One of my all-time favorite Sicilian dishes is Bucatini con le Sarde (bucatini, being a fat, long, hollow pasta, with sardines, currants and pine nuts….mmm!). While I don’t eat wheat- or gluten-based foods these days (including, sadly, bucatini), I still love and appreciate the deliciousness of sardines. These small, oily fish are a concentrated source […]
Liver: An Ancient Superfood
Growing up, my mother used to cook liver once a week or every two weeks. I loved liver and regarded it as a “treat”, sometimes confusing it with steak, which I also loved! As a child, I had no idea that liver was a nutrition powerhouse. It is, in fact, an original superfood. Many traditional […]
Shiso Pesto and 100% Buckwheat Noodles
Shiso, a.k.a., “perilla”, is a Japanese herb related to the mint family. In the summer, I’m happy to be able to find this at my favorite “beyond organic” vendor at a nearby farmers’ market in the City. Shiso actually originated in China, where it was used as a medicinal herb. It later made its way […]
Broccoli-Collagen Smoothie Bowl with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
While I think that having a smoothie or smoothie bowl for breakfast (or any other meal) is totally 100% fine (and fun), I rarely have one myself. About six years ago, I went through a year-long phase, where I had a green smoothie for breakfast almost every single day. It was chockfull of leafy green […]
Basil-Mint Pesto
Eating enough healthy fat is essential for hormone balance, as well as for immune, heart and brain health. Olive oil nourishes the thyroid and has been touted as a fertility food for women. Regular consumption of olive oil is may also improve sperm integrity and function in men, according to a recent study. One of […]
Detox Spinach-Pear Smoothie
My beef with commercial “green” smoothies is that they often contain more fruit (sugar) than actual greens. Commercial smoothies can also contain ingredients that sound “healthy”—for example: coconut nectar, agave, mango puree, apple juice or yogurt—but are really hidden sources of sugar that add up to a high-calorie or high-carb load for that smoothie. I […]
Blueberry-Cauli Smoothie
I’ve pretty much banished refined “white foods”, like rice, potatoes, flour, bread (even gluten-free breads) and pasta, from my diet. With one exception: cauliflower “rice”. From cauliflower mash to cauliflower pizza, cauliflower is all the rage as a smart carb, low-carb substitute for common blood sugar-spiking processed “white foods”. Cauliflower is the other “white food”, […]
Poached Chicken with Scallion Pesto
One of my favorite ways to eat a whole, pasture-raised chicken is to poach it. It’s a two-for-one: not only do you get a delectable, toothsome, easy-to-digest chicken, you also end up with homemade chicken broth that you can use for other dishes or sip daily to boost your immune system. By the way, a […]
Slow Burn Buckwheat Gingerbread Brownies
Do you enjoy a slow burn? Then you’ll love these gingerbread brownies! (And, no, you won’t be rating Scoville heat units…there are no chili peppers in these brownies!) Moist and flavorful, a combination of gently warming spices (including fresh ginger root) natural sweeteners and buckwheat flour, makes these brownies a delicious, warming treat (and digestive aid!) […]
Oodles of Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles)
If your garden is overflowing with zucchini, or neighbors are gifting you with bags of homegrown summer squash, enjoy your unexpected abundance by making zoodles, a.k.a. zucchini noodles. Because I have hypothyroidism and NCGS (Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity), I don’t eat wheat or other gluten-containing grains. It’s not a hardship though! I find zoodles more satisfying […]