Dinner Parties

February 13, 2017

Low-So Good LOVE Recipes

It’s pretty darn wonderful that there is practically a whole month dedicated to LOVE. Yes, there’s the official day of love — hello, Valentine’s! Of course there’s National Heart Health Month, too, which loosely translates into four weeks of “treating yourself right.” And in general, between blushing cheeks, neighborly kindness, and heart-shaped flare, the streets are pulsing with patience and random acts of sweetness. Which is just magical. And that brings me naturally to food. Food is one of the easiest ways to show your love for someone. Whether it is a small, sugar-filled treat or something hearty and savory, made with your blood, sweat, and happy tears. […]

October 31, 2016

Super Simple Macaroon Tarts

Now that Halloween has come and gone, it’s time to focus on the next big event in the this holiday marathon: THANKSGIVING. A time when we come together with friends and family to loosen our pants and indulge on all the sweet and savory recipes we love, brimming with tradition and childhood memories. As well as lots and lots and lots of sodium. But before you toss Grandma’s casserole in the trash forever, take a breath. And then take a look around your kitchen and grocery store. Because there are plenty of food swaps and ingredient tricks that will help kick the sodium down a […]

October 7, 2016

Low-So Purple Sweet Potato Empanadas

It’s October which means it’s time for Halloween-themed treats, made freakishly colorful by super natural ingredients (see what I did there?). So let’s start out with these purple sweet potato empanadas that were scary easy to make (I did it again!). I mean, seriously, I had these in the oven and ready-to-eat in less than two episodes of Project Runway. And the dough (THE DOUGH!) came together in a literal stir and snap. So don’t be afraid to try it. Now, I’ve been meaning to try empanadas ever since my daughter became obsessed with a book about empanadas. But the […]

August 4, 2016

Low-So Pizza Party

These days, most people have some sort of dietary requirement. Maybe it’s an allergy or an intolerance. A new food fad or a simple dislike. But the point is, when hosting a dinner party, you will most likely not be the only one with a special food request. And the list of ingredients you cannot use may runneth long. But here’s the thing: You can’t ignore these needs (because you would never want anyone to ignore yours). And you also cannot break your back (or the bank), making separate dishes for Tina, Ivan, Susan, and Uncle Frank’s new girlfriend that he never told you was […]

May 23, 2016

Low-So Dukka-Spiced Salmon Patties

With Memorial Day around the corner, I wanted to fill up your arsenal with low-so good BBQ dishes. And while you can always stick with traditional mains and sides, your special food needs are always a good excuse to get a little more creative. To mix things up. And serve low-so, gluten-free fish patties instead. This recipe and photo comes from my new book (which you can PREORDER NOW!). Which I hope gives you all the tips and tools (including recipes), to cook with flexibility and confidence. And while you can use the recipes just as they are written, I hope […]

May 18, 2016

Low-So Bacon-Spiced Ribs & Relish

I’m actually wearing a tank top and shorts. Sandals. And sweating glistening. Which means we are officially entering BBQ season. And I’m a huge fan of BBQs, for a few reasons: (1) With a little prep, the grill does most rest of the work, like a hot sous chef, while you mix and mingle with friends or make guacamole. (2) You can accomplish some genius batch cooking by cooking extra meet and vegetables (and FRUIT!) for the week ahead, all while the coals are still hot. (3) The grill itself gives food an extra smoky flavor, adding something special to everything it touches. […]

April 29, 2016

Low-So Mexican Pantry

A successful low-sodium diet requires one to ditch the processed foods and most prepared ingredients. But that doesn’t mean your cooking adventures will be any less convenient. Or that you have to stop eating your favorite foods (like enchiladas and orange chicken chow mein). Because while there are some high-sodium foods — ahem, bacon and soup — which should be made-from-scratch and require a little extra effort on your part, there are also plenty of no-salt-added and low-sodium products that you can buy, ready-to-eat at the store today. And with the right ingredients and tools on hand, you can cook any type of cuisine any day of the week in almost […]

April 22, 2016

Low-So Summer Socca Pizza

I had a dream about pizza last night. A thin, crispy crusted pizza slathered with rich, gooey cheese all mixed with creamy sauce. It had all the right flavors and textures. And I couldn’t gobble up enough of it. In my dream. That’s because pizza is just the best. It’s so wonderful, that it even tastes good cold. Like, straight from the fridge cold. And it is one of the foods that people miss most when going on a low-sodium diet. Not just for its flavors and cheese. But for the comfort. And the convenience. The good news is that several low-so […]

February 19, 2016

Low-So Cauliflower Vegetable Bread

Kale may be a superfood. But cauliflower is a food unicorn. It’s totally magical. With the right recipe and ingredients, cauliflower can turn into a pizza crust. Or white pizza sauce. Mashed “potatoes.” Popcorn. Rice. A steak. CHORIZO!!! Vegan macaroni and “cheese.” And even a ricotta-like situation (which I have in my new book and coming soon to theKitchn.com, but you can find a similar recipe here). Come to think of it, cauliflower is not just a unicorn; it’s a top tier impersonator. And if it could, I’m sure it would headline as Cher in Vegas. The point is, now that I’m on an even more limited […]

December 18, 2015

Low-So Brownies, Gifts, and Books

We are in the final weeks of holiday season, which means it is time to talk gifts. Last minute gifts. Little gifts. And in the case of today’s post, stocking gifts. Specifically, low-so good snacks that will not only stuff those big decorative socks, but more importantly, your stomach in times of hunger. There are also brownies made with black beans. But we’ll get to that. Even a year ago, finding low-sodium snacks was pretty darn impossible. There were a few brands of tortilla chips, potato chips, and rice crackers on the store shelves. As well as some granola mixes. But not much […]

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