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 […]
Hay and Straw “Noodles” with Bolognese-style Ragu
When there’s a hint of chill in the air, I love making my own version of paglia e fieno served with a homemade ragu. Paglia e fieno, Italian for “straw and hay”, is a classic Italian dish, featuring a combination of yellow and green tagliatelle, fettucine or linguini (whatever your druthers) served with some variation […]
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 […]
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”, […]
Your Healthy Holiday Gift Guide
The idea of giving and/or receiving the “perfect” holiday gift can evolve over time, depending on where we are in life. In my twenties, for example, receiving (or giving) health or wellness-themed gifts were the furthest thing from my mind. I remember eagerly unwrapping the first Christmas gifts from my then-boyfriend of six months. What […]
The Power of Protein
Come September, we want (and need) more energy! There are schedules to juggle. Places to be. People to see. Reaching for more caffeine and sugar to boost energy, however, tips most of us into hormonal imbalance, setting us up to feel more anxious, overwhelmed and stressed. Caffeine and sugar are especially hard on the thyroid and […]
Banana-Buckwheat-Flax Pancakes
Banana-Buckwheat-Flax Pancakes 1 cup buckwheat flour *Recommended brand: Bob’s Red Mill Organic Buckwheat Flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon finely ground Celtic sea salt 1 tablespoon organic coconut palm sugar* *Recommended brands: Wholesome or Big Tree Farms Optional: 1/2 teaspoon cardamom 1 cup unsweetened full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream 1 beaten egg 1/2 mashed ripe […]
The One Nutrient Your Heart Loves…
Can you guess which nutrient your heart loves—and absolutely needs? If you guessed “chocolate”, you’re close…but no cigar! It’s the mineral, magnesium, of which dark chocolate (with at least 70% cacao content) contains an abundance. Why is magnesium so vital for heart health? Magnesium works synergistically with other important nutrients that support heart health, including […]
Avocado-Spinach Dip
Rich. Buttery. Smooth. Fresh. “Healthy” never tastes boring when there is avocado in the mix! When I crave a fatty, feel-good food, avocado is my go-to nosh. This easy-to-make avocado-spinach dip is one of the many ways I enjoy avocado (and an easy way to eat spinach). It’s also a crowd pleaser. Fresh basil leaves […]
Carb-licious Comfort Food: Apple Butternut Squash Soup
Turn around cravings for processed white carbs—bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, baked goods—by incorporating more starchy orange carbs, like this naturally sweet and satisfying apple butternut squash soup. This smart carb combination marries immune-boosting butternut squash, apples and parsley. The good news: making this soup yourself requires very little “cooking” skills. Yes, you’ll do some prep […]