The blustery, chilly days of March have me thinking about hearty potato dishes, especially this “fusion style” potato soup. I was skeptical of it at first, since it included Indian spices (coriander and turmeric) along with western herbs (rosemary and thyme,) and then Asian-y coconut milk. Could that much fusion really work? It did for … Read more
I got some panicked responses after a newsletter that included crackers on the list of processed foods that aren’t such good friends on the health journey. As one reader emailed: “Crackers are bad? Say it ain’t so Mary! I’m such a cracker scooper!” Indeed, what could be wrong with crackers? They’re not filled with sugar … Read more
I get a farm share that always features a lot of beets. They are delicious of course, but I’ve been scratching my head for some new uses. My latest idea: a twist on tuna salad. Amounts are approximate; adjust for your tastes. Serves 1 1/2 cup roasted beet matchsticks 3/4 cup sliced celery 1/2 cup … Read more
I think it’s fair to say that I have A LOT of garlic! It all came courtesy of my farm share, but I don’t mind a bit. Garlic is a great addition to almost any dish and can be expensive at the grocery store. The variety in my garlic stash is called hardneck because of … Read more
In addition to being new in the kitchen and thinking, Meal Making Transformation is about being new in our cooking, which means getting comfortable with simple basic techniques, like vegetable roasting. Do you harbor bad feelings about Brussels sprouts? If so, there’s a good chance your Brussels trauma got embedded at a young age, at … Read more
There must be 20 different ways to cook eggs! Here’s a technique I learned from a Japanese friend. I always slice the crepes into thin strips to top a salad or stir-fry, like the salad with Warming Tahini Sauce pictured above. But now I want to experiment using them as a wrap. Any ideas for … Read more
A few weeks ago I watched a fascinating series called The Healing Kitchen, which shared many traditional and ancestral healing herbs and plants. It reminded me about humble little purslane, a “weed” you see everywhere and walk right by (or on.) Not long after, I was visiting a friend whose front garden bed was filled … Read more
3 Green peppers are in season, as evidenced by the 10 peppers in my farm share box plus 8 more from my garden! Usually I think of using green peppers as a sidekick, e.g., in a breakfast scramble with tomatoes, onions and chiles, in classic Chicken Cacciatore and of course in about every Mexican dish. … Read more
What’s a good way to stay motivated on your healthy eating journey? Have fun. What’s a good way to have fun? Mix things up! Try something new and different! But maybe your meal making enthusiasm is flagging? Here’s a quick fix: crunchy, refreshing jicima. And here is a quick, 6-minute video that explains how to … Read more
Green and Gold Summer Vegetables A big part of Meal Making Transformation is learning how to simplify healthy meal making without sacrificing flavor. Check out the 4 techniques in this picture recipe for bumping up the flavor in of your dishes. Technique #1: Combine Seasonal Color One of the neatest things about seasonal eating is … Read more