Chocolate Chip Almond Cookies Adapted from Elizabeth Barbone’s Gluten-Free Baking Yield: 16 cookies 2 cups finely ground almond flour, sifted (8 ounces) 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/3 cup dark maple syrup (it will be labeled Grade A, dark color with robust taste) 2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract 2 tablespoons unsweetened chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350°F. Adjust oven rack to the middle position. Line […]
Lemon-Ginger Almond Cookies
Imagine coming home on a cold, snowy winter day—or any day really—and finding a plate of just-baked lemon-ginger almond cookies waiting for you! That’s baked love…! In my humble opinion, the combination of lemon and ginger are a match made in foodie heaven! Grated organic lemon zest and fresh minced ginger root are a sprightly […]
How EMFs Can Affect Our Health (and How to Limit Exposure)
Every day, we are bombarded by a toxic smog of EMFs (electric magnetic fields), disguised as modern day conveniences—WiFi, our wireless devices, household appliances—that we cannot imagine living without! In order to understand how overexposure to EMFs can adversely affect our health, it is important to understand what EMFs are. What are EMFs? EMF stands […]
Greek-Style Stewed White Fish with Horta
Horta is Greek for “greens”. And Greece is home to over 300 varieties of wild edible greens, including chicories, arugula, dandelion, golden thistle, mustard greens, purslane, wild fennel, chard, spinach and various other greens in the cabbage family, as well as herbs, like nettles and sorrel. This is my riff on this Greek home-style dish. […]
Bitter Beauty: Radicchio
Radicchio is one of my favorite cold weather vegetables. It is also known as Cichorium intybus and Italian chicory, and it belongs to the Asteraceae (daisy) family that includes other chicory vegetables, like Belgian endive. Radicchio has a distinct bitter flavor. You can eat it raw, but I prefer it cooked, preferably braised with garlic and […]
Stress, COVID-19 and Weight Gain
If you have gained unwanted weight over the last seven months…you are NOT alone! These have been unbelievably stressful, unprecedented times. I get it. I hear you—and I feel you—100%. That said, word of advice: it behooves you to start working towards a healthy weight NOW—rather than wait until January 1st or “later”. Another virus […]
Understanding the Stress Response and Weight Gain
Our stress response is designed to help us survive an immediate threat. Let’s say you spot a saber-toothed tiger headed your way. The amygdala, a neural network involved in the processing of memory and emotions (primarily fear), sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the part of your brain that communicates with […]
How to Naturally Release Stress-Induced Weight Gain
If you want to release extra weight—especially during these uncertain times—basic self-care practices are key. Mindset is where you need to start. When you come from a place of anxiety, anger, fear, resentment or unrealistic expectations, your body will perceive these thoughts and emotions as “stress”, making it very difficult to release weight. Reduce anxiety. […]
Grilled Pasture-Raised Pork Chops with Jerk Marinade
A little natural sweetness (low-glycemic coconut sugar) and a lot of spice (allspice, serrano, ginger) make everything nice in this mouthwatering jerk marinade… The aroma. The taste. The experience! Pasture-raised pork chops are a perfect complement. Also on my plate: organic arugula dressed with raw apple cider vinegar and olive oil and zoodles with scallion […]
Ginger-Pear Clafoutis
Our Bartlett pear tree yielded a frugal bounty this year. What we were able to reap went straight into this pear-ginger clafoutis. A clafoutis is a rustic French country dessert that traditionally calls for eggs, milk, sugar, flour and seasonal fruit. My version is a cross between a souffle and a custard; it’s also dairy-free, […]