roasted smashed potatoes recipe
Everyone thinks it's so funny when I whine that I don't get invited much to peoples' houses for dinner.   There is an assumption that I'm an accomplished chef and I must have such high standards for eating therefore...

tuna patties recipe
Everyone this week was asking about my Mother's Day and I realized I completely forgot to recount the day for my dear readers!  After all, it has been tradition the last couple of years that my husband and bother-in-law...

chocolate peanut butter banana oatmeal smoothie recipe
Most of the time we just call this the Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie.  Mr. Picky says it's his new favorite and he is usually the one to make it.  You should see how many bananas I have to buy to...

savory muffins with spinach, roasted peppers and feta recipe
If you read my last post, you know that we haven't gone out for Mother's Day in several years and this Sunday will be no different.  Truth be told, I couldn't be happier for several already mentioned reasons....

asparagus and artichoke frittata recipe
I was talking to some ladies in one of my classes last week about their plans for Mother's Day.  It turned out to be a really funny conversation and rather interesting to hear how everyone spends the "holiday."  I...

cilantro-lime rice and an unexpected rice and bean burrito bowl
We all love to cook, right?  Ok, maybe some us just like to cook.  And I know that I'm the biggest cheerleader of planning your meals ahead so that dinnertime is stress free and a walk in the park....

tex-mex stuffed sweet potato skins recipe
I know time flies when you're having fun, but these days I think it flies because everything moves at warp speed, whether you're having fun or not.  And sometimes I think it's not very fun when life happens so...

banana “ice cream” sundaes recipe
Although I recently became dairy-free, I haven't been able to eat ice cream for quite some time.  It's a pretty hard-to-digest food even if you make it from scratch, and not one that has agreed with me in many...

mixed berry cobbler recipe (slow cooker version, too!)
Do you know the difference between a crisp, a cobbler, a slump, a grunt and a brown betty?  I hear the terms used interchangeably, when of course, they're not the same at all.  A cobbler has a biscuit topping,...

warm coconut millet porridge recipe
I don't know what has taken me so long to share my favorite breakfast with you.  Although I haven't really been holding out on you since I did snap a picture of this delectable millet porridge a few months ago...

chicken adobo recipe
Well, dear people, all good things come to an end and our trip to England came and went too quickly.  We had such a good time and just as importantly, we traveled there and back in one piece.  But...

moroccan carrot and beet salad recipe
London has been amazing!  Freezing, but amazing!  At least we were prepared with our winter outerwear for the unseasonably cold temperatures.  We have seen so much and the kids have really enjoyed it all.  After our month in Europe...

minted sweet pea dip
In as much as I promote buying and preparing fresh produce, I really have no problem with using frozen sometimes.  Frozen vegetables are supposedly picked at their peak and frozen immediately, allowing less deterioration of nutrients.  I can’t, however,...

tex-mex matzo brei recipe (migas with matzo!)
I used to look forward to Passover when I was a child even though I wasn't Jewish and was never invited to a seder.  But Pathmark and Shop Rite would carry matzo for about 2 weeks around the time...

chocolate banana almond flour muffins with chia seeds recipe (gluten-free & passover friendly)
There's a new (but not really new) diet in town which everyone is talking about called the Paleolithic Diet or Paleo, for short.  Sometimes it's referred to as the Caveman or Hunter-Gatherer Diet and it focuses on the foods...

creamy, dairy-free asparagus soup recipe
I remember growing up in New York and feeling gipped when Spring rolled around.  Why?  Because 90% of the time it was still cold!   My parents told me that last Saturday it was snowing.  Brrrrrr!  Sort of doesn't...

healthful vegan mint chip smoothie recipe
I quietly went dairy-free recently which made me a little bummed out because I love yogurt and feta and Pecorino Romano cheese.  My acupuncturist was begging me for years to break up with dairy once and for all so...

st. patty’s day pancakes recipe
My favorite green holiday is coming up which is funny since I'm not one iota Irish, I don't drink booze nor do I eat beef.  But I look forward to St. Patrick's Day so I can take all the...

asian slaw recipe
I love salads and have since I was a kid.  Give me a good basic vinaigrette and I will come up with the craziest salad combinations.  Whatever I have in the refrigerator or the pantry is fair game....

slow cooker white bean soup with sausage and collard greens recipe (stovetop version, too)
I know so many of you are fighting cold weather and stuffy noses, so I thought I would share with you a new favorite soup in our house.  My friend and student Lynette gave me the recipe because it...

baked berry oatmeal recipe
My favorite thing about the weekends and vacations is lingering over breakfast.  Weekdays are (sadly) so rushed that we don't really have more than 10 minutes to sit down and enjoy our morning meal.  Not only are we lacking...

how to segment citrus fruit
Right now is probably not the most exciting time of the year for fruit, even in Southern California.  Sure, we have amazing citrus coming our of our ears, but that’s pretty much it.  Pomegranates and persimmons just finished.  Even...

even easier homemade almond milk recipe
I know I've already posted a How-to-Make-Almond-Milk-from-Scratch recipe.  In fact, I gave you three different versions!  But my how-to involves slipping the skins off the soaked almonds before blitzing them in your blender which is really no big...

slow cooker whole chicken and stock recipe
Daughter #2 asked me the other day if I was "ever going to put that thing away?"  She was referring to my slow cooker, of course.  Not that Daughter #2 is complaining since she's the first one to the...

mini flourless chocolate cakes recipe
The last school the kids attended allowed cupcakes with 2-inch high thick blue frosting to be handed out at 10:30 am on your child's birthday.  And if I do the math, that was about two birthdays every month.  The...

creamy polenta recipe
People have asked me (actually one person in particular, i.e. my Italian-born father) why I don't have more pasta recipes on my site or on my class menus.  I know everyone loves pasta and it's super easy to...

slow cooker vegetarian chili with sweet potatoes (stovetop version, too!)
As I type this, my slow cooker has been on for 36 hours straight.  Is that allowed?  I am officially obsessed and I completely understand why you all have been too while I was under a little rock.  Wow!...

broccoli stalk soup recipe
This month I've been teaching a broccoli and cauliflower stir-fry in my classes.  I am using only the florets since I know the stalks aren't as popular in my house.  It's all very well and good, except for the...

slow cooker chicken tacos recipe
You have all waited patiently while my life changed with the arrival of my slow cooker.  Apparently, I am very late to this party.  I had no idea there was this...

kiwi salsa recipe
Have you ever looked at recipe and thought there was an ingredient that could be omitted no big deal?  But then afterwards you realize that maybe it was there for a reason.  I swear I don't think I zested...

spinach pizza quesadilla recipe
When I am hungry, I am not picky.  I can find a lot of different options in my refrigerator or pantry that will do the trick.  Give me last night's roasted sweet potato or a couple dates stuffed with...

stir-fried soba noodles with vegetables and tofu
You know what's harder than sticking to new year's resolutions?  Getting back into a normal routine after you've had a very leisurely vacation away from home.  After two weeks of no mail, no work (sort of), no carpools, and...

millet-cauliflower mash recipe
Don't change that dial!  I know what's happening here.  You see the word "millet" and all of a sudden you need to go wash your hair instead of reading the rest of this post.  You think it's bird seed...

italian wedding soup recipe
I love new beginnings and thankfully we have so many opportunities to start fresh.  For me, the first day of school, beginning of summer, first day of spring and of course, January 1st are all times of the year...

hot spinach artichoke dip recipe
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas!   Even though you haven't heard from me in a few days, I have been cooking up a storm nonetheless!  We arrived in NY to visit my family and between Christmas...

winter fruit salad recipe
Although I'm not 100% strict about it, I do try my best to eat seasonally as well as locally.  This helps to keep our bodies in harmony with nature, and is more healthful for us as well as the...

raw brussels sprout salad with poppy seed dressing recipe
Good gracious, I do believe Christmas is a mere seven days away.  I should probably get started on that box of holiday cards sitting next to my desk, what do you think?  I also have a couple of gifts...

gluten-free, vegan pear-cranberry tart recipe
Why do so many people go on cleanses on January 2nd?  One word -- SUGAR.  It starts on Halloween with an innocent bite of an Almond Joy and keeps coming until New Years Day with that "one last piece"...

gingerbread cookies recipe
Mr. Picky asked me the other day if I would make cookies with him and I was this close to saying "Not today, sweetie.  I'm too busy."  That would have been absolutely true.  We're all so busy.  I don't know...

cauliflower fritters recipe
"Wow."  That's what I said a few days ago when I woke up and it was December.  DE-CEMBER.  I've got no holiday card in the works yet.  I went to the movies on Black Friday and I worked through...

pumpkin oatmeal recipe
I always thought the strategy stopped once I served Thanksgiving dinner, but I actually think it's just as challenging figuring out how to work efficiently with all the leftovers.  I really detest throwing away food, so I try to...

deer valley-style turkey and black bean chili recipe
Are we having fun yet?!  Good, good.  I have been running around the house yesterday and today like a busy bee, very excited that the big day is almost here.  I'm taking a quick breather from the Thanksgiving marathon...

roasted whole bone-in turkey breast recipe
This is it, friends!  We're in the home stretch and I've got one last recipe to share before the big day.  By now you know I get most excited about the side dishes, but in my classes I spend...

mushroom and leek stuffing recipe
When I married my husband over 17 years ago (gasp!), I was more than excited to start hosting some of the holidays at our new home.  But I soon realized that my husband’s traditions were slightly different from the...

sweet potato casserole recipe
There are a few recipes I make on Thanksgiving that I call “one-hit wonders.”  That is to say I don’t make them on any of the other 364 days in the year.   I’m no fan of stuffing, for...

perfect apple pie recipe
I am teaching Apple Pie in my Thanksgiving classes this month and I thought I really should share the recipe with you too, my dear readers.  Perfect for Thanksgiving or if you're hunkered down watching Election Day coverage tonight....

how to make pie crust
I am a total sucker for seasonal fruit desserts, and pies are no exception, especially in the summer and fall.  But we know each other well enough by now to know that I’m not a big dessert pusher.  I...

harvest chopped salad
Halloween is tomorrow, but to tell you the truth, I don’t make much of an effort to show my “spirit” with cupcakes that look like spiders or swamp slime green Jell-o.     Do my kids really need marshmallow...

how to cook beans from scratch
This is the time of year when I start to make more bean-based soups and chilis.  And as soon as it stops being 80 degrees around here, I'll get right on that.  Actually, regardless of the season,...

red lentil dal recipe
I think Indian food is very misunderstood in this country.  Many people have the impression it's overly spicy, heavy and greasy.  Perhaps it's because there aren't a plethora of great Indian restaurants here and very often the not-so-great ones...

baked chipotle sweet potato fries recipe
Sweet potato fries have been quite popular in the last few years, usually being touted as a more healthful alternative to regular fries.  I can see why that is believable.  After all, sweet potatoes are much more nutrient-dense than...

provençal goat cheese gratin recipe
If you don’t follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you might have been wondering this week if I fell off the face of the internet.  Believe it or not, I went back to Europe!  Except this time,...

trail mix cookies recipe
Having teenagers is a double-edged sword.  On the one hand, it's kind of cool that my girls are old enough to have adult conversations and share clothes with me.  On the other hand, it bums me out that they...

grain-free cauliflower tabbouleh recipe
We have had some interesting discussions in my classes lately about the latest findings concerning the presence of arsenic in rice.  Arsenic is a chemical element which occurs naturally in water, air, food, and soil.  This natural form...

vanilla and chocolate chia seed pudding recipes
Have you ever bought something that you heard people talking about, that you thought you should start eating and would figure out how to get it into your diet soon but never did, only to have that something sit...

roasted vegetable lasagne recipe
I feel like my universe is in a state of transition right now.  Although I'm sensing this shift in energy in lots of people, not just me.  We've transitioned from vacation to school, about to move from summer to...

kale, mushroom and brown rice bake recipe
Daughter #1 is my 15-year-old who used to turn her nose at her plate if food groups were touching.  So you can imagine how very satisfying it was for me when she sighed, "I could eat Kale, Mushroom and...

farro with roasted vegetables and roasted tomato dressing recipe
We had such a nice Labor Day weekend.  I hope you did, too.  We were able to squeeze in some beach time, family time, yoga (for me) and our annual block party, which was great fun.  The combination of...

zucchini bread pancakes recipe
A few years ago, someone suggested I teach a class with a breakfast menu.  At first I didn't think it was such a good idea because breakfast seems kind of easy, at least too easy to be taught in...

gazpacho with avocado recipe
The kids are going back to school tomorrow, which means that my favorite season is UNofficially over.  No more lazy days and waking up late or reading for pleasure instead of for a test.  Back to making lunches at...

wild fish in parchment with summer herbs recipe
We're baaaack!  What an amazing trip.  The five of us had an unbelievable 3 1/2 weeks together in Europe.  We shared so many great experiences, met interesting people and really grew together as a family.  People have been asking...

grilled panzanella recipe
We are alive and well on our European holiday, although I may need a vacation after we return home!  We met our friends in Berlin a few days ago and have been having the best time.   What a cool,...

nectarine and goat cheese salad with beet dressing recipe
If you don’t follow my Facebook posts or my tweets, you may have started to wonder if I got lost in a medieval castle somewhere between Germany and Russia.  Thankfully I didn’t, but our schedule has been so busy...

blueberry spelt muffins with flax recipe
I have to say, so far our family vacation is going really well!  I have to give much of the credit to my husband who enjoys planning and executing trips like this.  Unlike him, I don’t have the knack...

shrimp with tomatoes, white beans and spinach recipe
Since my husband and I both have our own businesses, a big family vacation hasn't been in the picture for many years.  We never felt that we could take the time off from work or spend the money during...

grilled banana s’mores recipe
I had my first s'more on a girl scout camping trip when I was 12 and I thought it was genius.  I loved that crispy graham cracker paired with a smooshy, slightly burnt marshmallow and the way the...

homemade graham crackers recipe
There are some things that I just don't think are worth making from scratch (like puff pastry) and then there are some things I can't believe can be made from scratch and taste good, like graham crackers.  Wait, not...

grilled mexican corn off the cob recipe
A close second to my obsession with summer tomatoes is my love for fresh locally-grown summer corn.  I think I buy it twice a week from the end of June to October.  I love corn's juicy, grassy sweetness.  I...

fattoush recipe
Is it sweltering where you are?  I would trade places with you.  As I write this it is raining and cold where I live in Southern California.  At the beach.  I want my money back.  Daughter #1, however, is...

eggplant caprese recipe
Ok, my kitchen is more or less back together except for a few cabinets, and I couldn't be happier.  Never mind that every other room in the house has its contents spilled out into random hallways or in the living...

summer garden frittata recipe
While I was away last week, my husband thought it would be a great idea to refinish the cabinets in the kitchen.  No wait, we might as well do all the cabinets in the entire house, he thought to himself.  Why...

pasta with 5-minute cherry tomato sauce
Mr. Picky and I had the most glorious week on Long Island visiting my parents.  My sisters and their kids came to be with us too, so it was quite a full house.   It kind of felt like...

grilled broccolini with lemon-parmesan breadcrumbs recipe
Every food magazine seems to be offering an entire grilling issue this month and for good reason.  In most parts of the country, summer is "the" season for outdoor cooking and grilling is an easy and tasty way to...

peach and blueberry crisp recipe
Were fruit crisps popular 30 and 40 years ago?  I can't recall, but I feel like they started turning up everywhere about 20 years ago.  A fruit crisp was one of the first desserts I ever made on my...

acai bowl recipe
  I am a little bit of a skeptic, I'll admit.  When a new food comes onto the scene claiming to save your life, I have to raise an eyebrow.  One food can't do it all.  If you've noticed, I...

how to make pita chips
One of our favorite snacks is chips, whether it be tortilla or pita.  We enjoy them alone or more often as a dipper for spreads like hummus, white bean dip, tapenade, or my favorite -- "Greek...

lime-soy grilled fish recipe
Do you live in a house where everybody agrees on what should be served for dinner?  Where your favorites are his favorites are their favorites?  Are you that lucky?  No?  Consider your household normal, as is mine and the...

southwestern quinoa salad recipe
Have you ever read a cookbook or food blog where an unbelievable, creative recipe was put together with "odds and ends" from the pantry or produce bin?  I am always in awe of people who can do that.  Those...

whole wheat carrot cake with dairy-free frosting recipe
I was married almost 17 years ago, so I guess it's not crazy that my husband would have forgotten what flavor our wedding cake was.  I'm just surprised, because he was very involved in all decisions.  I know you're...

chickpea burger recipe
If I had to pick one cuisine to stick with for the rest of my life, it would be a tough a call.  But I could easily live off of Mediterranean food every day.  I love the emphasis on...

kale pesto recipe
When I was a child, my family ate pesto all the time in the summer and early fall.  In fact, to me the smell of basil, garlic and cheese in the food processor is synonymous with warm, lazy...

wheat berry salad with lemon-tahini dressing recipe
In a perfect world we would all be eating mostly whole foods, that is foods that came into this world a certain way and stayed that way.  Whole, unprocessed, unrefined foods are more recognizable by our bodies and better...

thai (grass-fed) steak salad recipe (or with chicken)
Oh people.  We are on the brink of my favorite time of year.  A time of backyard barbeques, picnics at the beach, sand between my toes, fresh tomatoes and basil, peach pie, and long nights under starry skies.  Ahhhh,...

how to make almond butter
Why would you need to know how to make almond butter?  After all, you can buy it very easily at the supermarket or even via amazon.  You can pick your pleasure...

no-sugar, no-egg, no-flour breakfast cookie recipe
Most people are not mind readers, so if you have a wish for the perfect Mother's Day, you may need to drop a few hints.  I used to dream of a day where I could relax in my bed...

mexican chopped salad recipe
Very often I have an idea for a recipe and it takes me a few times to get it right.  In fact, usually it takes me more than a few times!  But once in a blue moon, I try...

green rice recipe (arroz verde)
I traditionally teach a Mexican-inspired menu during the month of April so that my students have some fun recipes to cook for their family and friends on Cinco de Mayo.  I am obsessed with Mexican food, so I really...

grilled fish taco recipe
I think you should have a Cinco de Mayo party!  Wouldn't that be fun?  Even if you're not up for hosting a bunch of people next Saturday night, you at least need to prepare some delicious Mexican-inspired food for...

low-sugar strawberry shortcake recipe
Have you ever eaten a piece of fruit and said, "this is the best darn [insert name of fruit here] I ever had"?  I've been saying that daily with strawberries and every time I do, my kids roll their...

gluten-free oatmeal pancake recipe
I have two things on my mind this week -- eating anything that was forbidden during Passover (like grains) and being mindful of our consumption of limited resources with Earth Day coming up on April 22nd.   "How will...

gluten-free millet and shiitake pilaf recipe
I waited several years before I taught a recipe with millet in my classes.  Why?  Because I was afraid.  Afraid my (adult) students wouldn't like it.  Afraid I would turn them off to millet forever.  Afraid I would lose...

egg-free avocado caesar salad recipe
I hope you all had a lovely Easter or Passover holiday.  Ours was so nice thanks to my mother-in-law took care of the meal and all I had to do was show up with desserts.  But now I'm ready...

egg salad recipe and other things you can do with hard boiled eggs
I'm thrilled to have my mother and my 4-year-old niece visiting me this week from New York.  We're having a great time catching up on magazines, tivo'd shows and of course, cooking.  After she read my post the other...

how to make perfect hard boiled eggs
I imagine many of you are getting ready to boil eggs this week, either to decorate for Easter or to include at a Passover seder.  I loved the annual event of dyeing Easter eggs when I was a child....

coconut-almond tart with strawberries recipe
When I was a little girl, I loved any holiday where candy was involved.  I was crazy about sugar and my mother didn't allow many sweet treats in the house, so I really looked forward to those "special occasions."...

baked chicken with artichokes and capers recipe
Something tells me that you organized cooks out there are in the midst of planning your Easter and Passover menus.  Am I right?  My mom had me on the phone the other day trying to get side dish suggestions...

spring green minestrone
I had the best day on Saturday.  Where did I go?  Nowhere!  What did I do?  Nothing!  When was the last time you said you had the best time doing nothing?  I know!  Sometimes I feel like my life...

spinach risotto healthy recipe
I had a bad day recently and what I really wanted to do was inhale a pan of brownies, but I had just published a post about how I beat a sugar addiction and I didn't want to...

spinach and avocado smoothie (aka “leprechaun juice”)
Are you having trouble getting your kids or significant other to eat green food?  If so, your big chance is coming up and I don't want you to miss out. Instead of looking at St. Patrick's Day as a...

turkey meatballs
Have I shared with you that I don't really like meat and poultry all that much?  It's not even for ethical or health reasons.  I just don't enjoy the texture and flavor of animal protein.  I was a pescatarian...

homemade marinara (tomato) sauce
Growing up in an Italian home meant never eating tomato sauce out of a jar.  Ever.  It wasn't until a 6th grade girl scout camping trip when I tasted my first spaghetti and "Ragu" and it was an experience...

coconut rice
Before I started teaching so much, I used to do lots of pantry makeovers and kitchen re-organizations for other people.  Recently, I was helping my friend Jenni organize her pantry and I was completely envious of how it turned out....

spinach and quinoa salad with feta and dill (aka, spanakopita without the guilt)
I know it's still February, but I think a spring bug bit me.  The new strawberries, asparagus, sugar snap peas and artichokes were calling my name last weekend at the farmer's market and I felt myself thinking ahead to...

ginger and honey-glazed carrots
This is always the time of year that I appreciate living in California.  Whereas the ground in my parents' New York garden is still frozen, I am pulling carrots out of mine.  Joy!  I planted a new variety this...

miso soup
I think the reason I started cooking at such a young age is because I love to eat good food.  My mother was and is a terrific cook, but she didn't have time or the interest to really experiment...

“special occasion” chicken pot pie and other ideas for a delicious valentine’s day
Chicken pot pie is one of my family's favorite meals and this recipe, adapted from The Loaves and Fishes Cookbook, is the best one I've ever tried.  Pot pie falls in my "10%," that is 90% of the...

easy-peasy chocolate tofu pudding
We used to celebrate Valentine's Day a little differently than we do now.  It was also the one holiday of the year where I was off the hook.  My husband took care of the dinner reservation and the flowers,...

chicken and avocado soup
Even though I'm a big football fan and I love a good game (especially when my team wins), when it's over, it's over.  Whether the outcome of the game is favorable or unfavorable, life goes on and so do...

cornbread (with quinoa!)
Let me just start out with a disclaimer -- I am not from the South.  I am a Yankee, which means I like my cornbread with half cornmeal and half flour and a drop of sweet and that's that....

roasted vegetable and black bean enchiladas verdes (and a casserole version!)
A few weeks ago, six other families and mine planned to get together for a pot luck at my friend Lana's house.  One of the families keeps kosher, so we decided to go with a fish and dairy meal....

sesame roasted cauliflower with nori
This recipe is embarrassingly simple. It's so simple, I wasn't sure if I should even teach it in a class, let alone dedicate a whole post to it. But when I mentioned this to my students this month, they...

stir-fried grass-fed beef and broccoli
Happy Chinese New Year! Mr. Picky is very excited to celebrate the holiday at his school today and the girls are happy that I'll be making a Chinese meal for dinner tonight. I'm fun that way! My whole family...

overnight steel cut oatmeal recipe
We eat a lot of oatmeal in this house for so many reasons. It is nutritious, filling, inexpensive and incredibly easy to make.  Oatmeal is high in soluble fiber (the kind that helps reduce the absorption of cholesterol by...

creamy miso-ginger dressing
When I was at Whole Foods the other day, at I was amazed by the dozens of people cradling ingredients for the big Cleanse.  I can't imagine choosing to drink lemon juice and maple syrup mixed with cayenne pepper...

potato and bean soup (patate e fagioli)
Who invented the idea of "Meatless Monday?"  The U.S. Food Administration did during World War I and urged families to conserve key staples to aid the war effort, but the idea was revived in 2003 by an ad...

roasted cinnamon pears with dark chocolate sauce
If you're like most people, you're probably thinking you've got one last hurrah before the parties come to an end and the decorations go back in storage.  A final splurge before you return to your normal routine.  One last...

farro and kale with roasted pears and turkey bacon
I hope your Christmas was merry.  We have been sharing a lovely week with my family in New York.   My mother really outdid herself and gave me Christmas day off, which was a gift unto itself.  If you...

spinach and feta strata
You know I'm a fan of the do-ahead breakfast for busy (and early) weekday mornings.  But holidays and weekend brunches are also the perfect time to prepare a fabulous breakfast the night before.  On Christmas morning, the kids love...

brussels sprout leaf salad recipe
I am a sucker for traditions most likely because I grew up with so many, most of which are still alive today.  In my family, Christmas Eve is the biggest night of the year.  Despite the fact that I...

zucchini-potato latkes
So what does a nice Italian girl from New York make for her nice Jewish husband for Hanukkah?  Zucchini-potato latkes, of course!  Believe me, you don't have to celebrate Hanukkah to enjoy these little patties.  Grated potatoes mixed with...

gingerbread
Nothing says "holiday" to me like the smell of gingerbread baking in the oven.  I am crazy about that combination of molasses and fragrant spices that are quintessential to gingerbread.  I have made lots of different baked goods with...

creamy white bean dip with roasted garlic
Do your kids ask you for things at the last possible second even though they have known about whatever it is they need for weeks?  My husband does this, too.  "If you knew last Friday that you would need...

spaghetti squash with kale and chickpeas
Did you participate in the low-carb craze of the 90's?  If you did, you may have eaten a lot of spaghetti squash with tomato sauce trying to convince your carb-starved body that you were actually eating pasta. The body...

mini-empanadas with mixed greens
Well, like it or not, it's officially holiday season!  Even though there's so much to love about the holidays, I just wish it didn't all happen at once.  Do you ever have that feeling?  But one thing I truly...

rustic butternut squash soup with fennel and wild rice
One way that I have learned how to be a more confident cook is by identifying certain "formula" recipes and then just changing the ingredients around to come up with something that seems like a different recipe. One day...

turkey stock
Ahhhhh, the day after.  I hope you had a lovely holiday.  Ours was everything I hoped it would be -- lots of happy people in the house and no major disasters in the kitchen.  The best thing I did...

cranberry sauce with apples and raspberries
I use a cranberry sauce recipe for Thanksgiving that has been in my family longer than I have.  My aunt received the recipe over 40 years ago from a colleague in New Jersey, who received it from someone who...

traditional roast turkey with gravy
My husband and I offered to host Thanksgiving at our new home a few months after we were married in 1995.  We were young and naive, but we were excited to play house with all our new china and...

brussels sprouts with (turkey) bacon and dates
My husband and I used to go out to dinner much more than we do now.  When the kids would to go to bed at 7:00 pm, it was a lot easier to tuck them in, leave them with...

butternut squash salad with pomegranates and toasted pumpkin seeds
Although I love planning and cooking the whole Thanksgiving meal, a few years ago I decided I was just plain bored with the same old same old.  The problem was that no one else was.  My family and regular...

pumpkin pie
There are very few recipes that debuted on my first Thanksgiving menu 16 years ago that are still going strong today.  Roast turkey, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes are staples year after year, as is a traditional pumpkin pie....

pumpkin pancakes with sauteed apples
Now that my daughters are teenagers (sigh), I encourage them to invite their girlfriends to have sleepovers at our house on the weekends.  I don't always get my wish, but I do like having them home so I can...

smoky braised lentils with (or without) turkey sausages
Do you have a son younger than college age?  Did you ever have one?  Do you know that he probably doesn't eat lunch at school?  I know you pack him something wonderful and maybe he even helped pick it...

shredded sweet potatoes and apple
Are you confused about the difference between a sweet potato and a yam?  Yep, so is my local supermarket.  In all fairness, I had to do a little research to get to the bottom of it, because I wasn't...

tortilla soup
How do I know it's soup season in my neck of the woods?  Well, we had our annual freaky October heat wave last week and then the temperature plummeted about 20 degrees.  Now every morning we wake up to...

basmati rice with roasted cauliflower
We are well into fall and I couldn't be more excited.  At the farmer's market the other day I was happy to see the return of some familiar faces -- winter squash, apples, pomegranates, persimmons and the entire Cruciferous...

spice-rubbed wild salmon
Although the best descriptor for this recipe is "Spice-Rubbed Wild Salmon," I could just as easily call it what it better represents to me, which is "7-minute Salmon."  Or "Plan B Salmon."  Or my favorite "I-Cannot-Believe-This-Game-Is-Going-Into-Extra-Innings Salmon."  Of course,...

broccoli crunch salad recipe
Do you ever get in a rut with a particular food?  I am ever so grateful that everyone in my house likes broccoli, which is one of the most nutritious foods out there, but I get a little...

black bean burgers with smoky red pepper sauce
Not so fast.  You see "Black Bean Burgers" and you're already making a run for it?  Well, I can't blame you if your only experience with veggie burgers are those dry, thin hockey pucks in the frozen section of...

mixed greens with grapes, gorgonzola (or roquefort) and almonds
Did you know that grapes have a season just like every other fruit?  Right now is peak grape season in California and they're scrumptious.  In a few months, the season is over and the grapes in the supermarkets will...

easy no-fail roast chicken
If you eat chicken, you absolutely must learn how to roast one whole.  It is beyond easy to do, never fails me, everyone loves it and is arguably the most delicious way to eat chicken.  WHAT MORE CAN YOU...

zucchini-gruyere tart
Do you remember the first cookbook you ever bought?  Not counting the Calling All Girls Party Book in second grade, I bought my first cookbook with my own money in 1987, the year I graduated from high school.  My Aunt...

california greek salad
One of my most favorite places in the world is Greece.  I have only been there once, but since that time I have dreamt of when I would return.  Six years ago, the hubby and I took the girls...

my favorite tuna salad
Well people, sandwich season is upon us and I'm proposing that we branch out and see if we can avoid making peanut butter and jelly everyday.  In fact, I know many of you are in nut-free schools and can't...

late summer minestrone
  Oh, I am not very good at goodbyes.  And saying farewell to summer is just inevitable now, isn't it?  My minestrone soup is one of those recipes that bridges summer and fall.  Zucchini and tomatoes are still plentiful in...

healthy granola bars recipe
Has school started in your neck of the woods?  We're back at it this week.  I get a little bummed when the kids go back to school.  I've really enjoyed spending more time with them and summer is so...

green goddess salad
I just spent a lovely four days in Park City, Utah enjoying the clean air and the peace and quiet (outdoors, of course; indoors I have my three kids and two of their friends, so no peace and quiet...

watermelon and tomato salad with feta and mint
This is the time of year when I am furiously trying to maximize my consumption of all things summer.  The seasonal window for some of my favorite foods is just too short, especially tomatoes.  In my classes July through...

chicken and vegetable kabobs with chimichurri sauce
This summer has been a blur.  My husband and I have (thankfully) been working a lot and Daughter #2 was just bat mitzvahed this past weekend.  There hasn't been too much free time to experiment in the kitchen as...

chocolate-covered frozen bananas
Are you asking yourself if I have gone mad?  Two desserts in one week!  What happened to "moderation?"  People, I write it like I see it and chocolate-covered frozen bananas are what the past few weeks have been about...

zucchini-blueberry bread
Have I warned you about planting mint in your garden?  No?  Ooops, sorry 'bout that.  I know I have told several people to only plant mint in containers since its root system will go crazy and you'll never be...

zucchini “pasta”
We're in pasta mode this week, but transitioning to zucchini mode, so I couldn't help but post a recipe which covers both.  In the low-carb craze of the 90's (although I'm not sure it's over), I was intrigued by...

pasta alla checca
When people tell me they don't know how to cook, I know what they really mean.  They mean to say they don't know how to cook well off the fly or they don't have a deep repertoire of dishes...

chickpea and deconstructed pesto salad
Summer around my house is very loosey-goosey.  We lack a bit of structure when school is not in session.  On any given night, it varies who will be here for dinner and I often find myself cooking for either...

cilantro-lime slaw
  I consider myself a good eater, that is I like a wide variety of foods and I am willing to try almost anything.  But I have standards (which my husband calls being a party pooper) and if I can...

stone fruit crostata with spelt crust
I have been lucky enough to have had a summer intern working by my side for the last two months and for most of last summer, too.  Hannah is entering her junior year at Cornell as a public policy...

watermelon agua fresca
We just dropped Mr. Picky off at the bus to take him to sleepaway camp for two weeks.  The goodbye was a tearful one.  The tears were all mine and my husband's, of course.  He couldn't wait to be...

farro with cucumber, golden beets, feta and mint vinaigrette
Someone asked Daughter #1 yesterday what her favorite dish is that I make.  She thought that was a tough question since she really does like everything I cook at home.  So she decided to narrow it down herself to...

citrus poached wild salmon with cucumber-yogurt sauce
So Miss Vegetarian (aka Daughter #2) has decided that she isn't as opposed to meat as she once declared.  You might remember back in April that my 12-year-old announced her abstinence from all animal flesh and whole eggs....

chopped grilled vegetable salad
When I moved from Beverly Hills to Manhattan Beach almost five years ago, one of the things that I had to adjust to was how much more casual the beach was.  Everyone here was more laid back in how...

do-it-yourself almond milk — 3 versions
You saw from my Alternative Milk Guide that these non-dairy beverages are basically nuts/seeds/grains pureed with water and strained.  Although Mr. Picky drinks raw milk regularly, the rest of us don't and the non-dairy milk that is used...

corn and edamame succotash
This house sure is quiet.  The girls are still in Connecticut and Mr. Picky is off at the batting cage for a little bit with his dad.  I don't think I've been alone in my house in a year....

red, not white and blueberry oat bars
Mr. Picky and I are chillin' on Long Island this week with my family and enjoying the sound of seagulls during the day and crickets at night (if only Daughter #2 would stop texting me to pick her up...

hummus 4 ways
I was talking with my summer intern Hannah about how much I love hummus and how easy it is to make.  I think I have been making my own hummus since before she was born, but the last couple years...

grilled chicken paillard with arugula and lemon vinaigrette
By now you have figured out that I promote one meal for the whole family.  I think there is a beautiful connectedness that comes from everyone sharing the same meal and sharing the same energy from that food.  In...

white bean salad with celery and mint (and sometimes tuna)
Happy summer!  I really can't believe it's here, but I am just thrilled to bits.  Even though I still teach during the summer, I find that my schedule with the kids is a little easier and frees me up...

iced blended mocha
If you opened this post with glee and thought I actually put a recipe on my site for a real iced blended mocha, well then, you don't know me well at all, do you?  But if you clicked on the...

quinoa tabbouleh
Father's Day is this Sunday and we are getting ready to celebrate the man of the house.  I have already begun planning my menu, which no doubt will involve some grilling since we all know that's a man's...

tasty turkey burgers
Let's play a little word association game!  When I say "turkey burger," you say ...?  I think I heard "bland," "dry," "flavorless," "pointless."  You know what I say?  "No thank you!"  Until now. I have never been a big meat-eater,...

basil parsley pesto recipe
I am willing to bet that I have eaten more pesto in my life than all of you.  Let me give you a little background.  My father has an expert green thumb and has maintained amazing gardens throughout my...

muesli
My husband and I have a division of labor approach to managing our home, kids and life. For example, he is in charge of sports, car issues, and electronics, and I handle meal preparation, communication with teachers and writing...

kale chips
My favorite line from "Modern Family" this season was when Mitchell returns from the farmer's market and declares, "Did you hear?  Kale is the new spinach?!"  Damn right, it is.  Even though kale seems to be the new "it"...

grilled corn and black bean salsa
I live in Southern California, where the seasons are like salsas, mild or hot.  No one is complaining here.  I love living in a place where the weather doesn't pose a challenge -- isn't life challenging enough?  But I...

grilled lemon-herb chicken with mint drizzle
I'm so glad you came back.  I was afraid I might have scared you off with that black cloud of grilling hanging over my website, so to speak.  But the important message in yesterday's blog is that even...

pantry pasta
My father called me the other day.  My father never calls.  He always jumps on the phone when I'm speaking with my mother, but he is not in a habit of actually dialing my number unless there is something...

carrot salad with avocado
I really do love vegetables and I try to eat as many as possible, as often as possible.  Besides being incredibly nutrient-dense, what I most love about vegetables is how versatile they are.  You can steam, braise, roast, saute,...

cinnamon “nachos” with fresh fruit salsa
It was tense around here on Super Bowl Sunday as my husband's Steelers were getting walloped by the Packers.  Nevermind that I had just laid out a fresh batch of baked chips and guacamole, no one was really...

not microwave popcorn
I use my microwave oven for two things, as a back-up timer and to disinfect my sponges.  Killing anything alive is what a microwave does best, no?  When people find out I don't put food in the microwave, they...

granola
I started making my own granola when I realized how much money I was spending to buy it at my local natural foods store.  $8 for a little container?  Ouch!  But the price wasn't the only deterrent.  There's also...

avocado, jicama and mango salad
Mexico is close to Southern California, right?  They share a border for goodness sake.  Dare I say Mexico is almost local?  Well, this is convincing I do with myself during April and May.  Why? Because it's mango season in Mexico...

fajitas
You all know my seven-year-old son, Mr. Picky.  I need to re-introduce you to Daughter #2, who just announced last night that she is now a vegetarian.  That's Miss Vegetarian to you.  Hmmm.....She is the same child that asked to try...

mexican black beans from scratch recipe
When I am coming up with a menu for entertaining mixed company, e.g. kids and adults or carnivores and vegans, I steer most often towards Mexican food.  It is always a crowd pleaser, easy to prepare and I can very...

seared wild salmon with beet, blood orange and spinach salad
Don't let the fancy name fool you.  This recipe is as easy as it is beautiful and it's absolutely delicious.  All of this is in season right now -- from the wild salmon and spinach to the blood oranges and...

asparagus salad with feta, walnuts and mint vinaigrette
A great salad is part perfectly fresh and delicious ingredients and part winner dressing.  And the simpler the better.  But salad monogamy is not something I believe in.  There shouldn't be exclusivity with salad combinations and dressings.  A good vinaigrette...

lemon ice torte
I went to my first Passover seder when I was in college in Philadelphia.  I was dating a nice Jewish boy from California who had some relatives living outside the city.  Aunt Lulu and Uncle Stanley invited us over for...

chocolate coconut macaroons recipe
If I am going to eat dessert, it better be good.  It better be worth falling off the wagon for.  Usually Passover desserts do nothing to tempt me from my sugar abstinence and that's not necessarily a bad thing.  But...

swiss chard frittata recipe
The conversation went like this:  Daughter #1, "I don't like eggs." Me, "Did you change your name to Sam-I-Am?  You do like eggs." Daughter #1, "You're not funny.  No, I don't."  Me, "You like frittatas, so you like eggs." Daughter #1, "That's different." Really?...

almond butter and chia seed cookie recipe
Remember the commercials for Chia Pets, the clay animals with a green furry layer of sprouted chia seeds covering their bodies?  Did your parents let you have one?  I SO wanted a chia puppy!   I can't help but chuckle...

orange and rosemary glazed chicken
It's not my husband's fault he can't find his way around the kitchen.  He grew up with a mother who is a very willing and capable cook.  She made hot breakfasts every morning and power lunches for school.  Each night...

spring green cleaning and sesame spinach salad recipe
Did you miss the January 1st detox craze?  While your friends downed maple syrup and cayenne pepper smoothies, were you cozying up to a bowl of chicken and vegetable stew?  How smart you are!  The winter is not the ideal...

artichoke and spinach barley “risotto”
When I invited some friends over for dinner last Friday night, it seemed like a great idea.  After I finished teaching a class and picking up the kids from school, I would have a few hours to get the house...

parchment baked halibut with cilantro and ginger
When I was a child, my mother would announce on Ash Wednesday, "Since it's Lent, I would like all you kids to give up something for the next 40 days that would be meaningful to you, something that would be...

minted sugar snap peas
When I'm not teaching cooking classes, I volunteer as a garden educator for a non-profit organization called Growing Great.  I help students at a local elementary school maintain a beautiful organic garden as well as teach them the fundamentals...

lemon and cumin-scented quinoa
I will admit, the first time I ever made quinoa, I didn't like it at all.  I cooked it like rice with nothing added and it really wasn't very tasty.  Who cares if something is super nutritious if it tastes...

vegetable stock
I really think it's worth the effort to make stock from scratch, not only because it's more nutritious, but because homemade just tastes so much better than the one you get from a box.  Many times you can get away with...

cauliflower and roasted garlic soup
Who wouldn't love a soup that is sophisticated enough to serve at a dinner party, but simple enough to make on a weeknight?   I know I would!  It's amazing what happens when you blend cauliflower and a few ho-hum...

chicken and vegetable curry
Growing up in a traditional Italian home, I learned very little about food that wasn't Italian.  I could tell you the names of about 80 different shapes of pasta (you could, too if you ate it four times per week)...

braised greens and beans (collards and cannellinis)
Could you pick collard greens out of line-up?  It's not an easy thing to do considering how many varieties of leafy greens are available.  The bigger question is, have you ever picked up collard greens at all?? I avoided collard greens...

turkey (or beef or tempeh) tacos
In light of the recent discovery that Taco Bell's meat for its beef tacos is mostly, um, NOT beef, I thought it was necessary to get a high quality taco recipe out there.  One of the things I find...

whole grain buttermilk pancakes
Packaged pancake mixes confuse me.  The idea behind packaged food is to provide the consumer convenience.  That is, it should be more convenient for you to use a boxed pancake mix than to make pancakes from scratch.  But let's think...

my favorite everyday salad dressings
If you're just starting to tinker with the idea of eating more healthfully, but don't know where to begin, may I nudge you toward making your own salad dressings?  Why?  First of all, salad dressings or vinaigrettes are something you...

healthy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies recipe
A funny thing happens when people start cooking healthful food for family and friends.  They feel the need to announce that fact to everyone before serving it.  "Ok, guys.  Wait until you try this muffin!  It's made with flaxseeds and...

guacamole and baked tortilla chips
Do not be under the misconception that because I teach people how to cook healthful food that I myself eat only whole foods all day every day.  Didn't you read about my 90/10 plan?  90% of the time I...

vegetable fried rice
When parents struggle with "what to make for dinner," one tip I like to offer is to find a dish that everyone likes to eat when you go out, and try to make it at home.  Fried rice, however, is...

asian noodle salad
I really don't think anyone needs another way to get pasta into his or her diet, or peanut butter for that matter, but I can't help myself here.  I taught this Asian noodle salad in a class last year and...

harira
Harira is a Moroccan stew that is traditionally served during Ramadan to break the daily fast.  In my house it is a nourishing one-pot meal that is perfect for a chilly winter evening.  I have seen many versions of recipes...

date-sweetened banana bread
One of my pet peeves is when people label a dessert as "healthy," and not because that is grammatically incorrect, but rather because desserts have sugar of some form and that will never be "good" for you no matter how...

mushroom-barley soup with kale
I was craving a hearty, meal-in-a-bowl soup for dinner last night.  Something I could pull together before the kids returned home from school and that I could pack in their thermoses for lunch the next day.  Mushroom-barley soup came to...

lemon-thyme chicken
Once upon a time, I used to enjoy spending lots of time experimenting in the kitchen.  I had fabulous cookbooks in which I found interesting and challenging recipes to make for dinner.  On a weekday.  And then it was over....

raw kale salad with citrus dressing
The first time I ever made kale in a class, one student said ,"I'm afraid of kale.  I don't know what to do with it."  In each subsequent class that month, there would be someone else who said the...

the perfect baked potato
Potatoes get a bad rap because of the misconception that they are fattening.  Potatoes unto themselves are not "fattening," but they certainly become less healthful after they have been peeled, deep-fried in over-heated, refined oil or turned into chips or...

vegetable chili
We are a football-watching family.  On any given Sunday during the season, we are hunkered down for a good part of the day at home with the likely chance of random family and friends dropping by.  I like to prepare...

fennel and green apple salad
I just adore fennel and its hint of licorice (that's the black kind, not the red).  When I was a child, after a big Sunday dinner, my Aunt Maria would pass around a platter a raw fennel wedges along with...

lentil and brown rice soup
Everyone needs a lentil soup recipe in the repertoire.  This is a classic and a nourishing one at that.  I grew up on lentil soup and my mom was into creating “complete proteins” when we had a vegetarian meal. ...

molasses-ginger cookies
Just in time for your cookie exchange!  These cookies are chewier than a gingersnap, but still wow you with that sweet and spicy kick.  I love rolling them in unsweetened, shredded coconut instead of the traditional granulated sugar, but they...

turkey sausages with cabbage and fennel
People ask me all the time for more recipes that are Fast!  No, faster!  And easy!  I understand the challenges that people face when pulling together a weeknight meal, whether they are parents or not.  However, we need to put...

butternut squash, beet and apple skewers
I used to struggle coming up with an hors d’oeuvre that was tasty, fresh and didn’t contain tons of dairy.  Have you ever noticed the popular hors d’oeuvres that show up at every cocktail or dinner party – there’s...

muhammara (turkish red bell pepper-walnut dip)
I know those holiday parties are coming up and I thought another hors d'oeuvre post would be helpful.  My good friend Cheryl gave me this recipe.  She is an outstanding cook and everything she makes is a home run.  I...

healthy brown rice pudding recipe
Brown rice is a staple in my home.  A simple bowl of steamed brown rice, whether it is short-grain, long-grain, basmati or jasmine is utterly satisfying to me.  I love the nuttiness and wholesomeness of brown over white.  Keeping...

sauteed swiss chard with dried apricots and pine nuts
Swiss Chard is one of the most nutritious greens you can find year-round.  It is related to beets – in fact, beet greens taste very similar to Swiss chard.  Do eat your dark green leafy vegetables regularly as they are among...

sweet potato-coconut soup
We are a family of soup lovers, which is great since soup is generally easy to prepare and I can put leftovers into a stainless thermos the next day in the kids’ lunchboxes (ok, just the older girls; my...

onion-braised grass-fed beef brisket
Let me come right out and say that I don’t like to promote the consumption of too much beef for several reasons (here come the hate emails from the National Cattle Industry – you think I’m kidding).  In our...

whole wheat pumpkin muffins
I prefer not to encourage too many desserts and sweets on this site.  There are so many reasons that sugar and refined sweeteners are bad for your health that I will devote an entire post to the subject in the...

how to make fresh pumpkin purée
Few things say Fall like the pumpkin, along with all the delicious things that you can make with one.  Every year I stock up on multiples cans of pumpkin puree for muffins, pancakes, oatmeal and, of course, pie.  But...

homemade chicken stock
I am starting my first post with one of my obsessions – homemade chicken stock.  Since chicken stock is something I use quite regularly, especially during soup season, I thought it would be a good idea to get a recipe...