Breakfast & Brunch

April 20, 2017

Low-So Good Unicorn Oatmeal

I’m not one that usually goes for foods fads or hashtag trends. Not because I don’t like them. Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of spaghetti donuts or bacon “bread” or Oreo stuffed cookie dough. These crazy food mash-ups have all taken the Internet by storm and they all sound amazing. And fun. And I’m always down to play with my food. The problem is, because I’m a mainly whole foods, real ingredients, less bacon and more parsley kind of gal, I can’t really eat these things (is it rude to call them “things”?) And I tend to stick to my own, less […]

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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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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 […]

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July 13, 2016

Low-So Cabbage Shumai

I’ve thought a lot about this post. I’ve written it and rewritten about a dozen times in my head. I’ve questioned how much to share, how personal to get, how much to keep this post free from deep thoughts and politics. And I can promise that after today, things will return to their regularly scheduled food programming. But I want to risk something. The truth is, I’m white. I take Soul Cycle classes. I shop at farmers markets and Whole Foods. Although I’ve hit the glass ceiling a few times as a woman, I’m treated with respect and I’ve been raised to believe my […]

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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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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 […]

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April 1, 2016

Top Low-So Ingredient Swaps

Happy April Fools Day, World!  A time to practice extreme silliness and joy, and plan a prank or two. And, in my opinion, the perfect holiday to play a little (or a lot) with your food. Because really, everyday on a low-so diet (or any diet) is a “fool” day, in which one uses creativity and fun to trick those eyeballs and those tastebuds. And trust me, if I can make vegan, low-so, and gluten-free Twinkies a reality, seriously, anything is possible. So to inspire your own edible tom-foolery — today and everyday — check out some of my favorite ingredients swaps that expertly mimic favorite foods […]

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March 25, 2016

3 Flexible Easter Feasts!

Whether or not you plan to celebrate Easter, it is a perfect time to start perfecting your brunch game. Because it is SPRING! And spring means warmer(ish) weather. And a great excuse to start gathering friends together — inside or outside — to enjoy an array of sweet and savory treats. And maybe a low-so good beet bloody Mary or two. But here’s the challenge: How do you feed a gaggle of guests all while tending to your low-so needs as well as the dietary needs of others (think: egg-free, gluten-free, Paleo, Whole30, vegetarian, etc). All while making something stunning. And not too time or budget consuming? The answer is the […]

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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 […]

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December 11, 2015

Low-So Sweet Potato Fish Cakes

When my health takes a dip, the first thing I look to is the cabinet. But not the one you think. Not the one with pills and bandaids and hot water bottles. The cabinet I’m thinking of is full of spices and grains and all the things I can put on my plate and into my body. I’m talking about food. Because that’s my favorite kind of medicine. If you’re a regular reader, you may have noticed that I’ve been a bit more absent this year and that’s because, well, my body kind of had it with me. After almost 11 full years of post-Lupus-attack-survival […]

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