Making popcorn that doesn't come from the microwave is not supposed to be hard. The other day I put a little coconut oil in my stovetop popper and started to make popcorn like I always do. The oil, instead of just getting hot and popping the corn, started smoking like crazy and burned the corn kernels to a crisp. I do not know...
Yesterday morning, just before the sun came up, we had a mini storm. It was just a little rain. Just a little thunder and lightening. Just enough to make everything smell fresh for just a little while. I knew it wouldn't last and I knew that it would still be 90+ degrees later on, but I was still tempted to put on a...
So here's the thing about December- sometimes it makes us a little squishy (and I don't mean from eating too many cookies, although that is certainly a possibility too). It is cold outside and it gets dark before dinner. Our friends are sharing their holiday joy on Facebook and all the images painted in our minds by Christmas songs and movies can make...
I have really been on a bulgar wheat kick lately! I love the hearty texture and versatility of it. It can be savory or sweet, which makes it great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This salad is one of my favorite combinations of flavors and it is a healthy source of protein, iron, and fiber. Bulgar Taco Salad w/ Cilantro Lime Dressing Salad:...
I have been doing a lot of running lately! I am running about four times a week and gradually ramping up the milage because I am training for a half marathon (13.1 miles) that I will run in October. Along with more miles, I am also increasing the amount of protein that I am eating to support the extra work that my muscles...
On Saturday I stopped by the farmers' market to pick up one or two things. Because it was late in the morning, I got lucky by getting a deal on some really nice peaches- 5 pounds for $5! The peaches are great but there are so many of them so I have had to come up with ideas on how to use up...
Tempeh is one of my favorite “freaky vegetarian foods”. It could be considered a “meat analog” because it is high in protein, although, it is not intended to fool anyone into believing that it is meat. It is made from fermented soybeans. I know, I know, the word “fermented” freaks me out too. Don't worry, it doesn't taste like dirty gym socks. It...
Nutritional yeast isn't exactly the most appetizing name for a food, is it? Some bloggers have taken to calling it "nooch" which doesn't sound any better to me! Even so, it can be used in a variety of ways and I really like the flavor. Nutritional yeast is usually in a flaked or powdered form and many brands are fortified with vitamin B12,...
Amaranth is commonly referred to as a grain, but it is actually a tiny seed with big benefits. It is a great source of calcium, iron, protein, magnesium, zinc, and amino acids. Just 1/4 cup (uncooked) amaranth contains 7 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and 21% of the RDA for iron. Amaranth can be cooked as a hot cereal, ground into...
Since I began down my vegetarian path over 15 years ago, I have heard my share of people's comments on vegetarians and our "weird" foods. People say things like, "the vegetarian diet is an interesting one!" (usually while rolling their eyes). While it is true that health-conscious people have a wide assortment of foods that we include in our diets, I don't consider...
My kids are really good about eating their veggies. They definitely have their favorites but I try to keep offering the ones that they haven't liked in the past and ask only that they take one bite (unless they want more!). Zucchini is a tricky one because it can sometimes be a little bitter. I took full advantage of the spirit of St....
I love the convenience of energy bars but I can't eat any one kind very often because I get burned out on them very quickly. Besides that, they tend to be expensive. These bars are easy to make and they taste great. The ingredients are flexible too, so that really helps to minimize the burn-out factor. Feel free to customize them to your...
My last couple of CSA boxes have contained different kinds of cabbage and, while I like cabbage, I don't eat it as often as I do other things. With a small Savoy cabbage threatening to go south in my fridge, I decided to throw together some soup. This was one of those "something-out-of-nothing" kind of nights for dinner because I didn't have much...
Hello, I'm back! Sort of. I didn't actually go anywhere, but I did have sinus surgery last week and I've been resting and recovering. I had pretty bad seasonal allergies for the first 25 to 30 years of my life and I still have them now, but they have significantly improved. Between the effects of years of sniffing and sneezing and a car...
For our "Traditional Non-Traditional" Christmas tacos, I started with dry pinto beans. I love the way that they taste when they have been slowly simmered with a few flavorful ingredients. Below is my recipe. You can use these beans in tacos, salads, quesadillas, burritos, and more. They are versatile and provide a healthy dose of protein, iron, folic acid, manganese, and fiber. Taco...
I occasionally get burned out on my regular snacks and, with Christmas on its way, I'm craving spicy flavors and warm baked things. With visions of gingerbread dancing in my head, I created this granola bar recipe. These wholesome bars are rich in iron, protein, and fiber and can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free oats. Gingerbread Granola Bars Makes about 9...
Maybe it is our broken heater or maybe it is Thanksgiving leftover burnout, but our meals have taken a spicy turn this week. We've had Thai spicy green beans with tofu and curried red lentils. I received my CSA box this morning and I fully expect to be creating a meal or two that involves chiles and other belly-warming things. These curried lentils...
I'm finally thawing out after a cold but fun Thanksgiving weekend. We went with family to Lake Tahoe and holed up in a little cabin for a few days. I looked around online for a Turkey Trot in the area for Thanksgiving morning but I wasn't able to find a race close enough. I am, however, thankful for that in retrospect! Thanksgiving morning...
You guys know how I feel about muffins, right? I'm just about burned out on all things pumpkin (well, maybe just one pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving...), so I have officially entered my "cranberry orange/tangerine" phase of the year. This seems to happen every November, which is fine with me- the combination is delicious! I love these muffins and so do my muffin-loving kids....
I'm back! I didn't actually go anywhere but I've had a bit of a busy week, technically speaking. First, my website was hacked. This was not awesome. It didn't take my site down, but it did cause some issues and gave me a major case of the hebegebees. Hackers are so creepy. After I cleaned up much of the hacker mess, my site...
