My biweekly share of organic produce from Purple Dragon had copious amounts of beautiful escarole, so naturally this minestra was its’ delectable fate. Minestra means “soup” in Italian, and has a long history in Italian heritage. It comes from the Latin ministrare, or “to administer,” reflecting that it is served from a primary bowl, from a […]

This is the time of year that we get a great abundance of squashes, tomatoes, and eggplants from our gardens. Ratatouille, a savory vegetable stew, is traditionally cooked on the stove top. Here, we are ditching the stove top to roast the veggies in the oven to caramelize and intensify the flavors. I like to […]

After a long winter of holiday parties, cocktails, and weather too cold for outdoor running, it’s time to detox! We are bombarded with toxins daily from exposure to pesticides, bleach and ammonia in cleaning products, to hormone disruptors in hair dye and health and beauty aids. If you had construction on your house, you may […]

Since I became certified in Dean Ornish’s Lifestyle Medicine Program, which requires cooking with no oil, I have been carrying this forward for many recipes in my own home. Once you start cooking oil free, you realize how much fat is added to our food. One tablespoon of oil is 120 calories, and it does […]