How to Make Perfect Seared Salmon

For some, cooking fish at home may seem like a daunting task. While fish such as salmon can be an excellent source of lean protein and omega-3’s, concerns over food safety and proper preparation abound. But in truth, cooking with seafood can be a quick and enjoyable way to break the monotony of weeknight dinners. […]

How to Make Fridge Pickles

Although I love pickles year-round, I do find that I make them much more often during the summer. This is probably due to the abundance of fresh produce. However, when I make pickles, I make the variety referred to as fridge pickles. This is because fridge pickles do not require the canning, vacuum seals, or […]

Spicy Okra Stir-fry

Okra, commonly referred to as Lady Finger in India, is generally a kids’ favorite and was mine as well growing up. It still is one of my favorites and also for my kids now. When I came to the United States, I was surprised that okra was not as popular here. I am sharing the […]

Easy Weeknight Dinner: Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

As a new mom, putting together healthy and nutritious dinners every night has become a little more challenging. These days, my go-to kitchen appliance has been my slow cooker. I have always loved my slow cooker for its “throw in ingredients and forget about it” usefulness but I never truly appreciated it until now. Most […]

How to Winterize Your Salad

Let’s face it. There are so many great things about summer: warm weather, longer days, and lots of fresh produce. For me, it’s easy to create a colorful salad masterpiece with in-season vegetables and fruit during the summertime. Bright red tomatoes against a green leafy background topped with fresh blueberries makes getting an extra serving of […]

harissa

Is Harissa the New Sriracha?

I learned of harissa paste a few years ago while browsing one of my favorite recipe websites, Smitten Kitchen, by Deb Perlman. She describes harissa as a Northwest African chile pepper paste with red peppers, spices, and herbs such as garlic, coriander, caraway. This condiment is used everywhere from Tunisia and Libya to Algeria and […]

healthy dessert

5 Steps to Make a Healthy Dessert You Can Eat Everyday

I love having dessert after a meal. Hence my need to figure out what dessert I could mindfully eat every day. With research on the health benefits of eating berries, it became clear that incorporating berries every day was a must. I decided to experiment with a few berry-centered dessert options and found the perfect one. […]

prepared peas in a skillet

Sautéed Green Peas

I will not say that green peas are my favorite vegetable but something about green peas during winter is very comforting to me. Maybe the reason is that they remind me of my childhood days when I sat down with my mom or grandmother and popped them out of their pods so they could be […]

barley risotto

Wild Mushroom and Barley Risotto

Barley is a great grain with lots of nutty flavor and a nice bite. We often see barley in soup but it can be used for many dishes. This risotto takes advantage of this grain’s great taste and creamy texture when cooked using this method. Risotto is often thought of as a dish made with […]

Want to Slow Aging, Eat More Fish

Run, don’t walk to the seafood market. You will benefit from the physical activity AND the omega 3 fatty acids. A recent study in the British Medical Journal reminds us once again of the need for fish in our diet. Inflammation is the root of many of our health issues. In fact, seven of the leading […]