Coconut oil has been popular for several years now but there are still those that are reluctant to buy, eat, or use it. It seems that weekly, I receive messages asking, “I got my coconut oil today, now what?” Hence this post! I admit it. I have fallen for it all the way. It is how [...]

Your kids (and you!) can cool off with this frozen treat without a sugar crash and while getting oodles of good-for-you fruit, fiber, and vitamins in these Apple Berry Cinnamon Mango Vanilla Pops.   These *silicone pop making sleeves are much easier to pour your liquid into and unlike a popsicle, less drips and clean up. *(I originally [...]

So many reasons to love and use chickpeas (garbanzo beans). They have a mild nutty flavor that compliments salads, are easy to mash with a buttery texture middle, contain load of nutrients including protein, fiber, vitamins, and are featured in dishes around the world. They contribute to supporting digestive and colon health and many people [...]

I created this smoothie a day after I returned from travel and desperately needed to reinstate some health. It is clean and mild without any one strong flavor. Included are some of my favorite things that I consider to be superfoods. Greens: mix of baby kale, baby spinach, and baby swiss chard (folate, iron, calcium, vitamins) [...]

I am going to get a little scientific first and discuss the glycemic index. Every food is designated a certain rating on a scale called the Glycemic Index (GI). This number (scale 0-100) correlates to the propensity a food has to raise your blood sugar. The faster and higher your blood sugar (glucose level) rises, [...]

Having a garden has always been an exciting thought to me but the act of gardening has always appeared a puzzling chore to me. I mean, why is it so complex? If you bury a seed in the ground, why shouldn’t it sprout and then progress onward to a fruit or vegetable? How can something older than time, [...]

Zoodles (zucchini “noodles”) have made me a believer. More than whole wheat penne. More than brown rice rotini. More than black bean spaghetti. More than quinoa corn macaroni. More than spaghetti squash for sure. About as much as red lentil fusilli but that’s a different post. And they are quicker than quick. Now I don’t want to [...]

Yes, I realize we are in the midst of summer and I am giving you stew. Nevertheless, everyone likes a piping hot meal and even better, a one pot meal. At the end of the day, even if a recipe calls for more ingredients than I would like, I will make it knowing it only requires [...]

This month marks 10 years since I moved to Charlotte. I love it here more and more with each passing year. I am always exploring what is new, continuing my patronage at my favorite places, and really, expansion of all kinds has taken place over the last decade. I try not to think of the [...]

Happy Saturday morning! I woke up to no milk, bread, cereal, bars, or yogurt BUT I did have these: I didn’t want to make something as heavy or time consuming as banana bread so I flipped through one of my favorite quick-recipe books. Bread & Wine: a love letter around the table with recipes by Shauna Niequist [...]