Gluten Free Raisin Bran Muffins Recipe

My friend Peggy Curry is a local celebrity in Manhattan Beach. Peggy taught cooking classes for many years and she founded a nonprofit organization called Growing Great which is how I initially met her.  Growing Great teaches kids at the elementary school level about nutrition and gardening.  The program is in dozens of schools and has impacted thousands and thousands of children.  I was on the board for about 7 years and I also volunteered as a school docent for about 10 years.  Peggy is an absolute visionary who has changed many, many lives!Continue reading

Kung Pao Cauliflower Recipe

If you’re trying to eat more plants and have been struggling with new ideas and making plants taste flavorful and interesting, I am here to help! Before I continue, I am giving you one last chance to join my very popular Meal Planning | Meal Prep | Batch Cooking Bootcamp which starts THURSDAY, JANUARY 13th!  I am offering two times, either 9:00 am PT or 1:00 pm PT and payment plans are available.  You don’t have to attend live of course. Click here for more information and use the code MEAL100 for $100 off!Continue reading

9 Healthy Soups to Start the New Year

I’m all for a reset every now and then if I’ve gotten myself into some habits that don’t make me feel good.   I have the type of personality that can fall into habits easily, good or bad, but it can be tough for me to break them.  But I don’t plan for any special restrictive diet on January 2.  Yes, I like Prolon (a modifed fast for longevity) and Kroma (a reset), which are both very different from each other but also not “cleanses.” I think the whole idea of a “cleanse” is confusing.  Eating nutritious food is not going to “cleanse” me of past poor eating.  Sweating, going to the bathroom, and a properly functioning liver can help remove toxins from the body.  But instead, I like to start off the year eating food that brings me back to the way I like to feel.  I make a lot of soups at this time of year. I like warm food in the winter and soups are both digestible and filling.  If you’re trying to get out of holiday food mode, try soup for dinner every night for a week! These are some of my favorites and ones that you may have forgotten about:Continue reading

Mini Carrot Dogs in a Blanket Recipe

Be prepared to be blown away by this recipe!  It’s totally crazy and fun and everyone will go wild for it.  Is it health food?  Eh, not exactly.  I don’t think packaged biscuit dough is health food, but baby carrots are a million times better for you than processed hot dogs!  And believe me when I tell you that you will think you are eating a little pig in a blanket.Continue reading

Sheet Pan Pancakes Recipe

Whether you are cooking for a lot of people or you want an easy breakfast for Christmas morning, I’ve got you covered.  I no longer make pancakes to order in a skillet when I’m at my mom’s house.  The kids devour these sheet pan pancakes and I just take orders before I stick the sheet pan in the oven.  Usually the kids want the chocolate chips and the adults opt for fruit. Continue reading

Cheesy Broccoli Casserole Recipe

I am listening to Christmas music (“Holiday Favorites” on amazon music) while I type this and I am instantly uplifted!  I normally am not a stressed out person.  In my family, I am typically the one who keeps everyone calm, but during the weeks leading up to the holidays, I seem to have too much on my plate (no pun intended!) This morning I started to feel a little stressed out.  But the combination of the music and looking at this recipe that I made for our Christmas dinner last year have me in the holiday spirit!Continue reading

Cranberry Balsamic Chicken Recipe

The holidays are upon us!  I vote for festive, seasonal, but uncomplicated cooking please.  I can’t be eating cookies or cheese and crackers all day, every day.  But I am also busier than usual and I don’t have a ton of time to cook up fancy meals. I taught this Cranberry-Balsamic Chicken recipe two years ago after I threw some leftover fresh cranberries into a pan with marinated chicken.  Delicious, pretty and EASY! Continue reading

Sticky Toffee Pudding (Cake) Recipe

My daughter Anna and I are huge fans of “The Great British Baking Show.” We are not normally cooking competition consumers, but this one has us captivated! It was actually because of this show that I learned that British “pudding” is not like American pudding.  I always assumed pudding was pudding.  Not so!  Continue reading