Dinner Planner – Week of June 5, 2023

Happy weekend!  If you take my monthly online cooking class, the June class is up and the theme is Summer Potluck!  I demonstrated 5 fabulous brand new recipes that are perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, July 4th get-togethers, and all the recipes (as usual) are flexible.  I share ways to make everything vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, and dairy-free.  If you don’t take my monthly class, you’re missing out!  If you give me an hour a month, I’ll make you a better and healthier cook!  Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Chicken Kabobs with Green Goddess Tzatziki Recipe

grilled chicken kabobs

It’s grilling season! Both the chicken recipe and the sauce recipe for these chicken kabobs are a hybrid of several recipes that I like, and not straight forward traditional Persian or Greek kabobs and not a traditional tzatziki. I still play around with this marinade and sauce, adding a little harissa to either (but not both) for some spice or omitting the cucumber to keep things creamier. You don’t technically need a sauce, but who doesn’t love sauce??? It’s definitely needed if you intend to serve the chicken in a lavash or pita or on a grain bowl. Continue reading

Dinner Planner – Week of May 29, 2023

Happy Weekend! I have a lot of recipes that can work for a BBQ or get-together this weekend – too many to list here! I am not sure if Hubs and I will be home in time for Monday IG live at 5.  Check my Instagram stories on Monday and I’ll let you know.  If you take my monthly online cooking class, I will have the JUNE class up for you later next week.  It’s a GOOD one!  Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Grilled Potato Salad Mexican Street Corn-Style Recipe

grilled potato salad

I love grilling potatoes and I especially love whole potatoes.  This grilled potato salad is so creamy and delicious.  Plus, when you include the skin, potatoes are a whole food and good source of carbohydrates.  You can put a lot of dressings on grilled potatoes, even just olive oil with salt and pepper.  I am not afraid of a little mayonnaise, which is just egg yolk and oil.  I prefer the lighter texture and flavor of vegan mayonnaise.  And this has the smokiness and heat from chipotle powder.  I think this is perfect for Memorial Day weekend!Continue reading

Dinner Planner – Week of May 22, 2023

Memorial Day weekend inspires gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving our nation, protecting us, and our freedom.  I also appreciate a different kind of freedom today – freedom from the pandemic that made the last three years so challenging for all, and definitely more challenging for some. Thank you to all our first responders, health care workers and all essential workers who sacrificed so much and helped us weather the storm.  Enjoy the weekend, friends! Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Quinoa and Jicama Salad with Avocado Dressing Recipe

When I first moved to California over 30 years ago, I was introduced to the avocado and my love affair has continued.  I had never eaten an avocado before, nor had I tried guacamole. My then boyfriend (who is now Hubs) took me to a new fast casual restaurant called Baja Fresh and I ate a burrito with guacamole.  Holy deliciousness.  Now I buy avocados every week and smash them on toast, cube them into salads, turn them into pudding and brownies, mash them into guacamole, and blend them into dressings. I love their creaminess and healthy fats and fiber, and their versatility. I especially love this avocado dressing in this quinoa and jicama salad recipe I am sharing today.Continue reading

Dinner Planner – Week of May 15, 2023

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone! If you are missing your mom this weekend, I am holding space in my heart for you.  When a parent leaves us, it is a void that is impossible to fill. If you need to nudge your loved ones to make you something special, check out last week’s dinner planner for some lovely and healthy-ish brunch ideas. Also, don’t be afraid to tell your partner and/or children how you want to spend your day.  Not everyone can read minds, if you know what I mean.  For my monthly online cooking class students, your May class was uploaded last week.  It is a breakfast/brunch theme!  If you want to join my fabulous cooking class community, we’d love to have you and I would love to help you be a better and healthier cook!  

For my local LA friends, come join Catherine McCord and me on Monday, May 15th at Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica at 6:00 pm!  Here’s your dinner planner for the week: Continue reading

Baked Morning Glory Millet Porridge Recipe

Ingredients for Baked Morning Glory

One of the best muffins I have ever eaten is a Morning Glory Muffin which is traditionally studded with carrots, apples, raisins, coconut, pineapple and nuts. The batter is also laced with warm spices and is so flavorful.  Plus the crumb has such good texture and moistness (is that a word?). I transferred those flavors to a baked porridge similar to an oatmeal bake but I put a twist using millet instead.Continue reading