
You probably know that I’m a big fan of beans! Rich in both fiber and protein, they are truly the magical fruit. Here’s an unusual recipe in that it features not just one but TWO (black beans and tofu, from soybeans) different kinds of beans! Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Rice & Collards Soup
Last year I was asked to give a talk on vitamins and minerals. For lack of a more inspired approach, I decided to go in alphabetical order, plodding through all these micronutrients like an elementary school teacher. As part of the talk I shared ideas for good sources of the various vitamins and minerals. To my delight and surprise, I discovered that greens were a source of almost every vitamin I mentioned! Who knew? Greens even have tons of orange and yellow nutrients, like beta-carotene. The dark green pigment hides the lighter ones, but they’re still there. Continue reading