Entries by Barbara Sobel

Quinoa and Green Bean Salad

This simple whole-grain salad is great for lunch or dinner. Sometimes I add a handful or two of raisins to the mix to add a little sweetness. Ingredients 1 cup multicolored quinoa (or any single color) 1 pound green beans trimmed and cut in bite-sized pieced 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 1/4 cup chopped Italian […]

Curry Lentil Soup

It is “dig through the pantry day” at my house and I found the makings for a perfect meatless meal. Curry lentil soup with fresh vegetables. Curry is a mix of spices. It can vary greatly. You can make your own curry mixture or buy one. I used a premade curry paste that I had […]

Chocolate Cinnamon “Ice Cream”

This dairy-free frozen treat has 5 different plant foods, 6 if you add garnish and eat it. You might give it a try with ginger and lime zest instead of cinnamon and cardamon. Look at your tea collection and spice rack for inspiration.  Ingredients 3 frozen bananas 3 tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder 1 teaspoon […]

Maryland Style Shrimp Bake

Old Bay seasoning is synonymous with Maryland crab boil. This simple shrimp bake is modeled on the same flavors. I had some amazing shrimp in the freezer. I made a small jar full of my own seasoning mix. It was a lot of spices to grind and bottles to open, but now I have it […]

Sheet Pan Lamb Meatballs with Vegetables and Tahini Sauce

If you have been following me for a while, you have seen sheet pan meals. I have upgraded this one with colors and flavors. This one has 11 different colorful, nutrient-dense plant foods. You can substitute any kind of meat, chicken, fish, or mushrooms to make it vegetarian. I added in 4 herbs and spices […]

Bamboo Steamer Cod and Greens

I confess, I bought my bamboo steamer years ago and it has been sitting in a kitchen drawer taking up room. I finally tried it and I am hooked. If you have a steamer that you have not been using, I recommend pulling it out, dusting it off, and trying it out. Ingredients 3-4 pieces […]

Easy Ratatouille

I have included chicken in this recipe, but you can make it without or substitute in garbanzo beans for a vegetarian version. Ingredients 1lb boneless, skinless chicken breast 2 cloves (or more) minced garlic 1 onion 3 zucchinis 1 eggplant 2 peppers 5 tomatoes peeled and sliced or 2 jars of diced tomatoes (I use […]

Dried Beans

Who has a bag of beans in their pantry? Do you know what do with them? I’ve got some ideas. First off you need to soak them. I like to add a little salt and soak overnight so they cook faster and are easier to digest. Rinse well and add the beans to a big […]

Mediterranean Octopus

This week I made octopus for the first time. When I saw it on Fishmonger Don’s list, I thought about the times I have enjoyed octopus in Spain and Greece and decided this was the time to give it a try. Fortunately, it was already prepared (cleaned). It turns out that cooking octopus is super […]

Lentil Stew

There are many versions of lentil soup, which I love because you can flavor it with herbs, tomatoes, and a variety of spices. I often find that I need to add more liquid, especially with leftovers. I like cooking with French, green,  or Beluga, black, lentils because they keep their shape. I find that red […]

Oil Poached Salmon

Oil poaching is an easy way to cook fish and ensure that it will come out moist and tender. I chose one piece of wild-caught salmon that fed the whole table. The recipe will work if you use several small pieces. Ingredients Wild-caught salmon Extra virgin olive oil Lemon slices Salt and pepper   Directions […]

Roasted Sardines with Lemon and Mint

I say sardines and most people think about the smelly canned sardines and make a face. Fresh sardines are delicious and are one of the fish that very are high in anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids (salmon, trout, anchovies, and herring are some of the others). Fresh sardines are hard to come by these days, […]

Pesto Lamb Meatballs with Spinach

The first cookbook I bought myself was a family-style Italian cookbook. I liked all of the pasta recipes. I didn’t really pay attention until I went home to my apartment by myself and tried to make my first recipes. There were ingredients and no amounts. What! I freaked out at first, but then I jumped […]

Baked Buckwheat

Buckwheat is a delicious gluten-free grain. Yes, it has the word “wheat” in it, but it is really a seed that does not grow on grass and we eat it like other grains. When I think of buckwheat, I think of buckwheat crepes from France, soba noodles from Japan, and kasha from Russia. Buckwheat is […]

Turkey and Winter Vegetable Hash

My husband is a casserole fan and I am not. Hash is the perfect compromise. Use the recipe as a starting point and substitute in any vegetables or ground meat that sounds good to you. You can also crack an egg on top and let it cook through for an added twist. I have been […]

Chinese 5 Spice Chicken and Cauliflower

Chinese 5 spice is a seasoning blend made up of you guessed it five spices that are a combination of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami flavors. It is usually made up of cinnamon, star anise, cloves, Szechuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. I love to use it with baked chicken. I lined this sheet pan […]

Roasted Fennel and Parsnip Fries

I try and fill half my plate with vegetables at each meal. With the cool temperatures at night, I am not very excited to eat a cold salad at dinner, my usual standby. We have all had sweet potato fries, but here is a quick recipe for roasted fennel and parsnip fries. They are delicious […]

Butternut Squash Soup

It is cold and rainy. I am cooking butternut squash this week with a little apple and onion. I usually double the recipe so that can enjoy it for several days. This simple, silky butternut squash soup is gluten- and dairy-free. It can be made paleo, vegetarian, or vegan. My favorite way to serve it […]

Olive Oil Poached Cod

My sister-in-law reminded me of olive oil poached fish over the holidays. Oil poaching is an easy way to cook fish and ensure that it will come out moist and tender. You can flavor the dish with all sorts of herbs and spices. I used garlic, thyme, lemon, and Kaffir lime leaves. Olives, tomatoes, capers, […]

Mindful Eating

Mindful Eating I have been thinking a lot about eating mindfully lately and paying attention to how I am eating. Eating slower often means more satisfaction with the food we are eating. We enjoy it more and it fills us up in many ways. When we eat quickly we don’t really taste what we are […]

Cauliflower Leek Soup

This week I am cooking vegetable soup. First off is a cauliflower leek soup. It is one of my favorites and I make it all the time. This time instead of onions, I put two leeks in, complete with the green part. It is a nice light green color and tastes delicious. This is a […]

Ginger

Ginger is one of my favorite spices. It is warming and soothing., spicey and sweet. I love adding it to savory dishes like curry and soup. It is great for reducing nausea, cholesterol, joint pain, and inflammation while supporting blood sugar and digestion. Don’t think you can use a whole ginger root at one time, […]

Emerald Green Vegetable Soup

There is nothing better than a pot of soup on the stove. This pureed vegetable soup is one of my favorites. I usually start with an onion and a cauliflower and add in seasonal vegetables from there. This one has spinach and zucchini making it green. Ingredients 1 Cauliflower cut in chunks 4 Handfuls of […]