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,…

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…
2020 Barbara Sobel

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…
Pesto Lamb Meatballs with Spinach

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…
Baked Buckwheat

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Pan-Fried Salmon and Roasted Vegetables

I choose to roast cauliflower and purple yams because had them in the house, but you can roast almost any vegetables you like. I always make extra of this kind of simple dinner because the leftovers are great for lunch or another dinner. Ingredient 1…

Travel Discoveries

One of my favorite things to do while traveling is to taste the different flavors in different places. I like to seek out restaurants with young chefs, visit farmer's markets, and check out the shops where locals do their grocery shopping. On…

Sheet Pan Persimmon and Zucchini Chicken

I am a huge persimmon fan and this time of year I can’t get enough. I have been experimenting with cooking with persimmons. Since I am not the sweet chef in our house, I have been playing around with using persimmons in savory dishes and they…

Artichoke and Fennel Chicken Stew

I served this with quinoa (it would be great with polenta, millet or brown rice) or a salad and was delighted to have the leftovers for dinner the next day. Ingredients 1 1lb boneless skinless chicken thighs 1 onion diced 1 fennel…

Lamb and Oyster Mushroom Stew

Wondering what to make Sunday night for dinner? Lamb and mushroom soup. You need a little extra time for the baking, but once the stew is in the oven it is hands-off. In this recipe, I have used a pasture-raised Sonoma lamb, oyster mushrooms,…

Chicken Pho with a Grain-Free Twist

My favorite part of pho is the plate of vegetables and herbs to put on top. Both gluten and rice cause problems for me so eating pho in a restaurant is challenging. I created this gluten and rice-free twist so I could enjoy the dish at home. Sometimes…

Tips for Traveling While Following a Special Diet

Traveling while following a specialized diet can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be with some planning before you leave home. Just like you plan where you are going to sleep, and how you are going to get there, you can create a plan…

Sausage, Cauliflower Rice, and Vegetables

This week I am cooking a super fast dinner and one that I often turn to when I get home late and want something healthier than take-out, sausages with cauliflower rice and vegetables. Ingredients 1 package precooked sausages cut into quarters…

Egg Drop and Mushroom Soup

Ingredients 4 cups of chicken or vegetable stock, broth, bone broth or a combination (I use half bone broth, half water) 4 beaten eggs 2 cups thinly sliced Napa cabbage 2 cups sliced assorted mushrooms 1 onion sliced thinly 2…
Dinner, Recipe

One-Pot Lamb and Cauliflower Stew

This is a great recipe to make on a cool night when you get home late and need something simple to prepare. To make it even easier, you can buy pre-riced cauliflower. It is one of those recipes that is even better for lunch the next day.   Ingredients 1…