Category: Recipes

A New Year’s Eve Meal to Remember

FotoWhen I was growing up, my mother had the splendid idea to teach my sister how to cook by letting her prepare lunch for all of us for a few summers in a row. It was a little stressful at times – both for my mom and for my sister – but the outcome is that my sister learned to master the skill of cooking. Today she takes on any kind of recipe, but is particularly good at picking the ones that are fast, easy and taste great. This is a selection of her favorite recipes, made specially for us this New Year’s Eve.  They are better suited for the occasional dinner party than the every day evening meal, but worth having in any repertoire. She has shared them with her friends in the form of holiday letters over the last few years; I am excited to be able to share them today. I guess this is my long deserved reward for spending several summers eating my sister’s less than stellar training lunches. Come and cook with us (and my sister)! Continue reading “A New Year’s Eve Meal to Remember”

Perfect Pot of (Brown) Rice

While there are many people who inspire me in the kitchen (Jessica being the first), Meredith McCarty is the only person I study with at least twice a year.  A dedicated macrobiotic eater, and chef, Meredith has been teaching about the benefits of a healthy diet for most of her life, and she has the looks to show it (older than my mom, she looks younger than my sister).  One of the best things I have learned from Meredith is to always make a pot of rice, a pot of beans and a pot of broth every week. This way, you’ll be eating plenty of whole grains, healthy proteins and nutritious vegetable broths and won’t get stuck eating pasta with bolognese sauce every other day. In previous posts we wrote about beans, and broths. Today I’m going to share with you one of my best secrets: how to make the perfect pot of rice! Continue reading “Perfect Pot of (Brown) Rice”

Lamb, the Other Red Meat

The vegan, vegetarian, meat-eating debate continues to rage as we face increasing obesity issues, and environmental struggles across the country.  The choice to remove meat from your diet is a personal one, and we won’t pretend to be versed enough to attempt to convince you one way or another; however, for ourselves and our families, meat is a product we choose to consume sporadically (and perhaps more often for the children) in a conscious fashion.  In generations before us, the local butcher could tell you the provenance, name and hobbies of the animal where the meat came from.  These days, factory farmed meats are ubiquitous, but a little research and choice about the meat you eat will go a long way towards improving your health.  One way we attempt to get variety in our meat consumption is by choosing less popular meats. To do this, we go for lamb instead of beef.   As it is a less popular red meat, it is less likely to be factory farmed.  The trick to lamb is knowing how to cook it quickly, and deliciously.  That’s where we come in.  Come and cook with us!  Continue reading “Lamb, the Other Red Meat”

Winter Meal Ideas

Week Monday                    Tuesday                Wednesday             Thursday               Friday    
1 Spaghetti
alla Puttanesca		 Green Salad
Ricotta Flan		 Poached Chicken
Green Beans		 Lemon Sole
Potatoes
Mixed Greens		 Hummus
Pasta with Tomatoes
and Mozzarella
2 Tomato Soup
Salmon
Mixed Greens		 Bean Soup
Cauliflower Salad		 Beets, Goat Cheese
Quinoa, Spinach
Chicken Sausages		 Vegetable Risotto
Tomato Salad		 Meatballs
Roasted Potatoes
Bok Choi
 3 Sunday Roast
Leftovers
Mixed Greens 		 Pork Chops
Roasted Yams
Kale Chips		 Dad’s Dinner:
PIZZA		 Quinoa Veggies
Green Beans		 Apple Parsnip Soup
Milk Rice
    4 Chili con Carne
Tomato Salad		 Fajitas with Skirt
Stake and Black
Beans		 Chicken Spinach Salad
Roasted Fruit		 Grilled Cheese
Sandwiches
Cauliflower Salad		 Goulash
Coleslaw

Island Hopping in Greece

In the summer of 1994 my friend Susanne and I packed our bags and took the train to the Munich airport with a few weeks of summer holiday to spare.  We were in search of a last-minute trip somewhere fabulous. And while we were thinking of Bali, Fiji or Tahiti, we were equally thrilled when the best tickets for sale allowed us to spend three weeks island hopping in Greece.  Continue reading “Island Hopping in Greece”