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 […]
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 […]
Braised Lacinato Kale with Onion and Carrot
In autumn and winter, I like to braise dark leafy greens, like kale, in my enameled cast iron Dutch oven. Braising is a gentle cooking method that calls for a small amount of liquid (I use homemade chicken stock; you can also use filtered water), low heat and a covered pot. Cooking kale I favor […]
Roasted Beets with Fresh Mint Pesto
The simple combination of thinly sliced roasted beets, drizzled with olive oil, and topped with homemade fresh mint pesto is a delicious summer treat. Beets are a root vegetable that have a distinct earthy-sweet taste. An anti-inflammatory, high-water food, beets are a good source of vitamins, like folate (vitamin B9), vitamins C and K, and […]
Chronic Inflammation and Your Immune Health
It is a hot, hot, HOT month…and I don’t mean in a sexy sense. Right now, we are a country divided, inflamed with anger, frustration, anxiety, fear and confusion. What information is accurate? Who can we trust? How can we be proactive about our health? When our bodies are INFLAMED by emotion, physical or environmental […]
Chicory & Romaine Salad with Mustard-Shallot Vinaigrette
Foods that are high in water can contribute to overall hydration. Bonus: they are also ideal fat-loss foods because, in addition to being high in water, they also contain fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. High water vegetables, like radishes, are low in calories and sugar and high in fiber, so you can eat unlimited amounts. […]
Arugula, Red Radish and Pumpkin Seed Salad
Arugula, Radish and Pumpkin Seed Salad Serves 4 to 6 1 large bag organic wild arugula (baby or regular) and / or other mixed organic greens (e.g., mesclun) 3 to 4 red radishes, well washed, ends trimmed, sliced thinly 3 organic scallions, well washed, green part only, thinly sliced 1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds For […]
Grilled Cinnamon Poussin
A poussin is a young chicken, sometimes referred to as a “spring chicken”. At slaughter, poussins are less than a month old and weigh between 1 and 1-1/2 pounds. Whether roasted, poached or grilled, they are delectable because the meat is so tender. A word about cinnamon: Cinnamon is an anti-inflammatory spice loaded with antioxidants; […]
Braised Rabbit in Almond Sauce
In my past life as a food and lifestyles writer, I remember a trip to Catalonia, Spain (which hugs the Mediterranean coast in northeast Spain) with great fondness. I spent time at an olive oil estate, learning their production methods, and also took a side trip to Barcelona. Catalan home cooking demonstrates a real affinity […]
Roasted Parsnip Puree
Roasted parsnip puree is a delicious alternative to mashed potatoes—all the pleasure…without any blood sugar spike-and-crash downside. Parsnip is a root vegetable in the carrot family; in fact, a parsnip looks like a cream-colored carrot. Parsnips are best eaten cooked (NOT raw!) and have a very sweet, slightly nutty flavor. Nutrient-dense parsnips are a slow-digested, […]