tips

Hiking and Grilling Trout: The Perfect Heart-Wise Summer Combo

Summer is here! That means it is time to get outside, fire up those grills, and get ready for a season of grilling all kinds of delectable creations (and you might have guessed that I prefer those creations that are full of fresh vegetables and fresh fish).  Always remember to maker sure your grill is ready for the season, and you can do this by following my healthy grilling tips.

Freshen Up Your Spring Dish With Fresh Grown Herbs!

I love spring!  It’s a great time to create delicious meals with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Of course, no meal would be complete without zesty garden fresh herbs.

For those of you who are considering starting an herb garden at home, here are some tips for growing a successful herb garden:

Healthy Soup Secrets for the New Year

It is that time of year already. At the start of the New Year, we tend to reflect on how we want or need to improve and start lists of resolutions for the year to come.

Soup secrets

Here in Colorado, we’ve had an extremely cold week. It’s the perfect weather for soup. I love to spend some time on the weekend preparing homemade soup. It fills the house with delicious aromas and the flavors are rich and comforting.

Here is my list of do’s, don’ts and other soup secrets:

Soup the season
Soup is always best using vegetables and products peaking at that particular time of the year. Remember, you can freeze most soups, so you can still enjoy them out of their prime season.

Thanksgiving Survival 101. How Not To Feel Like a Stuffed Turkey at Thanksgiving!

With crisp fall leaves in the air, holiday meal planning is in the forefront of most of our lives.  As well it should be. Food is a wonderful part of our celebration of thanks, family and friends. Such celebrations, however, don’t have to undo all the healthful choices we have been trying to make.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Apple Tart En Pappillote

Thanksgiving is almost here! Time to enjoy the indulgences of delicious, homemade but healthy cooking.

Last week I shared one of my unique recipes that doesn’t require pots or pans – it uses paper instead! Parchment cooking helps food maintain its moisture while providing easy clean up. Remember, food will cook faster and still can brown if the temperature is high enough.

Cooking with Paper

The French call it, en papillote – a technique of baking food encased in parchment paper. Unlike parchment paper used for writing (which is not actually made from paper), parchment paper sold for kitchen use is treated with sulfuric acid. The process creates a surface that is sleek, smooth and impervious to oil and moisture. It is also resistant to heat up to 425°F, according to PaperChef.com, a manufacturer of parchment products. In the final process, a silicone coating is added that creates a further non-stick surface.

Pressure Cooked Cuban Black Bean Soup

As the weather continues to get colder and fall sets in, many people begin to crave warm, hearty comfort food. Want to find a way to satisfy your craving while maintaining a heart-healthy diet? Try my Cuban Black Bean Soup. It’s a fantastic meal for cold, autumn evenings.

Stressed out? No time for cooking? Then, it is time to cook under pressure!

What do you do when you get home from a busy day and don’t have hours to prepare a meal? Order in? Eat out? Instead of these typical, less-healthy options, try cooking under pressure. Pressure cooking is efficient, reduces energy, shortens cooking time and creates less stress in the kitchen. The newer pressure cookers are not your mother’s model.

Score a Touchdown with Heart Healthy Football Stew

Football season is here, which means football parties, tailgates and, of course, a lot of comfort foods. Fall is usually packed with sporting events that offer a variety of fried and fatty foods. But just because you’re getting together with friends and family for the big game, doesn’t mean you can’t have something healthy and mouthwatering.