The New Year is almost here and we’re all excited about what 2013 will bring. But when it comes to that last string of holiday parties, do you know what food you are going to bring to the table? It has to complement your New Year’s resolution and be tasty enough to enjoy. Here’s your solution: savory red pepper dip made with your skinny jeans and taste buds in mind.

Not only does this power dip contain one of my favorite vegetables, red bell peppers, but it is also soaring with fiber and vitamins. In this recipe, cashews and chickpeas add a subtle crunch and boost of nutrients to your plate.

What some people believe makes a red pepper dip, or any other dip for that matter, taste delicious is added cheese or butter;  but there is no need for these empty calories. One of my healthy holiday secrets is to replace butter with healthier oils, and in this case, olive oil. Lean on your friend, the dutiful food processor, to whip these ingredients together and make a smooth dip you can serve as an appetizer with gluten-free crackers or as condiment for your main dish such as fish tacos, burritos or chicken. You’ll quickly see how this simple recipe is one of the easiest health switches you can make.  Believe me, you’ll want to whip up a batch of dip each week to store in your fridge and serve with breakfast eggs instead of ketchup, lunchtime sandwiches instead of mayonnaise and afternoon snacks such as crudités.

Read more »

When I transitioned my household to gluten free, a funny thing happened along the way. My gluten-intolerant son, Isaiah, had been the classic white foods eater—pasta, pizza, potatoes, pie. You name it, the only food he would eat on his plate was white and lots of it was bread.

So when he was diagnosed five years ago, it was slim pickings at the supermarket for a white bread substitute. Needless to say we tried them all, but they all fell short of his expectations. Turns out that the answer was easier than I would have ever guessed. He was no longer looking at color, but texture and flavor. I was still feeding into his white foods cravings when he was clearly over them. Slowly, Isaiah’s food choices opened up and to my surprise, he ventured beyond the white and into healthier, whole-grain choices.

Read more »

Whether you’re gluten-free or not, everyone appreciates getting in and out of the kitchen fast on a weeknight. This time, I took a hint for my low-maintenance basic recipe from a seasonal fruit that kept staring at me in the market: apples. In less than 20 minutes, I had my fast fridge fix—warm, homemade Apple Cider Applesauce.

Warning: If you’ve never made apple sauce yourself, I caution you that you may never go back to the jarred stuff. My kids and I ate most of the applesauce straight from the pot for that night’s dessert.

Then, throughout the week, I was ready to get dinner done fast with my easy mix-in mains, like Pork ’n’ Applesauce Hash Brown Waffles or Caramelized Butternut Squash-Apple Soup With Bacon Croutons.

Apple Cider Applesauce
If you can’t find Honey Crisp apples, McIntosh or Granny Smith works great, too.

Makes: about 4 cups

3 pounds apples, preferably Honey Crisp (about 6 apples)—peeled, quartered and cored
1½ cups apple cider, pear cider or water
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
Pinch salt

In a medium saucepan, combine the apples, cider, cinnamon, vanilla, brown sugar, lemon juice and salt; bring to a boil. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender, about 18 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, break up the apples until chunky.

Read more »