I first experienced the tender stems of white asparagus on a bike-barge tour from Amsterdam to Brussels in April of 2011. Like the gorgeous expanses of flowering tulip fields, white asparagus heralds the beginning of Spring and is revered as the ultimate Spring delicacy in Germany and The Netherlands where the traditional specialty of White […]
Salads
Thai Green Papaya Salad
Thai dishes are known for their sublime balance of all five tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami, usually achieved with palm sugar, lime, tamarind, and fish sauce. About once a month, members of our “foodie family” visit the Buddhist temple Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep in Chino Hills to experience the food court/farmers market they […]
Not So Traditional French Lentil Salad
If you only know lentils as tiny brownish-gray legumes that are boiled down into a not very appetizing looking soup, give French green lentils in a colorful salad a try and rethink your position on these nutritional powerhouse pulses. Legumes are typically low in fat, contain no cholesterol, and are high in folate, potassium, iron and […]
4th of July Recipe Roundup – Deliciously Healthy and Easy!
When planning your 4th of July party or picnic, its best to rely on simple dishes that are easy to prepare so you can join in on the fun and enjoy the company of your friends and family – unless you’re one who relishes spending half the day in the kitchen or tending the grill. […]
Year of the Pulse and a Couscous-Lentil Zoodle Salad
Normally, when I think of lentils, all that comes to mind is lentil soup and warm French lentil salad that comes in a mini, aged cast iron crock at one of our favorite restaurants that we frequent when in Paris. Other than that – I draw a blank. But knowing how nutritious they are and […]
Hello Summer! Strawberry Power Salad with Wheat Berries
Trade paradise at the beach in Southern California for a humble abode in Arkansas? Yes, we do. And not nearly often enough. If you’ve never been to the area known as the Ozarks, you should go sometime, especially if you have an affinity for the great outdoors and enjoy water sports – other than surfing, […]
6 Simple Tips to Shape Up for Summer
Spring in Southern California means it’s time to get serious about firming and toning our winter pale bods because beach and pool days are quickly approaching. This weekend was glorious and what SoCal beach babes and bros live for – temps in the 80’s without a cloud in the sky and slightly windy conditions drawing […]
Chefs Toys and a Vegetarian Asian Chopped Salad
Eating and cooking at home is essential for any fitness and weight loss plan. If you have ever looked at the nutritional information (required for restaurants with 20 or more locations) you know what I’m talking about. If the calories don’t blow your mind…or your waist line, the sodium content will. The perception that ordering […]
Ottolenghi’s Tomato and Pomegranate Salad
If anyone could be called the leader of the “Vegi Renaissance”, it has to be Yotom Ottolenghi, although he readily admits to having been paralyzed at the prospect of writing a weekly vegetarian recipe for his Guardian column back in 2006. Hard to believe given the breadth of exciting vegetable, grain and legume creations shared […]
In A French Kitchen – Melon Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette
Muster enough energy to grate a zucchini from the garden and scoop out some melon balls and you’ll be blessed with a gorgeous and refreshing salad perfect for these steamy dog days of summer. Straight from the French countryside of Normandy, Susan Hermmann Loomis shares an array of mouthwatering dishes along with evocative stories, everyday […]