This is a vegetarian version of a Mexican classic—spiced with chilis and cumin and finished with a squeeze of lime. Here’s an opportunity to clear out the fridge—toss in potato cubes, grated turnip, rutabaga or chopped greens with the broth. Just about anything will work. If you can find corn on the cob, all the better. But don’t pitch the cobs out—add ’em to the pot to steep a deep, flavorful broth.
Everyone knows we should eat salad. It’s the perfect vehicle for getting loads of healthy produce into our bodies. Salad can translate to fewer calories and saturated fat, plus more fiber, vitamins and minerals.
The down side is when it becomes too ordinary and everyday, a boring flavor-void, pushed aside or picked at, rather than enjoyed. We know we should eat it, but how about tomorrow? Perking up a worn-out salad routine calls for creativity—a fresh approach with fresh ingredients. Here are a few tips to change it up.
I love a crunchy slaw. This one showcases healthy raw cauliflower, carrots and radishes. You could easily add broccoli, fennel or celery. Even turnip or rutabaga. I use a julienne peeler to make the carrot strips, but a sharp knife works just as well. Toss in a handful or two of chopped dandelion greens for extra nutrition—no one will even notice they’re there (unless you want them to know).
Buttermilk adds tang to this creamy, herb-laced dressing. Vary the herbs as you like —fresh parsley, dill, chervil, basil or cilantro.
This week is a perfect time to think about Mom. It’s her day on Sunday, April 22. No, I’m not talking about the ladies that raised us. I’m talking about the big, round one. The one whose back we straddle, and whose precious resources fuel our lives. Unfortunately this is the same grande dame that suffers silently at our hands — buried in our copious piles of trash and indelibly altered by our ever-accumulating greenhouse-gas emissions.
With Earth Day just around the corner, it’s an appropriate time to think about how we care for our Mother planet. And how we can do better. It might feel as if our personal role is miniscule in the face of a world riddled with bad habits, but each green step, no matter what size, moves us in the right direction. Our food habits matter. Here is some food for thought for Earth Day.