Cookies are a big part of the holiday season. We all have our favorites along with those nostalgic family recipes. Usually when I bake a fresh batch, the family scarfs them up quickly, but I have clever, crafty way to preserve some of that holiday spirit — cookie ornaments.
You can’t miss all the turkey talk happening right now, which is great for people who eat meat, but there are plenty of us who celebrate the holidays meat-free. Well, this stew recipe is for you.
The holidays are right around the corner. With them come big parties and lots of guests — some unexpected. I thought I’d share a few healthy holiday appetizers that are a cinch to make and won’t add to that dreaded holiday weight gain. Believe me, your friends will have no idea these are lighter choices.
I refuse to believe my clients when they tell me they don’t like Brussels sprouts. My response is always to ask two questions:
1. Have you ever tried them?
2. Have you ever tried them properly prepared? That is, not out of a can or overcooked!
Fall is my favorite food time of the year. I absolutely love the warm, comforting flavors of winter squash and root vegetables. Butternut squash is often on our dinner table because its mild sweetness and creamy texture work well with many dishes.
This cassoulet, based off a traditional sausage-and-bean stew from France, features my beloved butternut squash. The squash provides loads of nutrients: beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and fiber to name a few. Along with the beans, the chicken sausage packs a protein (and flavor) punch without going overboard on fat.
This one’s not for a speedy weeknight meal, but you can get it on the table in an hour or so.
It’s almost Halloween and pumpkins are everywhere you look, but they’re not just for carving. Fresh pumpkin — including the seeds — is a great addition to many recipes. Here are two of my top savory dishes: Pumpkin and Butternut Squash Soup and Roasted Salmon with Pumpkin Seed Chimichurri.
The average person should only eat 1,500 to 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day – that’s about one teaspoon max. Instead, most folks are overdoing it – no thanks to packaged foods that include loads of sodium for enhancing flavor and preserving.
But salt doesn’t need to be an enemy. When you cook at home, a dash from your own shaker can really boost a dish, and if you’re mindful, you don’t have to go entirely without. That plain table salt isn’t your only option either – all the varieties come with different flavors, textures and unique nutritional values.
We often talk about the health benefits of dark, leafy greens, but what about seaweed? Sea vegetables top the list of nutrient-dense veggies.
Canned tuna is pantry staple in my house because it works as the foundation for many quick and easy meals, including this tuna and white bean salad. I toss in a few fresh ingredients, and you’d never know dinner came from a can.
You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again — breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating it kick-starts your metabolism, improves your concentration and can even help you maintain a healthy weight. But, yes, busy schedules mean we don’t always make the time.
Your day’s first dish doesn’t have to be elaborate — just make sure it packs a powerful punch. If you’re breakfast wary, check out four of my favorite standbys for the busy workweek.
The woman shooting for 1,000 pounds is choosing an expensive form of suicide that we're probably paying the tab on. Really, it's not that different from a mom deciding to smoke four packs a day. We all know how it's going to end. But a smoker can still go to work, etc. I'd be interested to know if that woman is on disability due to her weight and where the money comes from for her massive binges. I hate the idea of taxpayers paying her to kill herself.