
Doesn’t this look delicious? Fresh tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, onion, garlic and toasted pine nuts?? What more would you need for a stunningly healthy dinner? Oh yeah, fresh pasta!! Begin by toasting the pine nuts: evenly spread out nuts on baking sheet or glass pyrex dish and cook in a 400 degree oven for 8 minutes (or until...
Continue Reading

So my vegetarian daughter has a stress fracture in her foot–not good for a ballerina. She gave me a list of foods she wants to incorporate into her diet so as to add protein, calcium and vitamin D to her daily intake. It’s quiet a healthy list (haha no pun intended) but a few things...
Continue Reading

Bruschetta. Though technically it means “thick slices of bread grilled, rubbed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil” (thanks Webster’s!), to me it conjures up images of summer when there is an abundance of fresh tomatoes and basil. So, as I sit here in mid March with yet another snow storm approaching, I decided to make...
Continue Reading

For my very first blog post I thought I’d share a staple in our house–Annie’s very veggie soup. I make it every Wednesday night for my vegetarian in the house who gets home late from a long day at school and ballet. It’s easy, healthy and filling (especially if paired with a fresh baguette!). To...
Continue Reading

In trying to think outside of the box to ignite an everyday dinner, I decided to create a vegetarian version of Shepard’s Pie. It is traditionally made with lamb or beef but I wanted to try seitan, a wheat-based product you can find next to most tofu products. The texture of seitan is very much...
Continue Reading

The holiday season is upon us and with that comes lots and lots of entertaining. Whether it’s a dinner party you are hosting or a pot luck you were invited to, getting creative in the kitchen becomes so much more festive this time of year! Fancy china is dusted off to take its place at...
Continue Reading

As the Fall time change makes the evenings grow dark earlier, the need for hearty soups grows stronger. Tomato Black Bean Soup fills that niche perfectly! Being high in fiber yet low in fat, it is a very satisfying soup that makes a terrific meal. You may certainly serve it with a dinner salad or...
Continue Reading

Sunday mornings are such a treat. No one is rushing out the door–no school, no work, no ballet rehearsal. We get to enjoy each others company, maybe watch a little Sunday Morning on CBS, maybe listen to some quiet music while reading by the fire, maybe get mom in the kitchen to make everyone breakfast…...
Continue Reading

It’s cold. It’s windy. It’s snowing. It’s Chicago in January. It’s the perfect time to get in the kitchen and whip up my Winter Stew! Whether you are experiencing my kind of winter or are lucky enough to live somewhere warm, Winter Stew is a delightful dish to satisfy any type of winter day (or...
Continue Reading