Let’s face it, lentils are not sexy.  If all the cool foods like Dulce de Leche and Creme Fraiche got together for a party, Lentils would not be invited.  They are boring looking and even the name lentils sounds like the weird girl in the corner that no one wants to be seen talking to. Lentils are the nerdy, socially awkward, bowling ball-shaped runts of the food world.

To make up for their lack of social prowess, lentils are forced to bring many health benefits to the table in order to get noticed.  They are high in fiber, low in calories (and on the glycemic index!), extremely filling and will soak up the flavors of whatever liquid you decide to cook them in.  Paired with fresh spinach, smoky kielbasa and a mix of fresh mushrooms this lentil soup will quickly become your best friend while helping you stick to your new, healthful resolutions without having to sacrifice flavor!

Keep reading …

If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure you subscribe to receive free updates by email or RSS feed!

I don’t think I can remember a time when some form of spinach artichoke dip didn’t appear on every restaurant menu.  It seems to have become a standard American pre-meal munchie, a quintessential appetizer.  Not that I mind.  Who doesn’t love the thought of eating something healthy (spinach and artichokes) wrapped in mounds of cheese, butter and heavy cream?

This recipe is a healthier version of the restaurant stand-by that you can feel good about serving to friends and family.  Instead of pounds of butter and heavy cream, this recipe uses reduced-fat sour cream and ricotta, plus it ads in some cannellini beans (my current favorite) which ups the fiber content.  Truly a perfect party dish, this guilt-free dip lets you save some calories for where it counts … dessert!

Keep reading …

If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure you subscribe to receive free updates by email or RSS feed!

I subscribe to a ton of food blogs and, as a result, I generally get a handful of recipes personally delivered to my email inbox each day.  The gems get filed away under the bulging To Make List.  Some get a quizzical, “Really? You think that tastes/looks/smells like a good idea?” and are promptly filed in the mysterious Gmail “archive,” never to be heard from again.  Very rarely do I receive a recipe that produces a Run-Don’t-Walk level of urgency.  This salad was of the Run-Don’t-Walk variety.

The recipe showed up on a Monday.  Had it not been for the fact that I am currently studying for a rather large, life-altering exam (ahem, The Bar) that will determine the validity of my last three years of oh-so expensive schooling, the salad would have been made that very evening.  Rest assured that despite my current level of chaos, this salad was still made before the end of the week.  You would think that this story would end with the expected disappointment that usually results when one has such heightened expectations.  But, you would be wrong.

Keep reading …

If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure you subscribe to receive free updates by email or RSS feed!