Can you guess what item in my pantry is so versatile it works for every around-the-clock eating occasion, from breakfast, lunch and dinner, to snack party-time? Canned T0matoes. And all their forms. Diced. Petite Diced. Diced with chilies. Crushed. Whole. Sauce. Salsa. Pizza Sauce. Versatility is just part of the reason my pantry is filled with numerous canned tomato products. As a registered dietitian nutritionist, my goal is to create recipes that blend great taste with good nutrition. ...
Sunny Six Can Salsa
A Bowl of Ten Benefits. Sunny Six Can Salsa is great for parties, pitch-ins and just about anytime you want to make a big batch of something and enjoy it for the next several days. Check out this additional bonus, too: this salsa happens to be rich in all the right nutrients to keep everyone healthy and aging vibrantly. Top Ten Benefits. More fruits and vegetables. You're already trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, but fresh isn't your only nutrient-rich choice. Canned fruits and ...
Four Reasons to Stop Calling Pizza “Junk Food”
Here's why I'd like you to stop calling pizza "junk food." 1. Pizza typically provides at least three of the five nutrient-rich food groups. Surprise! Pizza indeed has nutritional value. Take a basic, kid-favorite cheese pizza. It contains cheese (dairy), tomato sauce (vegetable) and crust (grains.) Make a Hawaiian Pizza by adding ham (protein) and pineapple (fruit) and now you’ve got all five nutrient-rich food groups! This hardly qualifies as “junk food.” Which by the way, is a term I ...
Very Veggie Pizza Pasta Salad
I had no idea this pizza-inspired pasta salad loaded with vegetables would be so popular. But it was a hit with the Fox 59 Morning News production crew. They enjoyed it after one of my segments...even coming back for seconds! This big-batch recipe perfect for picnics, potlucks and parties is loaded with nutrient-rich vegetables and whole-grain goodness. This dish features mushrooms, bell peppers, artichokes hearts, onion and tomatoes. All these vegetables are fairly low ...
Healthy Hot Dog Toppings
Curious how a dietitian enjoys hot dogs? Three ways: 1. Fruit and vegetable toppings. 2. Whole wheat hot dog buns. 3. Grilled outside for that "ballpark" flavor. That’s right. I balance these mouth-watering summer favorites with plenty of nutrient-rich ingredients. I celebrate their goodness and great taste without a second of stress about sodium, fat or calories. Summer just isn't summer without my favorite all-beef hot dogs on the grill! So let’s celebrate! 1. Protein provider. My ...
31 Reasons I’m Vibrant at Sixty. #11 Balanced Party Planning
Balanced party planning. Or I could call this post “How a Food-Loving, Practical Dietitian Plans a Party.” Jeff and I are having friends over next weekend for dinner. I have created a fabulous Guinness and Irish-Inspired Menu. I absolutely love entertaining. The funny thing about entertaining, though, is I love the pre-planning creative process just as much as the cooking, baking and socializing. Creativity is part of what keeps me vibrant, along with spending time with close ...
Celebrate with Hot Reuben Dip
Whether it's for a St. Patrick's Day or March Madness party, you'll score with guests when you serve my Hot Reuben Dip. So with both luck of the Irish and March Madness spirit, I'll explain why this is a winning dish at your next gathering. Three point play: party foods that are easy to make, taste great and please even the pickiest fan. Rebound: with my Hot Reuben Dip. Half court defense and offensive: soften cream cheese on the counter for about 30 minutes. Shred Swiss cheese (or open ...
Celebrate with Chili and Margaritas
National Chili Day happens to be the same day as National Margarita Day. Both of these celebrations fall during Canned Foods Month. So I'm celebrating all of them with a batch of my easy stove-top chili, but not my traditional Big Beef Chili. Today I'd like some warmth and tropical flair, so I'm doing my Caribbean-Spiced Chili with Beef and Pork. Or maybe my Black and White Chicken Chili. Both contain a variety of nutrient-rich canned foods, from canned ...
Bipartisan Shortbread Bars. The Recipe. The Story.
Sigh. Big sigh. Today is National Shortbread Day. I felt like sharing my favorite shortbread recipe - my Bipartisan Shortbread Bars. So I searched for my old blog post from days long ago. Found it! Read it. Sighed. Then sighed again. With sadness. And wistfulness. I’m definitely not one for wishing that things would be “the way they used to be,” but geez…. 2017? And now already in 2018? It just keeps getting worse. I’m going back to calling them Obama Bars. But if you don't like ...
Zesty Turkey Pumpkin Chili
Canned pumpkin...accessible and versatile any time of year. Works in more than just desserts. So be adventurous and add canned pumpkin to your favorite chili. Chili?! Yes, it's easy and adds richness and even MORE nutrients. Chili is already filled with good nutrition because of the onions, garlic and canned tomatoes and beans: immune-boosting, heart-healthy and disease-fighting phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. Canned pumpkin adds even more of those nutrients, especially vitamins A, C ...