Lunch (at home)

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 […]

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 […]

July 24, 2016

Banh Mi Lettuce Wraps

When I was about six, I saw my first live musical. I think it was Les Miserables, which looking back (and with a kid of my own) seems like a rather strange choice for a tiny human who could barely tie her own shoes and thought her stuffed animals came alive at night. For the sake of the story, though, let’s just say it was something grand. And during intermission, I turned to my mother with wide eyes to ask, “when can I do that?” She answered, “not until you’re eight.” And while everyone thought the passing months would erase this date from my […]

May 27, 2016

Low-So BBQ Pantry

On the eve of this long, BBQ-filled weekend, I wanted to give you one last tip (or, I guess, a pantry-full of tips) to make sure you stay well-fed and low-so satisfied throughout the holiday. Above are a few of my favorite pantry items to use/bring at your next grilling gathering — whether you host or attend as a guest: (1) low-so mustard; (2) salt-free ketchup or (3) salt-free canned tomatoes to make your own ketchup replacement (just don’t forget to add your own spices, vinegar, or even jam for extra flavor!); (4) smoking chips for extra smoky flavor — add directly to […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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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