Raise a hand if you’re often bored with the food that shows up on your plate. While a little boredom here and there is fairly common and not too worrisome, a steady diet of boring meals is actually dangerous. That’s because boring meals can leave us feeling “blah,” rather than satisfied, comforted and nourished after … Read more
You’ve heard that wild caught salmon is better than farm-raised, both for humans and the environment. For some people, however, wild-caught salmon can taste dry and tough because it doesn’t have the fat content of farm-raised salmon. One solution: Cooking it “en papillote,” a fancy French term for cooking “in a paper packet,” which gently … Read more
Squashes and Roots Winter is the time for hard squashes as well as root vegetables like beets, carrots, rutabagas, potatoes, celery root, turnips and parsnips. They are at their flavorful best in winter and are also more affordable. As part of my winter farm share from Monroe Organic Farm, I get lots of squash and … Read more
To my taste buds, asparagus is high royalty in the vegetable kingdom. So what fun to go on a harvesting expedition last week at my CSA farm, Monroe Organic Farm. About 20 members wandered the field, absorbed in spying the green shoots camouflaged among alfalfa and tall grasses. It was almost like a meditation as … Read more
“Purpose-Driven” and “Mission-Driven” are hot concepts these days. Even big consulting firms like Deloitte have been touting their benefits. Now our new Covid reality seems to be sparking some soul-searching for purpose and mission on a personal level. I’m wondering if that should include our food lives. Do we have a good sense of what … Read more
It’s the last day of August, but summer isn’t over yet–and neither is summer’s bounty of produce. In fact, September is a banner time of year for produce. So it’s a great time to boost your vegetable intake and get ready for leaner days. This cooler is a fun way to get in more vegetables–it’s … Read more
Trying to cut calories and save time by skipping breakfast? It seems like an easy and harmless way to “save” on calories. You don’t have time for breakfast anyway, and it will be lunchtime before you know it. What could be wrong with the idea? Actually there are 8 Big Reasons why it’s a bad … Read more
The perfect go-to recipe: a one-dish meal made with convenient ingredients so it’s both flavorful and fast. Perfect for busy and hectic nights, including post-vacation meal crises. Step 1: Simmer Tempeh and Kale 1 cup water 1 Tbsp. soy sauce 8 oz. pkg. unflavored tempeh, cut horizontally into 1/4” strips and then vertically into … Read more
Leeks are a great cool-weather vegetable. They are members of the onion family but are milder and sweeter than regular onions. Because they are more tender and mild, however, they can burn more easily and therefor must be cooked more gently, generally on lower heats for longer times. While in this recipe they are quickly … Read more
Late autumn is the time for kale. It’s a “cool weather crop,” which means that it tastes best when grown and harvested in cooler temps. However, even then it will still have a little of kale’s characteristically strong flavor. That’s why, no matter the season, I like to pair kale with the mild creaminess of … Read more