Happy Friday!  I hope you had a great week.  I just completed a really interesting experiment called “Cooking My Kitchen.”  Almost a month ago I was pulling together my list of dinners to make for the upcoming week and the accompanying grocery list to go with it.  But when I looked in my freezer, refrigerator and pantry, I was skeptical that I could fit any new food into my kitchen because everything was already packed to the brim!  What was I thinking??  So I decided not to go grocery shopping for as long as possible, but use what I had.  I did have a few weekends out of town, so it’s hard to say how long I actually went living off what we already had, but it was so good for me to get back in touch with not being wasteful, be more creative in the kitchen and finally have a clean, organized pantry where there is a space for everything.

I recently had to buy fresh produce and eggs since we were completely out of all fruit, both fresh and frozen, and I do enjoy a scramble at least once per week.  But, I still am using up the grains, frozen meats and fish, and even winter squash that I still have.  Just something to think about!

Here are five favorites of mine that I’d like to share with you today!

Vital Choice Canned Salmon

A lot of you probably know by now that I only buy and use fish from Vital Choice, a company that sells sustainable, truly wild, superior quality seafood that is flash frozen/canned shortly after harvest.  Vital Choice prides themselves on selling the highest quality, lowest mercury, and most nutritionally beneficial fish out there. I love everything I have ever bought from them, but I am crazy about their canned wild salmon, which is not only delicious, but sold in a BPA-free can.  (Yay!)

My family really likes their canned salmon as well, because they all agree “it’s not fishy.”  And one of my son’s favorite dinners is my wild salmon patty recipe which uses canned salmon.  Most of the time though, this canned salmon finds its way into a salad or mixed into scrambled eggs when I need a super fast meal with high quality protein.

While their seafood is a bit pricy compared to most local markets, you are paying for a product that has too high of standards to even be in a local store (only 1% of retail stores supply wild salmon that is on par with Vital Choice’s high standard).

 

Laura Mercier Bare Beige Lip Glace

So many people in my classes have asked me what I wear on my lips, so I knew I had to share.  I love a simple shine and my favorite lip glosses are by Laura Mercier.  Her glosses are never thick or sticky and they stay on for an entire cooking class!  I have been wearing Laura Mercier lip glosses forever and I have owned many different shades, but my go-to is Bare Beige.  It’s the perfect beautiful nude-with-color color which I can wear with literally any outfit, any time of the year.  It may be a bit more of an investment that your Burt’s Bees, but trust me when I say you will never leave home without it.  And it is made in America and not tested on animals, which is always a bonus in my book.  It is available at most makeup stores including Sephora, Macy’s and Nordstrom, and you can also get it on Amazon with free shipping! (ooops, just posted 2 hours ago and made a mistake with the name of the lip color — just fixed!)

 

Strawberry Huller

I become absolutely giddy at the first sight of strawberries at the farmer’s market.  Those glowing red beauties means summer is just around the corner and I cannot wait to get my hands on them!  My local farmer’s market has had strawberries for the last couple of weeks and to my surprise, they are already absolutely sweet and delicious!

Now I’m not saying that trimming the stem off of a strawberry is difficult to do by any means, but this handy little tool, called a strawberry huller, had me at hello.  It makes quick work of de-stemming strawberries, removing as little as possible while leaving the strawberry in tact.  This tool is perfect if you are prepping a large amount of strawberries for a fruit salad, tart, or even to freeze for smoothies.  And, my son loves using it so that’s a huge bonus for me in the morning when I’m trying to do too many things at once.

At $8 it’s inexpensive and is a great tool to have lying around.  How cute would it be to bring someone a little hostess gift of a few pints of local strawberries, some fresh cream in a Weck jar and this strawberry huller?  I’m totally doing that if I ever get invited to anyone’s house for any occasion!

It is available at most kitchen stores including Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table, and is also on Amazon!

Seasonal Produce: Swiss chard

We all know how I feel about dark, leafy greens, and the importance of getting them into our daily diets.  While you may be tired of the spinach and kale routine, Swiss chard is in season right now and is the perfect vegetable for sprucing up your dinner!  Swiss chard is in the same family as spinach and beets and shares many of the same benefits as these two super veggies.  However recent research has shown that Swiss chard contains a specific phytonutrient that has blood sugar regulating properties.

Swiss Chard has a pungent slightly salty flavor and comes in beautiful colors as well.  In my local markets, I usually find red stems, white stems or rainbow stems, which are beyond gorgeous.  Swiss chard can be steamed, sautéed, or eaten raw.  I love it in soups and with eggs, especially.  Check out some of the recipes I have using swiss chard on my site below, as well as some others from around the web.

Swiss chard and potato gratin 

Sauteed Swiss chard with dried apricots and pine nuts

Rustic butternut squash soup with fennel and wild rice (and chard)

Green Kitchen Stories No Rice Risotto with Chard

In Sock Monkey Slippers Swiss Chard and Noodle Soup

The First Mess Raw Vegan Tacos with Chard

 

Superfood Spotlight: Coconut Oil

When I was growing up the only coconut I ever knew was coated with refined sugar and used for topping desserts or in the occasional macaroon.  Flash-forward to today, and coconut is used in everything from granola to smoothies to breakfast porridge to wanna-be bacon!  This tropical fruit has become so versatile in today’s modern kitchen and is sold in so many different forms (coconut milk, coconut oil, flaked coconut, coconut sugar, coconut flour, coconut nectar, coconut aminos, etc.) making the possibilities endless for ways you can use it.

Coconut oil has become popular for good reason.  Recent research is contradicting what we previously thought about this saturated fat- coconut is in a category of it’s own when it comes to saturated fats because of it’s composition of medium-chain fatty acids, which are used up by the body quickly as energy and not stored as fat.  Coconut oil also contains a fatty acid called Lauric acid, which has antiviral and antibacterial compounds, making coconut the ultimate super food.  Plus, it is delicious, naturally sweet, filling and satisfying.  I love using coconut oil to roast vegetables like sweet potatoes, winter squashes, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots; pop popcorn; cook pancakes and French toast; saute apples and bananas; use in curries and stir-fries; swap for vegetable oil in baked goods, and so many more ways!

I have also used coconut oil as a mouth wash, eye makeup remover, moisturizer, leave-in hair conditioner and mixed with brown sugar for a great DIY body scrub.

There are so many great coconut oils out there, but I prefer organic, UNREFINED, and in glass.  I wish there was a company who would sell a coconut oil in a dark glass bottle, but so far no luck.  In the meantime, I use either of these two in my classes — Whole Foods 365 brand or Barleans, both of which have a beautiful consistency and mild (not funky) coconut flavor.  Store coconut oil in the pantry, not the refrigerator.  If a recipe calls for melted coconut oil, just measure in a dry measuring cup and melt in a butter warmer or small saucepan.  You can also melt in the microwave, but I don’t like microwaves. 🙁  Or, if your oven is warm, you can place the coconut oil in a heat-proof bowl and melt it right in the oven.  In the warmer months, you might notice your coconut oil become liquid at room temperature.  This is not a problem.

Enjoy the weekend!

I hope you all had a nice week!  I was in Palm Springs last weekend with my family, following my husband around for Modernism Week and then we flew over to Park City, Utah with some friends for a few days to ski in the most unbelievably warm weather.  The snow on the mountain was surprisingly good for skiing, although there wasn’t much snow anywhere else.  Maybe my family and friends in Boston can send some over!  Another month and it will be Spring (supposedly!)

I always have lots of things to share with you no matter what the weather.  Enjoy the weekend!

 

REI Wide Brim Floppy Felt Hat

Whenever people ask me what me secret weapon is for my skin, I tell them over and over again: Sunscreen!   Although I apply sunscreen multiple times a day, sometimes I still feel like that doesn’t cut it.  Living in sunny So Cal, we have exposure to the sun almost everyday, and I need a little extra something when I am sitting outside at my son’s soccer games, perusing the farmer’s market, or taking walks on the beach.  I have many linen and woven hats for the summer, but those never look right when I’m dressed for winter.  I found this perfect felt wide-brimmed floppy hat from REI for a hiking trip this past fall and I have been wearing it constantly since.  The dark brown wool felt fabric is soft, breathable and durable, and I feel like this is just stylish enough that I can wear it pretty much anywhere.  And it is on sale right now for ½ off!  Check it out here!

 

Aroy-D Coconut Milk in TETRA-PAKS

Coconut milk is a wonderful alternative for those with dairy intolerance- it adds such a rich, creamy, sweet  flavor and makes a great sub for cream and half and half.  I use it in smoothies, Thai recipes, coffee cakes and so much more.  I already shared my opinion regarding aluminum cans in last week’s post, so it should be no surprise that one of my new favorites are these tetra paks of coconut milk by Aroy-D (which means “delicious” in Thai!)  Until I find coconut milk in glass jars (or I start making it myself), tetra-paks are my only chance of getting aluminum and BPA out of my kitchen.   I use coconut milk a lot and no only do I love that packaging of Aroy-D, but the flavor is great and the texture is perfectly smooth and creamy, not oily.  Another bonus with this brand is that there are no additives, preservative, or gums, which can be the case with some of the other coconut milks on the market.  The yield for these is slightly different from your standard can size (8.5 oz compared to the standard 13.5 oz), but the great thing about coconut milk is that it can be easily frozen for later use if you have extra.  Amazon is the only place I have found this coconut milk.  You can buy a 12-pack for $28 or a 6-pack for $14.  Amazon also sells Aroy-D coconut cream if you wanted to try making coconut milk whipped “cream.”

 

Breville Immersion Blender

I remember the days when, in order to puree soups, I had pour small amounts of soup into a blender batch by batch.  Then transfer the blended soup into another pot and repeat with the remaining soup.  What a pain!  Luckily somebody, somewhere came up with the genius idea to make an immersion blender that can actually be inserted into the pot to puree.  I bought my Breville immersion blender over 6 years ago and I love it.  I have tried many other immersion blenders in other people’s kitchens, and this is the best one, in my opinion.  My family loves pureed soups such as creamy cauliflower, sweet potato coconut, and butternut squash, so I use this a ton.  I have also used my immersion blender in my cauliflower mashed potato recipe and homemade marinara sauce.  I love that it has a non-scratch guard on the bottom so that I don’t have to worry about scraping against the bottom of my stainless steel pots.  I wash it by hand (no dishwasher.)  It is available for $99 at most kitchen stores (Bed Bath & Beyond, Williams-Sonoma, Sur La Table), as well as Amazon.

 

Seasonal Produce:  Meyer Lemons

Meyer lemons are like the beauty queens of the lemon family.  They are plump, round, smooth and thin-skinned, and have a beautiful deep yellow color.  What sets these lemons apart from the standard Eureka or Lisbon lemon?  Meyer lemons are actually a cross between those standard lemons and a mandarin orange.  This marrying of citruses leaves us with a lemon that has a yellow-orange tint and a sweeter, floral taste.  Once only grown in California backyards, this fruit has created a demand for commercial production and has been popping up more in markets across the country.  Whereas I used to only be able to get Meyer lemons at the farmers market, I now have seen them available at my local Whole Foods.  Meyer lemons are great to add to lemon flavor to things without the mouth puckering acidity of a regular lemon.  And because they are so thin-skinned, they don’t contain as much of the bitter white pith, so the peel can actually be eaten!  I have been vocal in the past about the benefits of lemons to our health- they are detoxifying and have antioxidant and antibiotic affects.  Check out these great recipes using Meyer lemons below or try using Meyer lemons with champagne vinegar in a salad vinaigrette!

Slow Roasted Salmon with Meyer Lemon Relish from Yummy Supper

Sprouted Kitchen’s Lentil Meatballs in Lemon Pesto

The Delicious Life’s Meyer Lemon, Thyme, and Olive Oil Cake

 

Superfood Spotlight:  Chia Seeds

Way before the ch-ch-ch-chia pet was ever around these little seeds were a staple in the diets of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans.  They have been making waves in the modern American diet, being referred to as a super food and a weight loss miracle seed.  But what is so special about Chia seeds?  Chia seeds provide a huge amount of nutrition per serving with minimum calories.  They contain omega-3 fatty acids like their counterpart flax seeds- but you don’t have to grind them to get the benefits- they can be eaten whole.  Chia seeds also contain calcium, protein, antioxidants and tons of fiber.  Chia is a very absorbent food that makes it very versatile for making alternative puddings and porridges, and that absorbent nature also allows you to feel full after eating it- which is why it is said to aid with weight loss.  Chia seeds are great in baked good such as cookies and breads, and I also love sprinkling chia seeds on my morning oats and smoothies bowls, or even on my salad at dinner.  Check out my favorite recipes from my site using chia seeds!

Raspberry Chia Jam

Chia Seed Pudding

Chocolate Banana Chia Seed Muffins with Chia Seeds

Raw Oat and Chia Porridge

 

 

I’m not the kind of girl that needs fancy gifts or over-the-top flowers on Valentine’s Day.  And I would much rather stay home with my husband and kids than be at a crowded restaurant.  None of that says “L-O-V-E” to me, and instead just feels a little contrived.  What I do cherish is a small homemade something — a card, some tea personally delivered with a kiss, or a little treat.  I’m easy.  And I love doing the same in return just to keep in the spirit and show a little love.  I thought since Valentine’s Day is in 8 days (!), we should get organized and do a little planning.  Hence today’s themed post!  Here are some of my favorites to have some fun on Valentine’s Day:

 

Silicone Heart Molds

Nothing says Valentine’s Day  like heart-shaped food!  Impress your loved ones by whipping up your favorite muffins, cakes, and candies using these heart molds!  Heck, I think you could make my baked oatmeal in the shape of a mini heart!  I have a few heart-shaped silicone molds that are the perfect way to make anything into a shape of a heart.

Silicone does not outgas or leach, making it a much safer choice than a nonstick finish or aluminum leaching from metal baking pans.  Not all silicone molds are created equal though.  Do yourself a favor and look for food-grade silicone, with no added fillers.  I do wonder about the molds that are colored, but I cannot find any data on them.  I have this one from amazon which is less than $10.  And there are other sizes, as well.  Treats that would work nicely in the molds are the grain-free chocolate zucchini cake or the millet blondies, as well as any cookie or quick bread recipe.

 

Valentine’s Day Rubber Stamps

My son loves making his own cards, which I think are always so much cuter than store-bought.  But it can be a lot of work to make enough cards for the whole class plus all the teachers.  To the rescue are these cute rubber stamps.  I bought a few, including one that has a Happy Valentine’s Day message and a set with lots of different hearts, which comes with a pink ink pad.  Of course you can use any ink pad you want.  I love this one which will be back in stock on February 8th.  Stamp these on some craft paper and you’ve got yourself an adorable, easy, DIY Valentine!  Glued-on Hershey’s kiss optional.

Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutters

The year I bought these heart shaped cookie cutters, I used them to make hearts out of everything except cookies!  This is such an easy way to have some fun with your meals on Valentine’s Day.  You can cut almost anything into hearts, from cooked lasagne noodles, to carrots and beets, to pancakes and brownies, to toast and on and on.  I prefer graduated stainless steel cutters (versus plastic) that come with their own container for easy storage.  If you do buy metal ones, they’ll last longer if you wash and dry by hand.  These are a good set.

 

 

Superfood Spotlight: Pitaya

There are a some foods that come in the most insane colors that it is hard to believe that they are found like that in nature.  I am thinking about a bright glowing orange butternut squash cut open right in the middle of winter.  Or a stunning green avocado split down the center.  And, the bright neon pink color of pitaya.  Have you ever seen pitaya??  It is unbelieveable!  This glowing hot pink fruit, a variation of the dragon fruit, is used similarly to acai- it is sold in packets of frozen puree and is great for making smoothies and bowls.  While acai has been the star player for a while now, the health benefits of pitaya are through the roof!  It contains cancer-fighting antioxidants and is even believed to help regulate blood sugar. The taste is mild and tart, not quite as sweet as acai but still juicy and satisfying.  You can find frozen pitaya at Whole Foods.  Use my acai bowl recipe and just sub pitaya for acai.

Seasonal Produce:  Blood Oranges

With the slim picking of produce right now, I am all over the citrus family.  Tangerines, oranges, grapefruits, pomelos, kumquats, you name it.  We all know that citrus fruits are packed with Vitamin C, but what if there was a citrus that also contained anthocyanins, the same antioxidants found in berries??  Well, let me introduce you to the blood orange, which is packed full of nutrition and deliciousness.  The name Blood Orange comes from the fact that the inside flesh has a red color.  Perfect for Valentine’s Day!

My favorite way to use blood oranges is in this Salmon, Beet and Spinach Salad.

Check out these other great way to use blood oranges from around the web!

Blood orange braised cabbage from My New Roots (which I made last night with a piece of halibut — very tasty)

Yummy Supper’s Warm rice salad with chard, feta, walnuts, and blood oranges

Smitten Kitchen’s  Flaky Blood Orange Tart

Click here for my post on how to segment and cut citrus fruit.

I hope you had a good week, friends.  Some of you were buried in snow while at the same time many others were confused by the record heat in January.  Wherever you live, chances are you’re thinking about Super Bowl Sunday which is just a few days away.  There’s always something to celebrate, isn’t there?!  I am not rooting for either team, but just hoping the game is better than last year and I will at least guarantee some great eats for whoever shows up at my house to watch!

Here are some things I want to share with you this week:

Stainless Steel Spice Jar Measuring Spoons

These measuring spoons are a lifesaver for someone who goes through as many spice measurements as I do in a week.  Isn’t it a little annoying when you go to measure some spices and you attempt to put the measuring spoon in the jar, only to realize it won’t fit through the opening?  The answer is YES!  And pouring fine powders onto the spoon is practically impossible to do without making a mess.   Although I have several sets of measuring spoons, these are the ones I turn to first.  These handy little measuring spoons are made extra narrow to ensure that they will fit into any spice jar I have!  These have saved me tons of time and they’re not expensive (you can get a set of these for around $12).  There are lots of different styles/brands out there, but I find stainless steel spoons last the longest and they usually have the measurements imprinted as opposed to painted on which always wears off too quickly and then I’m thinking, “is that a 1/2 teaspoon or 1 teaspoon spoon?”

My assistant Lauren gave me this set which she bought at Sur la Table, but you can get them in many different places from Williams-Sonoma to Bed Bath and Beyond to amazon.  I like this set on amazon which has an 1/8 tsp. and 3/4 tsp. spoons — very useful!

Bar Keepers Friend

My stainless steel pots and pans get A LOT of use. But because I use them in my cooking classes and I photograph them for my blog, I don’t necessarily want them to  look like they’ve been through the ringer!  For years, Bar Keepers Friend has been my absolute go to for keeping all of my stainless steel shining like new.  It is a powdered cleanser that forms a paste when mixed with water and cleans without using bleach – which is a must for keeping stainless steel in tip-top shape.  This stuff has worked magic removing tough stains that have formed on my pots and pans through the years.  Keep in mind, this isn’t a cleaning product in as much as it’s a “spiffying up” product.  If you have eggs stuck onto your pan, you wouldn’t use BKF to get them off.  It is perfect for removing tarnish, rust, and lime.  I wanted to show you a before and after picture, but my pans all looked pretty good!  You can at least see my attempt above.

Just a heads up though that Bar Keepers Friend does contain a small amount of oxalic acid which could potentially be irritating to some people’s skin.  You could also use Bon Ami, which is a similar product and doesn’t contain oxalic acid, but it’s also not as effective in my opinion.  What you don’t want to use on stainless steel are SOS pads which scratch the surface of the pans and allow metals to leach into your food.

Bar Keepers Friend is available at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond for $1.99 or this 3-pack on amazon prime for $10.99 which is not as good a price, but you also don’t have to shlep to the store to get it.

Seaweed Gomasio

I can’t remember how or when I found gomasio, but I’ve been in love with it for a looooong time.  Goma means sesame and shio means salt. Gomasio is a macrobiotic condiment used instead of putting straight salt on food.  It contains roasted sesame seed and sea salt, but my favorite one from Eden Foods contains seaweed, too. Gomasio is considered to be a digestive strengthener as well as flavor enhancer. It’s a great condiment to use if you’re trying to cut back a little on sodium since it’s mostly calcium-rich sesame seeds with just enough salt to have a salty flavor.

My favorite way to use gomasio is simply sprinkled on steamed rice and roasted veggies, on sushi rice before I roll it up, on my Buddha Bowl and Fried Rice recipes.  I think it would be great on eggs, hummus or if you were making a savory breakfast porridge.

You can also make your own gomasio by toasting up 2 cups of sesame seeds in a dry skillet.  When the oils begin to release and the seeds start to turn golden, remove from heat and add 1 Tablespoon of sea salt.  Grind the mixture up a bit by pulsing in a food processor or smashing with a mortar and pestle or just leave it whole.  Store in a glass container in the pantry for 1-2 months.

If you want to buy it, I have found 4 flavors of gomasio by Edn Foods at Whole Foods — plain, seaweed, black & tan (2 types of sesame seeds) and garlic.  All delicious.  You can also buy these on vitacost.com. (Amazon charges way too much for some reason.)

Superfood Spotlight:  Goji Berries

Goji berries are one of my pantry staples for topping everything from multigrain porridge to acai bowls to my homemade trail mix.  These little berries have a unique tart flavor and I love them when paired with coconut, cacao nibs and walnuts.  Not only are goji berries sweet and tasty but they are loaded with antioxidants and actually have the highest concentration of protein of any fruit- major plus for breakfast!  Believe it or not, this superfood also boosts 15 times the amount of iron than spinach.  That is pretty impressive if you ask me.

I’ve bought goji berries at Whole Foods (usually the Navitas Naturals, Himalania or Sunfood brands), as well as Thrive Market, and amazon.  They’re definitely a little more expensive than other fried fruit, however.  The best deal I found was on amazon for a 1 pound bag of organic goji berries for $19.

 

Seasonal Produce:  Broccoli

January is the month of detoxes and cleanses, and while I love a good green juice as much as the next person, I would like to highlight one of the most detoxifying veggies under the sun, broccoli!  Broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrition and research has recently shown that there are 3 phytonutrients found in a rare combination in broccoli that allow this veg to be extremely helpful to the body’s detoxification system.  This is perfect for all of us that are trying to rid all of our holiday indulgences.

Beyond it’s detoxifying compounds, broccoli is also one of the most important health-boosting foods around.  Broccoli contains sulforaphane which may help to slow down and even prevent osteoarthritis, protect your skin, improve blood pressure and kidney function, and it has been shown to kill cancer stem cells, by attacking the root of tumor growth.  Broccoli also contains lutein which supports heart health by helping to prevent thickening of your arteries.  Plus broccoli is anti-inflammatory, contains loads of fiber and beneficial nutrients like potassium, calcium, protein and vitamin C.  I’m telling you — WONDER VEGETABLE.

Not to mention, broccoli is absolutely delicious and can be cooked in a variety of ways- steamed, roasted, blanched, or even raw!  Check out some of my recipes below:

Broccoli Crunch Salad

Stir-fried Grass-fed Beef and Broccoli

Balsamic Roasted Broccoli and Cherry Tomatoes

and my obsession, Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowls with Lemon-Tahini Sauce

And some delicious looking recipes from around the web:

Energizing and Spicy Broccoli Dal from Oh She Glows

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli from Damn Delicious

Phoebe Lapine‘s Broccoli Fried Rice Recipe on Food & Wine

 

My Five Friday Favorites continues!!  Sometimes I’ll mention things in my classes, and when I notice a lot of people writing them down, I know that it’s something I need to share!  Feel free to leave a comment with any of your favorites — I’d love to check them out.  Have a great weekend, my dears!

 

 

Lily’s No-sugar Added Chocolate Chips

Move over Nestle, there is a new chocolate chip in town!  While Nestle may not actually be my chocolate chip of choice, even some of the cleaner brands like Whole Foods 365 and Trader Joes’ chocolate chips are really not that great either.  Most of them have added sugar and corn syrups, which is a huge bummer since unless those are organic, they contain GMO’s.  Thumbs down in my book!  However, let me introduce you to Lily’s, a stevia-sweentened, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, fair-trade chocolate company that makes dark chocolate baking chips.  Lily’s chocolate chips have no added sugar, which is a huge bonus when trying control the amount of refined sweeteners in your foods.  And, the best part here is that the chocolate is still sweet like regular chocolate chips, just without the added calories (that’s where the stevia comes in).  Lily’s, my tastebuds and my waistline thank you.  And what’s even better is this company was founded to honor a young girl, Lily, who is 13-year-old brain cancer survivor.   Part of the proceeds from the company goes to different charities that aim to support kids fighting cancer.  Can your chocolate chips do that?  I got my Lily’s baking chips from VitaCost, and they are also available on Amazon and at Whole Foods.

(Enjoy Life is also a better brand than Nestle, etc.)

 

My favorite stockpot

Without fail, whenever I use this stockpot in my classes someone asks me where they can get it.  This heavyweight stockpot made by Demeyere is so perfect for making homemade stocks, soups, and stews.  And, the bonus here is that is it as attractive as it is functional- so I can serve directly from the pot if I am feeding a crowd or entertaining.  It is a bit pricy, but I have used this pot several times per week since I bought it 15 years ago and it is still in amazing shape.  It is well worth the investment.  It is available on Amazon for $190.00.

Whole Foods Frozen Organic Fire Roasted Corn

Corn has gotten such a bad rap in the last couple of years after GMO becoming so prevalent in that industry.  However, you can avoid this problem completely by buying organic corn!  I think corn is delicious and versatile and a great vegetable to add a little sweet crunch to all kinds of different dishes.  And what could be even better?  Fire roasted corn!  It has a slightly smoky flavor perfect for pairing with Mexican dishes.  Whole Foods carries this frozen organic fire roasted corn, and when I discovered it, I think I bought them out!  I have been adding it to everything from tacos to soups to chili to a delicious vegan queso dip (stayed tuned next week for the recipe!)   The fact that it is frozen allows it to become a “pantry” item, so I can always have it on hand for last minute meals.

 

Superfood Spotlight: Green Tea

I am not a coffee drinker, but sometimes when the afternoon yawns roll in, I need a little pick-me-up.  Warm tea is always my go to, and green tea is one of my faves because of it’s abundance of health benefits (and because it’s tasty.)  Green tea is the most beneficial tea for our health because it is not oxidized (like black and oolong, for example) so it contains more of the oh-so important cancer fighting antioxidants.  It also speeds up our metabolism (yes!), lowers blood pressure, boosts immunity, and can even protect against Alzheimer’s disease.  The list goes on and on about what this mighty leaf can do for your health, so I suggest ditching the coffee and going for a cup of green tea!  Even better, matcha, which is green tea leaves in powdered form, allows you to absorb even more of the antioxidants since you are consuming the leaf directly, rather than just what is infused into the water.  You can stir matcha into your smoothie, use it in salad dressings, or dust it over your favorite sweets like vanilla ice cream or dark chocolate.  Green tea isn’t just for drinks!  Check out the recipes below for food made with green tea.

 

Green tea oatmeal from Up Root From Oregon

Green tea pancakes from One Ingredient Chef

Green tea soba soup with shrimp and shiitakes from Kitchen Daily

Green tea shortbread sandwiches from Smitten Kitchen

 

 

 

Seasonal produce: cauliflower

I have been saying for a couple years that cauliflower is the new kale.  And now that it is in peak season, it is the perfect time to get this cruciferous vegetable into your diet.  I have used cauliflower in all sorts of unconventional ways lately- in tacos, pizza crust, mashed potatoes, shredded into small granules to resemble rice, and my absolute new fave- frozen steamed cauliflower in smoothies!  Cauliflower develops a smooth, milky, nutty flavor when cooked, and is so delicious even just plain and roasted with some coconut oil (Mr. Picky’s favorite.)  What’s even better than the versatility of this amazing veg is the health benefits.  Cauliflower helps the body maintain it’s 3 most important systems for decreasing risk of cancers: detox system, anti-inflammatory system, and antioxidant system.  Check, check, and check!  I have some great recipes for cauliflower on my site, and check out these others from around the web as well.

https://pamelasalzman.com/cauliflower-crust-pizza-recipe/

https://pamelasalzman.com/crunchy-cauliflower-recipe/

 

Quinoa cauliflower patties from Sprouted Kitchen

Crispy cauliflower tacos from Love and Olive Oil

Roasted Cauliflower with Pine nuts, Meyer Lemon, and Mint from Yummy Supper

Curried cauliflower pizza from Naturally Ella

 

 

So much to be excited about today!  It’s Friday, hooray! and it’s a 3-day weekend.  Yippee!  And…I have a few more favorites to share.  Have a good one!

Linen bowl covers

As you know, I try to avoid plastic like the plague, which is why I was ecstatic when Jenni Kayne gave me these beautiful linen bowl covers made by Ambatalia.  No more plastic wrap to cover last night’s leftovers!  Each cover is made with 100% unbleached linen, lined with organic cotton, and contains a rim of elastic that allows the covers to fit snugly over bowls or dishes.  There are 5 sizes to a set, the largest being big enough to fit over a standard pie plate and the smallest perfect for mini prep bowls.  Chic and you’re saving the environment.  I think these would make such a great hostess gift!  Available at Jenni Kayne’s stores in West Hollywood, Brentwood and Montecito, California.

 

Shiva Rose Face Oil

This wonderful face oil is made by my friend Shiva Rose, one of the loveliest ladies I know.  She is a true beauty inside and out and shares my passion for all things natural and clean.  I am very picky about what I put on my face, so I don’t recommend products lightly.  I have ordered and re-ordered Shiva’s face oil 3 times!  The oil is made with a combination of organic oils including jojoba, rose hip, and kukui nut and is toxin-free.  It also has Vitamin E in it, which is my secret weapon when it comes to my face.   This handmade oil is very soothing to the skin and reduces inflammation.  I put it on every morning after my shower to start my day with glowing skin.  It also smells like a dream.  You can get this oil on Shiva’s website, target=”_blank”the Local Rose. $85

 

Therabee Culinary Honey

I have seen and bought different flavors of honey.  There’s a lady at my farmers market who sells the best raw honeys produced by bees which pollinate orange trees, avocado trees, wildflowers, sage and others.  Each honey has a slightly distinctive taste.

But until I received these culinary honeys from Therabee, I had never tasted infused honey before.  Game changer, people!  And not just infused with sweet pairings, but savory, too!  Oh, the possibilities.  These honeys are all unheated, truly raw, so they contain live, beneficial enzymes which are good for our health.

I immediately made myself my drink of the moment, a turmeric latte, and sweetened it with the Ginger + Hibiscus Honey.  Oh my stars.  Ah-mazing.  I took a little sheep yogurt and some cooked apple and topped it with some Cinnamon + Vanilla Honey.  Wow.  I’m having some friends over this weekend and I plan to use the Smoked Tomato + Thai Chile Honey on some crostini and the Ginger + Hibiscus in a few homemade Moscow mules.

Other flavors include Chipotle + Raw Cacao (is that so me or what?), Cardamom + Star Anise, Lavender + Vanilla Bean and more!  Therabee graciously offered my readers a 15% discount with the code PS2015.

 

Superfood spotlight: dried mulberries

I have recently found a new topping to spruce up my morning oatmeal- dried mulberries!  These little berries are similar in flavor and chewiness to a dried fig.  They are an excellent source of iron, calcium, vitamin C, protein, and fiber.  And, the major bonus, they contain resveratrol, which is also known as the anti-aging nutrient.  You don’t have to ask me twice to eat a few of these every day!  I found Navitas Naturals dried mulberries at Whole Foods, but they are also available on amazon.com or thrive market.com.

Besides adding to warm porridge, or granola and yogurt, I found a few interesting recipes which use dried mulberries:

Mulberry Granola by Elana’s Pantry

Crunchy Oatmeal Cookie with Dried Mulberries by Food Gal

Yogurt with Sauteed Dried Fruits and Nuts by Food & Wine

Seasonal produce: Cara Cara Oranges

There are so many varieties of citrus this time of year, it’s always hard to decide which is the best when I am perusing the market.  My favorite orange, the Cara Cara, is available right now and I can’t get enough of them.  Cara Cara oranges look like a standard orange from the outside.  On the inside, they have a deep pink flesh similar to a ruby grapefruit.  And, guess what’s hiding in that beautiful pink color?  Lycopene, which is the same nutrient found in tomatoes (which I’m sure you haven’t been getting too much of lately).  Lycopene may reduce the risk for certain cancers, especially prostate.  When these oranges are ripe, they are tender, juicy, and sweet-tart.  Grab some at your local market and I promise you will not be disappointed.

Some recipes which use Cara Cara oranges:

Cara Cara Oranges with Avocado and Feta by Not Without Salt

Radicchio, Cara Cara Orange and Quinoa Salad by The Year in Food

Sparkling Cider and Cara Cara Orange Punch by Martha Stewart

Honey-sweetened Cara Cara Orange Jam by Simple Bites

Happy new year, friends!  I hope the holidays treated you well.  Everyone I know is trying to start fresh, clear the clutter, detox, get organized, simplify!!  Today I have a few of my favorite things to share that may help you stick to those ambitious resolutions!

 

Crispy Crunchy Broccoli Florets from Trader Joe’s

Are these new or am I the last to know about Trader Joe’s addictive little crispy crunchy broccoli florets??!!  I picked them up on a whim because I was hungry and feeling too lazy to go home and make myself a snack.  And because Mr. Picky actually loves broccoli (his favorite vegetable) and, of course, chips (his favorite food.)  So I thought this would be a perfect snack for him.  Perfect for ME, too!!  I had to restrain myself from eating the entire bag in one sitting!  They remind me of freeze-dried fruit, except it’s broccoli with a little saltiness.  Mmmmmm!

The good news is that these crisps are really broccoli florets (and not some processed veggie “puffs” which don’t fool me) and one serving size contains 8 grams of dietary fiber and 7 grams of protein.  That’s amazing!  The bad news is that there’s 15 grams of fat, all of which is from palm oil.  The palm oil doesn’t bother me, but 15 grams of fat is a decent amount for a snack for a sedentary person.  For active children and adults, not such a big deal.  On the other hand,  1/2 the bag is 110 calories and 7 1/2 grams of fat which would actually be a great snack.  I’m also picturing these yummies on soup (like a crouton), in salads or on a cheese plate.  I am also going to play around with trying to make these myself in my dehydrator!

 

Stainless Steel Turntable for the Refrigerator

I’m a simple person, really.  The littlest things can just make me ECSTATIC.  Like this turntable I bought for my refrigerator.  I have a lot of nut butter jars in my fridge and it’s sort of annoying to have to take out the first two rows just to get to the ones in the back.  And it would drive me even more crazy when someone opened up a new peanut butter only to find out there was one hidden in the fridge.  Ok, so the littlest things make me crazy, too.

Problem solved with this stainless steel turntable I picked up at The Container Store for $19.99.  Now, we just have to spin the disc and all of my nut butters parade before my eyes without any effort.  I actually open the fridge when I don’t need anything just to admire my nut butter turntable.  Sigh…Smiley face….

If you aren’t into so many nut butters, you can use it for jams or other condiments.  I found this other very similar one on amazon for $15.95.

 

Succulents

I have always been into succulents, but more so since I moved to a house with almost no yard, a lot of shade and a recent drought in California.  Succulents are not only pretty in many different styles of homes, from modern to traditional, but they last a long time if cared for properly.  Actually, the best thing about succulents is that they need very little attention or water.  Perfect if you like a little life in your house but you’re kinda lazy. 😉

I think they would make a great gift to bring to someone’s house instead of flowers.  The two arrangements on the left are my latest.  The one on the left is on my outdoor dining table and the one in the middle sits on a bookcase close to the kitchen.  The pumpkins with succulents were my Thanksgiving centerpieces in 2012 and 2013.  I also used succulent arrangements for the luncheon for my daughter’s bat mitzvah.  Martha Stewart Living has good info here for DIY succulent arrangements.  Many florists and garden shops carry succulents.

 

Superfood Spotlight: Turmeric

 

Turmeric is a culinary spice used around the world, from Indian curries to American mustard.   It is related to ginger, and actually looks similar to it, and is most often hailed for its anti-inflammatory benefits. Turmeric appears to outperform many prescription drugs in its effects against several chronic, debilitating diseases, and does so with virtually no adverse side effects. Turmeric has been found to alleviate arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and even certain cancers.  I have even gargled with turmeric dissolved in warm water to reduce an inflamed throat.

You can find fresh turmeric in many natural foods markets (see photo on left) and dried/ground in most supermarkets or online (see photo on right.)  Its taste is described as mild peppery to warm and bitter while its aroma is slightly sweet kind of like a mix of orange-zest, and ginger. Once harvested, the root is boiled, dried, and ground into a bright yellow-orange powder.  I assume fresh will have a few more health benefits, but I can’t find any research on that.  Be super careful when using turmeric since it stains like crazy!

Turmeric used to be seen in recipes like curry, Harira, but it’s now all the rage in teas and lattes!  I even sprinkled it on my warm porridge this week.  Check out my dozen or so turmeric recipes here.

Other recipes from around the web that look interesting:

Broccoli with Turmeric and Tomatoes from Food & Wine

Spiced Lentil Soup with Coconut Milk by Sprouted Kitchen

Hummus and Cauliflower Tartines by Food Republic

 

Seasonal produce: Cabbage

I always say that cabbage is the most underrated vegetable.  No one talks about how amazing, versatile, delicious and healthful cabbages are!  And they’re super inexpensive!  They are grown all year round in California so I do use cabbages all the time whether raw, stuffed, sautéed, or roasted.  There are so many different varieties, from the standard green and purple, to Napa, Savoy, and hundreds more we don’t even see in our markets!  Technically kale is a cabbage, too.  In Italian, Cavolo Nero, which is a type of kale you might have seen around, means Black Cabbage.

Cabbages are rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and glucosinolates, which can be converted into isothiocyanate compounds that are cancer preventive for a variety of different cancers, including bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer, as well as detoxifying.  Cabbage also has the ability to help lower cholesterol and contains compounds beneficial to keeping the stomach lining and gut healthy.

Choose cabbage that is firm with tight leaves.  Avoid buying precut cabbage, either halved or shredded, since once cabbage is cut, it begins to lose its valuable vitamin C content.  Keeping cabbage refrigerated will help preserve its vitamins.  I always store heads of cabbage in a plastic grocery bag or a Neat-os bag.

Click here for a bunch of great recipes on my site using cabbage, including a few slaws, a sauté with fennel, and soup.