Fusion cuisine is a wonderful, wonderful thing–it allows us to enjoy the flavors from several different cultures all on one plate…and discover new taste adventures along the way! For this dish, I used the idea of the Mexican quesadilla to provide a platform for Moroccan flavors. The spice mixture–za’atar–is a simple mix of sesame seeds, [...]
Rather than being a daily chore, cooking can be a daily stress-reliever: you can use your time in the kitchen to express your creativity, to unwind after a long day, to gain immediate satisfaction from serving healthy food to yourself and others…or all three! Here are some tips to help you enjoy your [...]
This hearty pasta salad makes a quick lunch or dinner–by the time you’re done boiling the pasta, the vegetables will almost be ready! Just be sure to add the spinach only during the last minute of cooking the noodles so that they’re still bright and fresh instead of dull and wilted. And for [...]
Here’s a lush breakfast treat: a banana-flaxseed smoothie. Only having three ingredients makes it simple, the combination of organic milk (or non-dairy milk) and banana makes it velvety-smooth, and the flaxseeds give it a nice boost of flavor. They also lend the smoothie a healthy dose of omega-3s since flaxseeds are higher in omega-3s than [...]
Continue reading about France Has Bordeaux, You Have Bananas
Wild rice is an aquatic plant that’s native to North America. Along with maize (a.k.a. corn), wild rice is our claim to fame in the cereal world. (“Cereal” meaning any type of edible grasses cultivated for their seeds; these grains are named after Ceres, the Roman goddess of the harvest.) Like brown [...]
Nothing satisfies during the winter months like soup…and nothing could be as simple. Homemade soup is also satisfying, nutritious, and makes great leftovers! An hour (or less) of simmering can result in several days’ worth of meals that can be savored for the next 2-3 days. You can also freeze individual portions [...]
Spices have always made the world go ’round: during the Greco-Roman era, the Incense Route (which stretched from Egypt to India) played host to traders buying and selling spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, and cardamom; during the Middle Ages, the key players in the spice commerce were Arab traders and the Republic of Venice. [...]
Cabin fever strikes again! This time, I’ve paired shrimp with avocado and mango to escape the winter blues. This salad is refreshing for the tongue and for the eyes…and with the protein and calcium from the shrimp, the antioxidants from the mangoes, the fiber and good fat from the avocadoes, and the omega-3s from the [...]
When we’re in the thick of winter and staring at a snow-drenched landscape, it’s nice to add a bit of tropical flair to our menu. One of my favorite instant-tropics ingredients to use is coconut milk–I love to crack open a can and find different ways to enjoy my pseudo-Caribbean-holiday.
Regarding coconut oil, coconut milk, [...]
Gluten is a protein found in wheat and some other grains–it’s what gives bread its springy, chewy character. Many people are discovering, however, that they have an allergy/intolerance to gluten. While I’m fortunate enough to able to eat any grains that catches my eye, some of my dinner guests cannot…and besides, I enjoy [...]
