These Gluten-free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins are delicious and perfect for the cool Autumn weather, as well as for Halloween!   Gluten-free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe Ingredients 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup walnut oil or a good-quality vegetable oil 2 large eggs 3/4 cup pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin 1/4 cup water 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour, such as Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free 1-to-1 Baking Flour 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon gro

Use up your grape tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes) with these two delicious recipes.

Phytates, or phytic acid, are found in most plants, and are organic acids that store phosphorus in plants, which are found in the outer bran layers of unprocessed whole grains, in edible seeds, legumes, and nuts.  Lesser amounts of phytates can be found in tubers and roots.  Phytates - Good or Bad? Phytates have gotten a bad rap, because they bind to certain minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese, chromium, and zinc, and prevent the body from absorbing them.  Since the hig

Whether you grow summer squash or buy it from the Farmer's Market or the supermarket, there’s an abundance of it right now. In addition to yellow and crookneck squash, as well as zucchini, you may find other varieties, especially at your local Farmer's Market, such as pattypan, zephyr, and eight ball squash. Not sure what to do with all this summer squash? Then try these few summer squash recipes. They’re all vegetarian and gluten-free.  Summer Squash Recipes Skillet Summer S

This is my first year growing Japanese eggplants, aka, Chinese eggplants, so I’ve been eager to try them.  Compared to Italian eggplants they’re long and thin, sweeter, and less bitter, which means they don’t need to be salted ahead of time to release their bitterness.  Also, because their skin is thin, they will absorb the flavors of anything that’s cooked with them.   If you don't grow Japanese eggplants, you can find them at your local Farmer's Market or supermarket. Eith

The Mediterranean diet has been extensively researched and has some amazing benefits. Studies indicate that individuals in the Mediterranean region enjoy better health and a reduced risk of chronic diseases compared to those in other regions, largely due to their diet and lifestyle. Let's take a look at the Mediterranean diet, the benefits of this diet based on research, and how to follow it. The Amazing Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet What is the Mediterranean Diet? The

Quick and easy salads are my go-to in hot weather.  Try this refreshing lemony white bean salad. White beans are a powerhouse of protein and fiber. It serves 3-4 people. Lemony White Bean Salad Recipe Ingredients 1 3/4 cups cooked white beans such as Cannellini or Great Northern, or one 15.5 oz canned white beans 1/4 cup of onion of your choice (yellow, red or scallions), finely chopped 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves or basil, finely chopped

Do you have an abundance of basil growing in your garden?  I always have so much!  So other than making pesto (which is delicious), what else can you do with it?  Well, you can use basil in all sorts of dishes, such as on top of your pizza or pasta, blend it into sauces and soups, add to a salad, or garnish it on avocado toast.  Caprese Salad is a cool option during the summer months, and you’ll get to use some of your tomatoes as well, ( see recipe below ). When it comes to

When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease (an auto-immune disease where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland), one of the foods I needed to avoid was soy.  In moderation, soy is fine for most people with hypothyroidism.  But excessive consumption of soy may alter thyroid hormone levels, as well as the production of thyroid hormones.  It may also make it harder for the body to absorb levothyroxine (the medication prescribed to people with Hashimoto’s and/or hypothyr

Last week, the British Medical Journal  published a study regarding the consumption of ultra- processed foods and their effect on the body.  This was a 30-year correlation study that involved over nine million people.  The results are significant because most Americans get more than half of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods.  Ultra-processed Foods The most common ultra-processed foods are highly refined breads, fast foods, sugary drinks, sugary cereals, prepared

With the weather getting warmer, I naturally turn to eating lighter foods. On especially hot days, I lighten up with salads, which have come a long way from the days of iceberg lettuce with sliced tomato. Just about anything from your fridge and pantry can be tossed into a salad, so you’ll never get bored.  Lighten Up with Salads Below is a chart for creating salads; simply choose from the Greens , Veggies , Protein , and Fat categories and add to a bowl or plate. The Grains

If feeling under the weather or having digestive issues, try this recipe with basmati rice, cilantro, lime, scallions, and garlic oil.  All the ingredients aid digestion and have other benefits as well.  Basmati rice is nourishing, satisfies your stomach, and is easy-to-digest.  It also builds “ojas” - an Ayurvedic term that pertains to a person’s heartiness and vitality.  Cilantro is a strong blood cleanser, a cholagogue, and calms the immune system.  Lime is an internal det

Power Bowls and Buddha Bowls are comforting one-bowl meals; and they're basically the same, except that Buddha Bowls are usually vegetarian and contain a plant-based protein such as tofu, tempeh or legumes. There are no hard and fast rules for making a Power Bowl, but the basic formula is to start with a base ingredient such as a whole grain or a starchy vegetable. You add a protein source and then sliced and diced vegetables (raw, grilled, sautéed and/or roasted).  Add herb

There’s nothing like hot soup on a cold winter day.  This Mediterranean White Bean Soup is loaded with vegetables and white beans, so it’s hearty and healthy.  Cannellini beans are fat free and a great source of fiber, iron, folate, and magnesium.  If you use vegetable broth rather than chicken broth, then you'll have a nice meatless dish. Mediterranean White Bean Soup Recipe Ingredients: 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil ½ large onion, diced 2 cloves garlic 1 cup carrots, diced 1 cup

In November, we no longer fluctuate between warm and cold days - the cold has arrived. So we now need more warming, cooked foods that nourish the body, especially our digestion. Sweet Potatoes, pumpkin and squashes have been absorbing the sun's energy all summer long in the garden. This stored "sun" energy gives them a warm heartiness that can comfort you through cold, blustery days. These orange vegetables are high in beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which your body con

According to Ayurveda, other than accidents or injuries, most diseases begin with gut health. Your digestive system processes the food and drink that you consume, and breaks it down into essential nutrients. The nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream, where the body will then create new tissue with these nutrients; and the waste will then be eliminated. For the digestive system to do this properly, there are some basic rules of eating that will make a huge difference

Yummy roasted butternut squash with ghee, maple syrup and cinnamon! Butternut squash is hearty, grounding and warming. Like other orange vegetables, it's high in beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for the immune system, and in Autumn our immune systems could use a little boost. Ghee is clarified butter, a process where the hard-to-digest cholesterol milk-forming solids are removed. Ghee is easy-to-digest and he

Spicy roasted chickpeas make for a healthy snack, and can also be used as a topping on salads, baked potatoes, and veggie bowels. Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans as they're sometimes called, are nutritious and high in plant-based protein and fiber. Play with the spices in this recipe to get it just right for you. One of the spices I use is Sumac, which comes from the Middle East and has a tangy citrus flavor. If you can't find Sumac at your local store, you can order it onli

Do you have a lot of zucchini from your garden this year? If so, try this light Gluten Free Zucchini Bread. It's also dairy-free. Gluten Free Zucchini Bread Recipe Ingredients 1 3/4 cup of Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free 1 to 1 Baking Flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon cloves 1/2 cup Walnut Oil (or a good quality vegetable oil) 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar

With the high heat lately, I definitely don’t feel like cooking. But I’m trying quick meals with no, or very little, cooking. Also, I have an abundance of zucchini now, so I tried this easy Mediterranean-inspired zucchini & chickpea sauté dish. Zucchini & Chickpea Sauté Recipe Ingredients 2 tsps. olive oil 1 large or 2 small zucchini, sliced 1 bell pepper (any color), cut into strips ½ cup sliced red onion 2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in halves 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and dr