When you're invited to a dinner party, you may not expect to be doing the cooking yourself, but that's exactly what I did last weekend. At a recent gathering of friends, I was surprised to see that we actually made our dinner and then sat down to eat it. Organized by a dear friend of mine, Parties That Cook came to his house and set up work stations, gave us recipes, showed us some chef tips, Read more

Fresh green peas are the first sign for Spring and since they have a short season, I always get my fill before they disappear come Summer. And just in the nick of time, I spotted a new recipe from Michelle Obama's upcoming book, American Grown. The First Lady's pea salad calls for peas, shallots, leeks, and mint, all tossed together with a healthy cream dressing. After shelling the peas, they Read more

Michelle Obama exudes elegance, so it's no surprise that her recipe for chicken salad with herb vinaigrette is simple and sophisticated too. In honor of the First Lady's first cookbook, American Grown, coming out on May 29, I whipped up this easy and healthy dinner salad. This salad celebrates Summer greens, herbs, and grilling season, though if you don't have a grill, the chicken is just as Read more

After getting home from a busy day of work, especially if I hit the gym, the same question always pops into mind — what to make for dinner? Without a plan in mind, it's easy to fall back on boxed mac and cheese or Chinese takeout, which aren't the healthiest options. To prevent scrambling to whip together a not-so-healthy meal, take time to map out your dinner menu for the week. Knowing which Read more

Fenugreek, a spice used frequently in Indian cooking, might easily be confused with similar-sounding fennel seeds, but the likeness ends there. Fenugreek actually has a maple scent and a caramel flavor. It's primarily used in curries, but I like to use it to season everything from pickles and chutneys to breads and soups. Recently, I used it to bring out sweetness in a warm-weather salad. In this Read more

Eating healthy is no easy feat — it usually requires a little more time in both planning and preparation. But did you know that a simple ice tray can make healthy living a breeze? From smarter snacking to a good-for-you breakfast, keep reading for creative and healthy ways to use your everyday ice tray. Smoothies A smoothie makes a healthy on-the-go breakfast, but sometimes life is so Read more

We never would've thought of fried green tomato parmesan (that credit goes to Food Orleans), but now that the idea's entered our minds, there's only one real way to resolve our craving. Because I love them so, I've written a couple of love letters to fried green tomatoes over the years: the fried green tomato caprese "salad" I made without remorse, and fried green tomato BLTs, a longtime Read more

While I find a simple bowl of leafy greens doused in a zesty vinaigrette to be gratifying, lately I've been opening up to the deliciousness of salad add-ins that can transform a fresh side dish into a full-blown meal. Below are some of my favorite additions. Toasted Nuts It's amazing what toasted nuts can add to a salad. A handful of almonds quickly toasted in a pan adds a layer of warmth and Read more

Check out these cooked greens from reader CarCarDawn; she posted it in our Healthy Recipe community group. Although Spring has sprung in many parts of the country, cold temperatures and hollowing winds are still plaguing many of us in the Northeast. This is a very flexible recipe that delivers on the warm and comforting feeling some of us are still looking for, with a bright burst of flavor. I Read more