Breakfast & Brunch

June 27, 2012

Kidneys, Cooking Classes, Scones

Pass it forward. Most of the time when I say this, I’m talking about shuffling that plate of spicy green beans in my direction. But today, I’m talking about experiences. And scones. But mostly experiences. Our lives are filled with them — good and bad; some worthy of pictures, some better left to a gossip session over tea; many part of our everyday routines and many others that are life changing. But all of them, moments in time. Our time. Many people keep their experiences to themselves. But over the years, I’ve learned that if you take these little time […]

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May 10, 2012

Spring Polenta Tart For Mom

You know what mom loves more than hugs? Spending time with her children. And tasting the amazing low-sodium tarts they learned how to make. So when you spend time with mom this weekend, really impress her with this snappy spring onion polenta tart. It’s creamy. It’s savory. It’s crispy. It’s perfect for a mom-centric brunch. And it doesn’t involve making a flour crust from scratch — which to me, is the most awesome part of all. Caramelized onions serve as the salt-free flavor powerhouse in this dish. And when mixed with the creamy, quick cooking polenta, you create a tart […]

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April 6, 2012

Low-Sodium Kugel Muffins

I like making muffins. Especially out of unexpected muffin ingredients. Like risotto, meatloaf, and now, kugel. Kugel is basically Yiddish for noodle egg casserole. And while it is typically sweet and puckery — with ingredients like apple and sour cream — its basic eggy, milky base works well with savory ingredients, too. Like tons of green garlic and dill. Kugel also bakes up perfectly in a muffin tin. Fancy that. So while you can always get your kugel on in a casserole dish… Feel free to think beyond tradition. Replace those higher-sodium ingredients (cottage cheese, sour cream, salt, cheese) with […]

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February 7, 2012

Low-Sodium Winter Comforts

Here are the things I learned this week: 1) Although I love being barefoot or in sandals, rain boots are definitely the right choice when it’s raining. 2) Madonna still totally rocks. Like, seriously. 3) Steaks can be made out of cauliflower (see: Thursday’s post). 4) Curling up on the couch with something warm (i.e. a blanket, freshly baked bread, breakfast for dinner, and soup) is the perfect way to ward off chilly weather. So below, find some of my favorite cozy, low-sodium recipes for when the temperature drops. Make one, two, or all three this week. And save your […]

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February 2, 2012

Low-Sodium Super Bowl

I apologize for the brevity of this post. But as I run out the door, hair half-dried, sweater half-on, I wanted to make sure you were prepped and ready for the big game on Sunday. Of course, there are all my old super bowl favorites, which can be found here on this newish nifty site, Pinterest. But I also wanted to pass on a few tips for you to add a low-sodium, flavorful twist to other classic Super Bowl favorites. The first, hot wings. And not just any hot wings. Mandarin Orange Hot Wings. We’re talking sweet and spicy and […]

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September 16, 2011

Salt-Free Savory Doughnuts

It’s our final day of mini doughnut pan fun and I think–in my humble opinion–that we’ve saved the best for last. As soon as I bought the doughnut pan, I’ll admit that I did not think about sprinkles. Or sugar. Or frosting. Or apple fritters. Actually, I may have thought about apple fritters, but that had nothing to do with the mini doughnut pan. What did cross my mind, however, was chili pepper flakes, fresh herbs, and other aromatics like leeks, onions, and toasted garlic. Because a good low-sodium doughnut is possible. But a great one is made with a […]

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September 12, 2011

Carrot and Coconut Doughnuts

Please direct your attention to these salt-free carrot and coconut mini doughnuts that are fresh out of the oven…a week ago…just for you. Inspired by both the mini doughnut pan and my newfound love of carrot cake batter, I thought this would make a perfect bite. And luckily, the recipe on the packaging didn’t need too many low-sodium adjustments. I swapped the salt and the sodium-heavy buttermilk with lemon zest and coconut milk. I spiced up the mix with some clove, cinnamon, and ginger. And I topped the little sodium free lifesavers with a basic powdered sugar glaze and a […]

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July 27, 2011

The Incredible Edible Purple Egg

Yesterday I made purple eggs. Yep. Dr. Seussish, delicious purple eggs. Not because it was Easter, although I wish I had thought of doing this earlier this year. But because I was pickling cabbage (for something very, very special) and I had a tub of fuschia pickling liquid that just couldn’t be wasted. Seriously, can you imagine just pouring it down the drain? I couldn’t. So I quickly learned how to hard boil eggs — yes, I had to look this up, no judgment — and I plopped my freshly peeled gems into the cabbage container. A few hours later, […]

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April 22, 2011

Pomegranate Molasses Granola Bars, Sort Of

I’ve always been pretty good at making up my own rules. When my grandparents babysat me, I convinced them that we always ate cookies before dinner. It helped prep the stomach for the nutrients to come. When it rained, I never wore shoes. What’s the point? My feet were going to get wet anyways. And in college, I pretty much majored in the art of rule making. They called it Creative Writing. From early on, I gave myself license to do what I wanted. Which, turns out, is a very important life skill. Because the truth is, most of the time, things […]

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April 11, 2011

Fraiche Start

Today is a new week. My dishwasher cleaned all the dishes and I will put them away. I’m going to start wearing my retainers too, at least at night, which I bought over a year ago to straighten my teeth – yes, I’m 28 years old. And I will actually go to that dance class I always say I want to go to. Maybe I’ll even start taking yoga again. The list of things that might happen are endless. Because it is a brand new week. The slate has been wiped clean. Anything is possible. Like salt-free, cheese-less quiche. Fluffy quiche […]

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