Vegetarian

As a kid, I never liked butternut squash, it was always mushy and flavorless.  Years later, I learned how to make it.  It is funny how subtle things in a recipe sometimes make all the difference in whether we like or dislike something.  Growing up, butternut squash was one of those foods that I was […]

Thanksgiving is nothing without the cranberry sauce. This slightly sweet, slightly tart compote is essential at a Thanksgiving table if you ask me. And for the record, I am not talking about the canned stuff.  I believe in shortcuts at times, especially around the holidays when the sheer volume of tasks associated with hosting a […]

This is my mother-in-law’s pumpkin curry soup, and it is fantastic. The first time I had this was at Thanksgiving dinner when my husband and I were merely dating. I loved it from the first sip.  It is a simple blended soup, but the sweet curried onions elevate this soup to a whole new level. […]

Do you love soup?  I sure do.  More than most other foods, I think that soup often has memories attached to it: like being nursed back to health with some homemade chicken and dumpling soup prepared by my mom.  My mom’s soup somehow always did the trick. I’m not sure the soup healed me, but […]

This simple, crunchy cabbage salad goes well with just about anything, and even the kids will eat it!  I like it so much, I make it year-round, as it is easy to make, especially when I’m in a hurry.  I was first introduced to this type of cabbage salad at a good friend’s house who […]

Tofu lettuce cups have become a favorite of mine.  To be honest, I have always loved the lettuce wrap concept, beginning years ago with In-and-Out’s bunless, lettuce wrap “protein style” burger, which I discovered long before I even moved to California.  Tofu has also been a staple in my house.  My boys started eating tofu […]

Cauliflower quinoa vegetable rice is an easy, flavorful, and delicious side dish that you can serve with just about anything.  Cauliflower rice, or riced cauliflower as it’s also called, has become incredibly popular in recent years as a low-carb alternative to rice.  Don’t get me wrong: I love rice and I always have.  But I […]

I call this my California vegetarian burrito bowl: it’s nothing fancy, but it’s a favorite of mine.  It’s rather easy to make, adaptable, and healthy.  This one-bowl meal is a great, reliable option for busy nights when you need something fast that’s not from the freezer. This is also a great meal option for my […]

A beautiful summer salad is something we could all afford to eat more regularly.  Most people go to farmer’s markets and are excited to buy a collection of beautiful seasonal fruits and vegetables; but later at home, it is not always clear what to make with the cornucopia of items purchased.  When in doubt, I […]

Strawberry-orange quick jam is the perfect thing to do with all those berries you just picked with your kids or with leftover fruit you bought from the market that may not get eaten. This is a super easy summer cooking project that your kids could probably do by themselves.  I say let them try. This […]

There is nothing more delicious than summer peas and I could probably eat fresh summer peas with mint yogurt every day.  I will admit, I never liked peas growing up, mainly because they were always served so mushy.  My oldest son went through a very long 5-year period where peas were the only vegetable he […]

With more than 410,000 Instagram posts, “avocado toast” is no longer just a fad.  Nor are people just eating it for breakfast: it’s also being served for lunch and as a snack and has become a go-to alternative to grilled cheese for kids and grownups alike.  Avocado toast has staying power, most likely due to […]

You should eat some asparagus this Spring.  And they can be so much better than a lot of restaurants make them.  April to June is the typical growing season and the best time to eat them–since you can find them with tender stalks and vibrant green colors.  Thicker, older stems produce a woody and much tougher vegetable. […]

Pasta served with a shallot white wine sauce is much lighter than the cream-based alternatives that permeate Americanized Italian food.  Paired with mushrooms, the sauce has a rich, earthy flavor. Pappardelle with wild mushrooms is as simple as it gets, but don’t be fooled by its simplicity, it’s delicious. I served this dish recently at […]

There is a growing trend toward vegetarianism and veganism among young people.  I recently read that in the past several years, vegetarianism has increased substantially among those under 25 years old.  My anecdotal experience is similar.  My friend’s eleven-year-old decided to become a vegetarian at the age of six, despite no one else in her […]