Healthy eating: Tasty and nutritious soup pairs white beans and kale

Yes, kale has a good publicist, but it can stand up to its claims. Kale is high in vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. A study by Harvard researchers found a strong association between participants’ levels of optimism and their levels of carotenoid antioxidants (found in green and orange vegetables such as kale, sweet potatoes, collard…

Healthy eating: Quick and easy cookie recipes

We’re in the midst of Girl Scout cookie season. Everyone has their favorites and this year there is a new raspberry-flavored cookie that apparently rivals the popularity of Thin Mints (and is being resold by entrepreneurs on the internet for exorbitant prices). I’m offering two cookie recipes that are a wee bit healthier. One cookie…

Healthy eating: Warm up this winter with spinach artichoke spaghetti pie

I recently joined PCC Community Markets as a cooks’ assistant for their culinary classes. I enjoy helping with the classes because I learn about cuisines and cultures that I may not be as familiar with in my own everyday home cooking. I learn at least one new tip during every class. The classes give me…

Healthy eating: Garlicky chickpea soup full of flavor

Domestic and international travel is a wonderful way to explore new cultures and foods. Last year, I had the privilege of exploring Northern Spain and Portugal. It was my first international trip since November 2019. I wanted to explore new territory and part of the enjoyment for any trip is eating new foods. I can…

Healthy eating: Festive jam a post-holiday treat

When I was in middle school, I attended a summer camp in New Mexico (which was a long way from my hometown in Missouri) and was immersed in the culture, history, arts, traditions and people, as well as the outdoor beauty of the Four Corners in the Southwest. The camp was established in 1926 and…

Healthy eating: Everything in moderation — even holiday cookies

Many families and friends do cookie swaps during the holidays. Everyone gathers together and brings one cookie recipe and at least a dozen cookies to share with each member of the group. Then everyone ends up going home with a broad selection of holiday treats. I grew up baking holiday cookies with my mother each…

Healthy eating: Winter green salad a fresh option for holiday table

During the holidays, it’s easy to eat rich and high-caloric foods. We’re visiting with family and friends as well as going to open houses and office parties, where we are treating ourselves to a wide assortment festive foods of the holidays. It’s all good — everything in moderation, right? Try not to demonize the foods…

Healthy Eating: Combine apples and plums for a moist, decadent crumb cobbler

It appears to be fall in the morning and summer by the afternoon. My garden seems to be happy with the changes, although it keeps calling out for some rain. We’re still harvesting raspberries (second crop), lettuce, carrots, beets, beans, squash, cucumbers, peppers and lots of tomatoes. This has been a bumper crop due to…

Healthy Eating: Fresh vegetables star in this nutritious pasta salad

When most people think of pasta salad, they probably think of a restaurant in the 1980s with fake brick walls and hanging plants or perhaps a bland side dish at a community potluck meal. I am here to say that you can bring any pasta salad up to date as well as interesting with good…

Learn how to grow an edible garden during Lynnwood Library event Aug. 20

The Lynnwood Library, in partnership with Verdant Health, will be hosting an event teaching community members how to grow an edible fall garden in whatever space they have available to them. This class is free and aimed toward beginner gardeners who may only have access to a small backyard or patio, yet still want to…

Healthy Eating: Fresh from the garden — strawberry-rhubarb sauce

I recognize that it’s almost officially summer. But it feels like “Juneuary” right now. I’m still bundled up. My new garden seems to be confused as well. Seedlings are slow to take off. I’ve lost a few of my tomato plants already (anyone knit sweaters for tomato plants?!) Some seeds which should take 10 days…

Healthy Eating: Nutritious almond butter stars in these crunchy cookies

I have always loved a good peanut butter and jam sandwich. For me it’s the perfect hiking sandwich because you don’t have to worry about anything getting spoiled and I enjoy them smooshed out of my backpack! I’m not a fan of jelly, but I am lucky that our garden’s berry patches produce enough raspberries…

Healthy Eating: A Sunday morning pancake recipe from Cottage Community Bakery

Edmonds is becoming a wonderful food destination. In the past few years there have been many new restaurants, cafes, bars and bakeries that have opened up around town. One of the most recent additions to open a brick and mortar store (after a few years of operating Pop-Up events) is the Cottage Community Bakery in…

Puget Sound Kidney Centers sponsoring free virtual classes in new year

The Puget Sound Kidney Centers are sponsoring the following virtual free classes, open to the public in January and February: Cultivating Change, Jan.5, 2022 2-3 p.m. Are you ready to make a lifestyle change but unsure where to start? Have you tried to make healthy changes before that didn’t last? If so, this virtual class…

Healthy Eating: Hearty minestrone, just in time for ‘soup season’

We have officially entered “soup season.” When it’s rainy and chilly outside there is nothing more comforting and nourishing than a bowl of hearty soup and a slice of bread slathered with butter. It’s a perfect meal at my house. The wonderful thing about soup is that you can whip up a pot of soup…

Healthy Eating: Superfood kale stars in this nutritious salad

It’s hard to believe that this week we celebrate the first week of fall. It’s been a busy summer for me with mixed results in the garden. The heat certainly had a big impact on many of my plants, and it was challenging to keep up with all the watering that our vegetable garden required….

Healthy Eating: Baked rice — a simple, delicious and versatile dish

Baked rice is a dish that can be served as a side dish or a main dish. You can add extra veggies to the mix if desired–broccoli, carrots, peppers, snap peas come to mind. You can change up the type of nuts, beans and cheese to suit your tastebuds or to use what you have available in…

Healthy Eating: Almond date balls a nutritious, delicious snack

I’ve grown slightly weary of cooking full deal meals.  My tendency these days is to prepare a big pot of soup or stew, a  casserole or a piece of protein and some sides that I can call dinner for at least two or three nights. Everyone is on their own for breakfast or lunch. Lately…

Healthy Eating: A berry delicious crisp

Spring is here and I am enjoying all the blossoms of the neighborhood daffodils, forsythia, daphne odora, sarcocca and more! I even spotted a pair of pileated woodpeckers routing around in our garden earlier this week. We’re waiting for a pair of chickadees to make a nest in our bird house again this year. My…