OK this is silly but I just have to share this one. Popcorn popped in a brown paper lunch bag with just sea salt. This isn’t a new idea but a smart one.
It’s healthier and more economical than the store bought (artificially oiled) microwave popcorn. It’s also less messy than using the air popper — my air popper pops popcorn everywhere! :) I love this because its a yummy, low fat snack that offers good ruffage. You can get organic popcorn kernels too!
Yes, there is curry on the pecans. Yes, some people don’t like curry — if this is you, don’t be afraid, they just might surprise you. Even my mother in-law “doesn’t like curry” but she absolutely loves these.
These pecans are great noshing on alone or on a gorgeous salad. I like using it as a topping on a *shredded raw beet, *shredded raw carrot, diced red onions, garbanzo beans, gorgonzola cheese, and fresh spinach salad, drizzled with a delicious grapefruit vinaigrette.
Eggplant Parmesan has been one of my favorite Italian dishes for most of my adult life. When I was younger and a bit (maybe a lot) naive, I believed the old folklore that feeding a man basil would make him fall in love with you. Well, there’s a lot of basil in this dish :)
Typically, eggplant slices are dipped in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs and then pan fried. In my version, I use water instead of egg, I spritz the eggplant with oil and then bake instead of pan fry (this helps cut down on the calories). I also like to use goat cheese instead of the mozzarella — it’s easier to digest and most importantly, it’s absolutely delicious. Continue reading →
I found it at Lulu’s Café in L.A. (on Beverly near La Brea). They have fresh-pressed watermelon juice (as well as orange, grapefruit, apple, carrot, pineapple, celery, beet, parsley and ginger). I have occasionally seen it at some local health food stores (and mail order), but it’s fairly hard to find and nowhere near as good as the fresh.
As you may or may not know already, watermelon juice is extremely good for you — a natural diuretic, detox cleanser, nutrient-rich and of course, absolutely delicious. As with most good things, I have to have it again and again. I’ve sent my poor husband day after day, until I had my fix (similar to my recent Thai Iced Tea and Almond Croissant habits).
Quinoa (pronounced “keen-wah”) is a somewhat unknown South American grain-like seed. It is a great alternative to wheat and other grains and can be substituted in many dishes. High in fiber and a complete protein, its nutritional value far exceeds any traditional grain.
I recently discovered quinoa while attempting to make a tabouli that my gluten-free husband could eat — I was a little skeptical at first, but I now prefer quinoa over the cracked wheat/bulghur in my tabouli. As far as the different varieties of quinoa, I prefer the red. This salad is potent and energizing and extremely good for you! For those of you needing to be gluten-free, you won’t have to go without your tabouli anymore. This healthy and delicious salad takes a bit of prepping, but it is well worth it. Continue reading →
I’m a self-taught, self-loving, self-proclaimed foodie. Growing up with a Filipino mother and a Hungarian Jewish father in Los Angeles has led me to a very diversified palate. Chicken Adobo (or in my case, fake chicken) or stuffed cabbage, it’s all good.
I’ve been a ‘pseudo-vegetarian’ for over 25 years — I eat eggs, french onion soup with the beef broth, chicken broth and dairy, but I still prefer a “real” vegetarian dish when possible.
I’ve become somewhat of an expert on the gluten-free diet because my husband has celiac disease — he is not able to digest anything containing gluten. This often times presents a challenge at dinner time, but the challenge is something that usually turns out fun and oddly enough, I usually find myself liking (and even preferring) the gluten-free options. Together with my husband, we started the Celiac Handbook Website in 2005 — it’s a free online resource for people with celiac disease. It lists restaurants and other resources for those trying to find gluten-free options in a very non gluten-free world. While not everything on this blog is gluten-free, I will be writing about it a lot.
With three growing children and my gluten-free husband — I’m constantly attempting to introduce them to new food and new ideas in eating. I’m hoping to share some of my ideas with you here and I hope that you can give me some feedback and let me know if any of this works for you.
Chris Armstrong: In the words of Diane Sanfilippo, "Bacon is Rad, Gluten is bad" — word...
Marla: Hi Nanette! Congrats on finding what will work best for you. I eat som...
Stabby: Great stuff, it sounds like the change is very psychologically healthy...
Rob Smith: I would highly encourage the Paleo diet I've seen huge health gains. H...
Nanette: Hi Lane,
The Thai Iced Tea recipe I featured has star anise (which ...
