Huevos Rancheros

This is truly less a recipe and more a set of assembly instructions, but it does feel helpful to have a guide as I meal plan or rally myself to get dinner on the table on a busy weeknight. So here goes. My best instructions for how to turn this simple, nutritious meal into aContinue reading “Huevos Rancheros”

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Gardens and farmers markets are bursting with greens (like lettuce, Swiss chard, arugula and spinach), fresh herbs (like mint, parsley, cilantro and chives), and other salad veggies (like carrots and radishes and snow peas). Which makes right about now the perfect time to wrap up some Vegetarian Spring Rolls. These beautiful and delicious rolls pack a nutritiousContinue reading “Vegetarian Spring Rolls”

Balsamic Vinaigrette

I’m a huge salad fan — I build them with spinach, beets, lentils, you name it. But the piece that really pulls all those fresh veggies together is the perfect dressing. For a mix of spinach and sprouts and strawberries and pecans, I have long enjoyed this Poppy Seed Dressing. Then I remembered how well balsamic vinegarContinue reading “Balsamic Vinaigrette”

Arugula Strawberry Spring Rolls

They’re called “spring rolls” for a reason, right? Because this beautiful fusion of salad and wrap combines the very best of spring — greens and berries and goat cheese and fresh herbs. I have often folded together these Vegetarian Spring Rolls. With their pan-fried tofu and Asian Peanut Sauce, they are an easy, make-ahead lunchContinue reading “Arugula Strawberry Spring Rolls”

Chickpea Curry Dinner

As early spring warms into longer, sunnier days, I find my dinners are a mix of winter’s root vegetables and early-bird greens and onions and herbs. This curry dish couldn’t be better suited for this in-between time — pair potatoes, sweet potatoes and/or carrots with kale or spinach or chard. Maybe you have some cilantroContinue reading “Chickpea Curry Dinner”

Irish Soda Bread

My husband’s father is Irish-American and his mother was Italian-American, which means my husband grew up with an appreciation of both cultures, but a table topped with Italian dishes. When our family began our own holiday traditions, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day was among them. But there was no cherished Irish Soda Bread recipe to be handedContinue reading “Irish Soda Bread”

Cranberry Orange Sauce

I made my first-ever cranberry sauce a few Thanksgivings ago. I have to admit, I was pretty smitten. These days, it’s not hard to find whole, fresh cranberries at many stores. But if fresh aren’t available, frozen whole cranberries will work too. I have tinkered endlessly with this recipe, trying to find the perfect balanceContinue reading “Cranberry Orange Sauce”

Sugar-Coated Pecans

Add these to a salad or scatter them alongside the pickles and crackers on your cheese board or set them out before you serve your meal as an irresistible snack. In any case, they’ll bring a little fancy, a little salty, a little sweet to your table. The secret is starting with top-quality nuts. AndContinue reading “Sugar-Coated Pecans”

Spinach-Rice-Feta Bake

I am always on the hunt for healthy dishes than can be prepared ahead. This easy-to-make mix of spinach, brown rice, eggs and feta fits the bill — and tastes delicious. Serve as a side with fish, chicken or pork, or increase the portion size and make this your meal’s centerpiece, served with a sliceContinue reading “Spinach-Rice-Feta Bake”

Sweet and Sour Sauce

Condiments are the key to whipping up a healthful, from-scratch meal. Having homemade mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, jam, Asian peanut sauce or salad dressing in the fridge makes grain bowls, pasta, cookies and pork more nutritious — and more delicious. Often those same sauces purchased from the grocery store are full of sugars or other unpronounceableContinue reading “Sweet and Sour Sauce”