When I was growing up, one of my mother’s staple home-cooked dishes was stir-fried broccoli with sliced flank steak with big hunks of ginger in the mix. As a kid, I wasn’t crazy about broccoli; I didn’t much like flank steak; nor did I care for large chunks of ginger in my food. In recent […]
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 […]
Ginger Pork Chops
It may be in my ancestral DNA, but I absolutely love the combination of pork and ginger! Pasture-raised pork is an excellent source of protein. Pork also contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals that support thyroid health, including B vitamins for energy, growth and metabolism, as well as selenium, zinc and iron, minerals that […]
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, […]
Braised Lamb Shanks in Red Wine Sauce with Mushrooms and Rosemary
Braised Lamb Shanks in Red Wine Sauce with Mushrooms and Rosemary Serves 2 to 4 2 large or (4 small) lamb shanks 1 cup dry red wine, like a Rhone, Bordeaux, Burgundy 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar 2 teaspoons of Celtic sea salt 1 teaspoon of freshly ground […]
Makeshift “Ratatouille”
How often have you bought produce from the farmers’ market only to get busy at work, and later discover that once beautiful produce has “died”, untouched, in your crisper?! Same with leftovers…how often have you stored leftovers in the fridge, with the intention of eating them, then promptly forgotten about them—until their pungent stink smacks […]
Ginger Lamb Ragu
Ragus are a part of classic Italian cooking. A traditional ragu is a meat-based sauce that typically consists of ground meat (beef, lamb, veal, pork or poultry), a sofrito of minced onions, carrots and celery (sometimes, pancetta); vegetables; tomato puree; wine, broth and, sometimes, milk or heavy cream. My anti-inflammatory version of ragu omits wine […]
Scallion-Shallot Turkey Burgers
Allium vegetables are in the the garlic and onion family and include: –Red onion –Leeks –Ramps –Scallions –Chives –Garlic Chives, a.k.a. Chinese Chives –Shallots Allium vegetables contain organosulfur compounds, which contribute to their distinctly pungent aroma. These sulfur compounds are also associated with anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefits. Allium vegetables, like onions, red onion, scallions and […]