Some things are just better on toast. Avocado mash, chocolate hazelnut spread, ricotta and honey to name a few, but this pea and mint pesto just may take the cake. Fresh or thawed peas, mint, and lemon shine in this perfect-for-spring pesto. For all of you non-bread people out there, this pesto works wonders with crudités, quinoa, whole grain pasta, dolloped over salads or served on top roasted vegetables.
Read morecinco series - the basics
I teamed up with my friends at Whole Foods Market NYC to bring you The Crunchy Radish Cinco Series, a healthier take on a festive holiday. What would a Cinco de Mayo celebration be without the basics? Here are two simple Cinco essentials to keep on deck all year long.
Read moreturmeric herb falafel + minty tahini
I first tasted falafel at a NYC institution during my college days, likely after a few too many happy hour specials. I remember being transfixed by the crunchy warm orbs bursting with flavor and feeling curious about the pungent and mysterious creamy white sauce that coated the balls - and no that wasn't the discounted liquid ferments talking. Years later, and few happy hours less, I learned the deep, dark, delicious secret of most falafel balls - their immersion into a deep fryer. For a virtuous spin on traditionally fried falafel, I baked the balls and loaded them with flavorful herbs and aromatic spices. That mystery white sauce? It got swapped too for a creamy mint-laced tahini. With a more discerning approach to happy hours and street "meat", these baked falafel are the perfect remedy for curing a gnawing hunger or a painful hangover.
Read moreWhat the F is a Mung Bean?
Every year a hot new food item emerges that is touted to make you feel better and look better. But maybe this trend setting food has been around all along. Mung beans have been praised for their nutrient properties by health-minded individuals and holistic practitioners for years and, most recently, they have started making their way into the mainstream dining arena. So what exactly are mung beans, and once you find them, what the heck do you do with them?
Read moreDid Someone Say Lentil? Smokey Lentil and Kale Soup to Fix your Winter Rut
This month is all about manifesting my insatiable love for soup. Not only are soups typically forgiving and flexible, they can be quite amenable to augmentation if you happen to run out of a particular spice or herb. A hearty soup or stew can be repurposed for multiple meals throughout the week, alleviating much of the 8pm, just home from work/gym, grab a bag of blue corn chips hangry drama. For my take on lentil soup, I enriched the flavors with smoked paprika, spicy chili powder, and warm and earthy cumin to add a distinct robustness to this hearty winter soup. A handful of baby kale is added right before eating for added nutrient density and a burst of color.
Read moreThe Naughty Vegan
“The unhealthy vegan/vegetarian” - sounds like an oxymoron, but it does exist. Are you or do you know someone who leads a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle ladened with processed soy-filled fake meat and imitation cheese products, french fries, potatoes, pasta, bread, and rice with little to no vegetables? Warning: You are doing you body more harm than good!
Read moreSuper Bowl Slim Down
The Super Bowl, aside from game watching, typically consists of hours of beer guzzling, wing nibbling, and chip dipping in vast amounts that can lead to a consumption of over 2,000 calories in one sitting. Game day does not have to be unhealthy. Here are some simple, nutritious, and delicious dip and chip ideas that won’t leave you in a greasy, salty coma by the 4th quarter.
Read moreGrain Salad Goodness - Rainbow Black Rice
Rainbow black rice salad provides a welcome antioxidant and anti-inflammatory-rich meal during the dark and cold winter months. Black rice is fiber-rich and aids with digestion, satiation, and glycemic control. The pigmentation that causes the rice to be black is anthocyanin, an antioxidant also found in blackberries and blueberries. Additionally, black rice is shown to be cardio protective by assisting with lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Read moreAutumn Chili with a Twist
Chili is always an autumn staple in my kitchen, mainly because of its accessibility and versatility. It can really be as basic or as complex as you want but, regardless of your chili style, it can serve as a great platform for a complex carbohydrate, fiber, and vegetable protein-dense meal.
I'm always one who gets excited over the prospect of garnishes, and chili is the perfect way to provide yourself and your dining companions with options to add their flavor specific flare. For the chili, I made a little pico, some lime tinged "crema", toasted organic corn tortillas, and, of course the obligatory avocado.
Urban flame roasted poblanos, coffee, raw cacao nibs, and aged balsamic vinegar all played their parts in adding depth of flavor to an autumn kitchen staple.
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