Supermarket tomatoes have nothing on summer, garden tomatoes. Â Tomatoes need sunlight, heat, and rich soil to develop their sweet flavor and juiciness. Â And once picked, they should not be refrigerated in order to preserve that sweetness. Â Even though tomatoes are super versatile and can be showcased in a million ways, my favorite way to eat them is literally picked right off the plant with a sprinkle of salt. When I was growing up, I would go out into the garden with a salt shaker! Â Continue reading
Clamboil Recipe
![](https://xnk5f6.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads//2019/07/seafood-boil_12-588x392.jpg)
The favorite meal during my summer week on Long Island is always, hands-down, the clam boil. Â What’s not to love? Â It’s super fun, delicious, and just screams summer. Â In past years my son and my nephew have actually collected mussels at the beach to contribute towards the clam boil. Â They require a lot of cleaning, so that doesn’t happen every year.Continue reading
Fruity Iced Yerba Mate Recipe
![](https://xnk5f6.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads//2019/07/IMG_2613-2-588x784.jpg)
Summer fruits are my favorite and I often put them in pitchers of water with or without fresh mint, with or without cucumber, and tell my kids it’s “spa water.”  🙂  The fruit flavors the water so subtly and makes it look beautiful which is my goal so that everyone is more inclined to keep hydrated during the hot summer months.Continue reading
S’mores Bars Recipe
Â
Hello from Portugal! Â It’s our first time to this beautiful country and we are both totally smitten. Â I’ve been posting many stories every day on Instagram and I am considering saving them all to highlights at the end of the trip. Â Many people have asked about my husband’s plant-based diet and how he is managing. Â He introduced fish back into his diet several months ago and is doing well with that, better in fact than without any animal products. Â When we travel, he isn’t quite as strict about small amounts of dairy or egg in dishes. That gets to be too stressful and vacations should be about enjoyment and relaxation.Continue reading
Spicy Tequila Cocktail Recipe
I haven’t posted a cocktail in a long time since this mint, cucumber, and vodka cocktail. The fact is, I am not much of a booze drinker.  I like my hot water all day every day 😉 plus a yerba mate or matcha in the morning.  But cocktails have come a long way in the last few years.  There are so many creative and delicious drinks that I have come across in local restaurants and when I travel.Continue reading
American Flag Pie Recipe
I don’t know what took me so long to make a pie like this since pies are MY FAVORITE thing to bake. Â The irony is that pies aren’t exactly the most healthful thing in the world to eat, and I hardly touch them when they’re offered. Â But it’s hard to beat a homemade pie. Â They taste light years better than store bought and now more than ever, it’s imperative to be using the cleanest ingredients possible, especially when it comes to grain flours (see this article about glyphosate and wheat and other grains) Â and sugar, which is often genetically modified and overused in commercially prepared desserts.Continue reading
Crostini with Burrata and Blackberry-Thyme Chia Jam Recipe
I have really cut back significantly on flour-based foods like pasta, bread, and baked goods. Â Part of the reason is to maintain better blood sugar stability/lower inflammation and part of the reason is the prevalence of glyphosate in non-organic grains. Â That said, I am no perfectionist and I choose to eat in a way that balances healthfulness and happiness. Â Stressing out about food is counterproductive. Â On the other hand, I will not just throw in the towel and eat whatever the heck I please in the name of YOLO (“you only live once,” as the kids say.)Continue reading
Cherry-Vanilla Yerba Mate Smoothie
This post is sponsored by the National Institute for Argentine Yerba Mate. All opinions are my own.
It’s smoothie season! Â I never drink smoothies or smoothie bowls or anything cold for that matter when the weather is anything less than warm. Â Cold drinks and foods, as well as too much raw food, cool down the body. Â That’s not good if you’re trying to stay warm. Â I also find that many people do better with warmer foods since they’re easier on the digestive system. Â Â My son is 15 and can pretty much handle anything, so he has a smoothie almost every morning for breakfast. Â That said, we live in Southern California where it never really gets too chilly.Continue reading