For the sixth year in a row, the Mediterranean diet has been ranked the best for health and well-being by U.S. News & World Report. Concerns about healthy aging came into play this time, the magazine said, including bone and joint health and increasing quality of life. The phrase “Mediterranean diet” has been around for […]
You don’t need a culinary diploma to achieve beautifully seared, restaurant-quality sea scallops on your own stovetop. A good, heavy skillet (not nonstick), a watchful eye, and a few simple tricks are really all you need to pull off this impressive-seeming feat. And these days, the individually flash-frozen scallops available in your supermarket freezer case […]
This meal-in-a-bowl is slightly adapted from one in the couple’s new cookbook, “Rice is Life: Recipes and Stories Celebrating the World’s Most Essential Grain” (Chronicle, $29.95). It’s fortifying, simple to make, and flavorful enough to convince you to get to know this ancient gluten-free grain better. Black rice can now be widely found in health food […]
Mimosas are the quintessential brunch cocktail: simple, light, fruity, and festive. Here’s how to give that basic formula — one part orange juice, two parts sparkling wine — a seasonal twist. Frozen cranberries act as “ice;” sprigs of rosemary add an earthy note; a splash of orange liqueur raises the spirit. Any sparkling wine will […]
Packaged, ultra-processed foods are convenient and tasty. They’re handy around the house for the grandkids or snacking. But they’re not good for us – not our bodies or brains. We’re talking about hot dogs, burgers, sausages, cookies, cakes, doughnuts, and similar treats. You already know they contribute to obesity and other negative physical effects. Now […]
Every holiday buffet table could use a few healthy choices, and a platter of colorful raw veggies is the easiest way. In this light dip, inspired by one in “Wine Style” by Kate Leahy (Ten Speed, $22), avocado replaces the mayo that gives classic green goddess dressing its creamy richness; a little anchovy and a generous […]
Roast chicken seems to cry for potatoes, rice, or some other starchy side. But cauliflower can stand in as a hearty nutrient-packed companion for a fraction of the calories and carbs. In this recipe adapted from Ruby Tandoh’s “Cook as You Are” (Knopf, $35), the florets roast in a pan with skin-on thighs rubbed with […]
This classic Mediterranean combo is as simple and healthy as it is delicious. A green salad and a loaf of crusty bread are all you need to turn this 30-minute one-skillet meal into a company feast. Variations abound; this one is adapted from “Milk Street: Cook What You Have” by Christopher Kimball (Voracious, $35). Serves […]
Even those of us leaning more toward a plant-based diet these days feel the need to give in to our carnivore cravings now and then. This recipe, adapted from one in Mark Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything Fast” (Harvest, $40), balances that iron-rich animal protein with an ample quantity of hearty, vitamin-loaded broccoli in one quick, […]
The classic sauce that makes shrimp scampi so sinfully delicious consists of butter, garlic, and wine, which meld in the pan with the juices from the shrimp while they cook. Quite often, it arrives on a platter in a mountain of pasta, with plenty of crusty bread for sopping up every buttery drop. This recipe […]
