Dips & Spreads

January 12, 2017

2017 Low-So Reboot

Happy 2017 dearest internet friends! With the new year, I’m entering my 34th year of life and my 13th year living with lupus and kidney disease. And while the past 365 days have had their ups and downs. And downs. And more downs. They also brought a renewed faith in food and its power to heal. See: 34 years old with the same stage 4 kidneys. Still kicking! As you may remember, last year, I welcomed January with a big anti-inflammation overhaul of my diet — no wheat or gluten, no eggs, no dairy, no sugar, no soy, no nightshade vegetables, NO […]

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May 6, 2016

Low-So Mother’s Day Ideas

Two posts in one week?! Something special must be a-brewing. And that something special is a big celebration on Sunday to honor all things Mom. You know — that amazing woman (or women) in your life who will pick up the phone at 2 am, drop everything to be by your side, and is pretty much always right. Or in other words: the ultimate boss lady. So I thought I give you some visual inspiration (and links) to some easy, healthy, flavorful, mom-approved meal ideas for this upcoming weekend. Whether you plan on having a family feast or just a intimate snuggle […]

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May 4, 2016

Two Low-So Hot Sauces & A Taco Bar

Tomorrow, you will most likely be invited to a fiesta or maybe even host one yourself. So to make sure you’re completely low-so prepared, I wanted to give you some recipes (or non-recipes) for your arsenal of ultimate Cinco De Mayo Flexible Feasts. For tomorrow or any taco tuesday. But before we dive into the main meals, let’s first dip into a few literal hot sauces. Three to be exact: Roasted red pepper/chipotle, roasted poblano/tomatillo, and roasted tomatoes. By having one or all of these on hand, you can quickly spice up any dish, from a simple bowl of rice to grilled skirt steak to roasted butternut squash. […]

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April 17, 2015

10 Ways to A Low-So Good Lunch

One of the biggest challenges for a low-so eaters happens everyday around noon (or 10:30 if you’re like me and you just can’t wait that long). I’m talking about lunch. If you hang out at home, near a kitchen, and a stocked pantry and spice drawer, well then, the only thing standing in your way of a filling afternoon snack is a little bit of time. But if you’re out and about or at work, eating good food suddenly poses a bit of a problem. Grab-and-go meals are a big part of our work culture, whether you actually take the […]

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April 3, 2015

Matzo Bar and Apple Doughnuts

Happy EastOver, everyone! It’s that special time of year when religion, eggs, and chocolate combine. But I love this duo of celebrations for more than an abundance of frittatas, candy, and excuses to gather with friends. I love EastOver because of matzo. Matzo just happens to be one of my favorite low-sodium ingredients.  It generally contains 0mg of sodium. And sometimes, during Passover, you can find flavored matzo (and chocolate matzo!) as well. Although, you can always spice it up on your own. But more specifically, I love matzo because it provides a solution to one of the biggest sodium challenges (which we will […]

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March 17, 2015

Low-So Green Sauces

Pardon the interruption of Salt-Free Salt month. But I though, it being St. Patty’s day and all, I’d bring you something green. Well two things: First, my Low-So Spinach Sauce. And then, my Kale Pesto French Toast. They are both superhero condiments of edible proportions. So let’s start with spinach. I love this sauce not just for it’s velvety texture. Nor its tangy taste. Nor the fact that you can sneak in a whole load of vegetables into your next pasta, salad, or steak dinner. What I love so much about this sauce (or dressing, depending on how you use it) is that it uses spinach. […]

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November 24, 2014

Roasted Lamb Thanksgiving Roundup

Alright friends. Get ready for a roundup of Thanksgiving dishes that is going to be bigger than last year’s 26-pound turkey. Hint: anytime you see anything bolded in orange, that is a link to a recipe or tips. So click away for total Thanksgiving domination. But before we jump into the lentil gravy boat (see how I did that?) and talk stuffing, sides, and other non-traditional dishes, let me say this about this year’s low-sodium holiday feast: break tradition. I give you permission. It’s the easiest way to free yourself from the salty brines and canned soups, and create a whole new […]

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March 26, 2014

Falafel Wraps

There are two big lessons that I want to impart to you today: first, cabbage makes an amazing, low-sodium pita replacements and second, cooking with dried chickpeas is kind of amazingly more amazing than using the canned kind. Now I’m all for convenience. Trust me on this. I’ll happily buy peeled garlic, no-salt-added canned tomatoes, and pre-mixed no-salt spice blends. Anything that makes me low-sodium life and cooking easier. And when it comes to beans, I’ve never, I repeat, NEVER used the dried kind. I always rely on the trusty no-salt-added pre-cooked version and a can opener. But yesterday, I […]

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September 27, 2013

Kidney Friendly Pumpkin Quesadillas

Fall. It’s the time of year that people go totally bonkers over pumpkin. Pumpkin spiced lattes. Pumpkin muffins. Pumpkin perfume. Pumpkin colored pants. Pumpkins in windows, on doorsteps, and pretty much every which way you look. Which leads me to this announcement: It’s officially gourd season, people, and we want to be a part of it. So I started thinking of new ways to get more pumpkin in my food and my life. Because as a kidney-friendly and low-sodium ingredient (both in the canned and fresh forms), it will help you spice up and switch up favorite recipes. Of course, there’s […]

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June 21, 2013

Greek Yogurt Egg Salad

I never understood why tea was for two. I mean, it’s fabulous to have one-on-one time with a special friend.  But if I’m making tea (or cocktails) you better believe the more is always the merrier. And summer seems to be filled with these kinds of last minute get togethers. Whether it is a beautiful sunny day and you skip work for a picnic in the park.  Or have breakfast plans for a few that quickly turns into brunch for many. Needless to say, I’m the queen of over-inviting and finding reasons to rally people around my table (or bar). […]

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