Monday, September 29, 2014

The calendar may read “autumn,” but the hot weather in Boston definitely says “summer.” Not to mention there are still crisp green cucumbers and sweet basil at my local farmers’ market. It just so happens that this drink is also featured in the summer menu of my new book National Geographic Foods for Health. (You can learn more about it here and buy it online here.) For all of…

Friday, September 5, 2014

I am excited to announce that my first book is now on sale here and will be available in stores around the country on September 9, 2014! Foods for Health is science-based (of course!) and filled with great food porn—and even includes a few of my very own photos like the one here. It’s a gorgeous, coffee-table type book that highlights 148 foods…

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Okay, fine. Yes, I did also refer to my caprese salad with peaches as “summer on a plate.” I suppose it’s safe to say that almost everything I make these days is summer on a plate. Which means that seasonal delights like heirloom tomatoes and similar fare play a prominent role in my diet. Like Christmas for foodies (or something),…

Thursday, August 14, 2014

I’ve made waffles all of two times in my life, including today. I don’t often do the sweet thing for breakfast but I am working hard this summer to expand my cooking skills. And who knows when a waffle need might suddenly arise, after all; best to be prepared. Ergo this blog post, which I’m writing now lest I soon…

Friday, August 8, 2014

Luscious peaches dripping with juice come together with sweet summer tomatoes, local mozzarella, and basil for a sumptuous summer salad. Make it now. It doesn’t get much prettier or simpler than this. In a feast for the eyes as well as the palate, this ravishing play on caprese salad screams summer with the addition of juicy peaches. The traditional ingredients…

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

I’m always sad when strawberry season ends. Happily, the berry love keeps coming when other delightful summer berries next appear at my local farmers’ market. Enter the blueberry, that little fruit which packs a big nutritional punch due to its incredibly high antioxidant capacity thanks in part to anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are powerful phytonutrients (plant chemicals) found mainly in the skins and…

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Did you know that za’atar actually refers to Origanum syriacum, a perennial plant indigenous to the Middle East?  Yeah. Me, neither. Today, za’atar generally includes a selection of herbs from the genera Origanum, Calamintha, Thymus vulgaris, and Satureja (otherwise known as oregano, basil thyme, thyme, and savory). But when most people hear the word “za’atar,” they are thinking about the tantalizing Middle Eastern spice blend that creates a…

Monday, July 21, 2014

Ah, hummus. Never really cared for it, truth be told. Like so many store-bought products, the flavor and quality varies greatly. (That’s my polite way of saying that it often sucks.) There are exceptions to this rule, like a particular brand at Trader Joe’s that I’ve been calling “crack hummus;” if it’s on hand, I can’t get enough. That said,…

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Just as the weather is heating up on the East Coast, so, too is the local bounty. Things start slowly here in New England but we’re finally seeing some serious vegetables and fruits at our farmers’ markets. And there’s no happier day for me than when strawberries appear on the stands. I adore summer strawberries and love to feature them…

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Despite the long list of things I need to write (don’t even get me started), I often end up blogging about impromptu weeknight meals inspired by fresh seasonal ingredients—or whatever’s hanging around my fridge. In this instance, I had some leftover mango salsa from last week’s crab cakes (speaking of things on the list of “need to write”) that I…