Baked Basmati Rice with Leeks and White Beans
I use to look at leeks and wonder what to do with them. Of course, I knew of leek soup but I always thought there must be a higher purpose for leeks. It took me a while (actually, a few years) but I found the perfect use for leeks in a side dish I call Baked Basmati Rice with Leeks and White Beans.
A while back, the New York Times printed a recipe for “Baked Rice With White Beans, Leeks, and Lemons” because commenters “have gone wild for this easy, hands-off, vegetarian main course…” That’s all I needed to read before deciding this was it. However, I had to figure out a way to make this recipe plant-based and a bit healthier: greatly reduce the olive oil (from 5 tablespoons to a few sprays), replace the white Basmati Rice with Brown Rice Basmati for more fiber, and ditch the parmesan (and use vegan parmesan made from cashews, sparingly). Read more 
The Kale and Everything Salad
Kale is one of the most nutritious greens we can eat but the leaves have a bit of a bitter flavor so there are two things you can do to get your kale and enjoy it, too. First, remove the leaves from the stems (throw the stems out; but don’t put them in the sink disposal) and rip the leaves (or cut them) into bite-sized pieces. Place the shredded kale in a medium sized bowl and sprinkle with the juice of 1/2 lemon. Massage the leaves (I always count to 100 and that seems to work). You will notice the leaves will darken as you massage. This is good.
The second way to make kale more palatable is to mix these super greens with bean and vegetables. Pick your favorites or just choose whatever is in the refrigerator or pantry. In less than 15 minutes, a scrumptious, super healthy salad will be ready to devour! Read more
The Microgreen Salad
In the plant-based world, there is a common phrase “eat the rainbow” that is a constant reminder to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. With that in mind, the following recipe for a salad combines greens (microgreens), fruits (apple, peach, and mango), vegetables (broccoli and carrots), and beans (garbanzo) along with lemon juice, dill, and pink peppercorns to make a delicious and nutritious super colorful salad that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. From start to finish, the salad takes about 15 minutes to make and looks as beautiful as it tastes. Read more
P.S. Kitchen in NYC
Finding P.S. Kitchen in New York City is definitely on my top ten list of notable discoveries in 2019. That the restaurant is in midtown (246 W 48th Street between 7th and 8th Ave) makes the discovery surprising because I rarely venture into midtown Manhattan when I visit the city: too many people, too many lights, too much noise. But, on a recent visit after an afternoon matinee on Broadway, I walked a few blocks and secured the front table by the window – an incredible table if you can get it. Walking in at 4 pm – an off hour – definitely increases your chances of snagging this front row light filled beautiful table with a cushioned bench and chair surrounding a picture perfect white table (below right in photo). Read more
The Essential Round Food Molding Set
Several months ago, I was in a restaurant (Levél Veggie Bistro) by Retiro Park in Madrid when I was blown away by a dish called “Timbal Fresco de Quinoa” which means “Fresh Quinoa Timbale.” This beautiful plate of layered quinoa, sliced avocado, and chopped tomatoes with sprouts and ground black peppercorns on top was served with basil leaves along with a lemon squeezer and olive oil. I simply sprinkled the fresh lemon juice over the top with a sprinkle of salt and the flavor was magnificent. Read more
Noka® Superfood Smoothies
No prep. No waste. No mess. No wait.
Who doesn’t love a smoothie? A thick, smooth drink typically made with fruit, vegetables, and some type of liquid (i.e. water, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, juice, etc), a smoothie is thirst quenching, filling, usually nutritious (depending on what is added to the fruits and vegetables), delicious, and very satisfying.
The problem with smoothies is that you either have to make a smoothie at home or go to a store to have one made for you, which isn’t always convenient. You may be on your bike, at a sports event, or even in the car when all you have is a dry energy bar in your backpack or handbag when what you really want is a smoothie. Until recently, you had to settle for the energy bar but not anymore. Read more
Summer Corn Salad
Fresh Summer Corn Salad is an easy and delicious summer side dish made with 4 ingredients: fresh corn, tomatoes, parsley, and spices (preferably pink peppercorns, salt and pepper). But, the quality of the salad greatly depends on the quality of the ingredients: fresh corn, sweet cherry tomatoes, and fresh flat leaf parsley.
Fresh corn on the cob is abundant in August so finding good quality corn shouldn’t be a problem. Look for bright green moist husks. Read more
Millet, Beans, and Greens
Millet is a mild-tasting grass although the texture is that of a grain which means millet goes well with all sorts of vegetables, especially greens and beans. Often referred to as pearl millet, the small grains look like little yellow pearls and cook in about 15 minutes.
The following recipe is a variation of a recipe (Millet Vegetable Fattoush) from the Purple Carrot. The low-sodium vegetable broth adds some flavor to the millet while the vegetables give the salad a delicious crunch. Beans add some depth to the salad along with the avocado and walnuts. I prefer a lemon vinaigrette sprinkled very lightly over the salad. Read more
Bean Salad
In my quest to eat at least a cup of beans a day, I created this recipe that combines beans with vegetables, fruit, and fresh dill to make a delicious bean salad, worthy of any lunch or dinner plate. Easy to make, Bean Salad takes about 15 minutes to put together and easily serves four, but you can keep it all to yourself and snack on it throughout the day.
Crunchy, creamy, and delicious, the beauty of this salad is in the different textures, flavors, and nutritional content. Full of fiber, this salad also fills you up leaving you very satisfied. Read more
Kale and Mushroom Pita
Kale and Mushroom Pita is a super easy way to get that all important dose of greens and fiber in your diet. Whenever I don’t feel like spending a lot of time cooking, a Kale and Mushroom Pita is on the menu.
With just 4 ingredients: dark green lacinto kale, mushrooms, nutritional yeast, and whole grain pita bread, the Kale and Mushroom Pita takes about 10 minutes to make. The biggest time sap is cleaning and cutting the mushrooms and kale which can be done ahead of time (or buy pre-washed baby kale), covered and refrigerated until later in the day. Read more
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