Today I’m celebrating the recent release of my latest cookbook, Natural Baby Food.  Published by Hatherleigh Press and distributed by Penguin Random House, this book is the culmination of a year of work and is the follow up to my Natural Pregnancy Cookbook.  After many late nights spent researching, writing and testing recipes, it’s so exciting to finally see the finished product in print.  It’s almost like giving birth to another child! 

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Packed with Asian flavors, these mini tuna meatballs are perfect for summer entertaining!

I love summer cooking, don’t you?  When I think of summer recipes, I think of simple dishes that are easy to make and even easier to eat.  I think of recipes that can feed a crowd for a casual backyard get-together, a picnic or even a trip to the beach.  When summer comes around, I definitely prefer dishes that can be popped in the oven or cooked on a grill rather than those that involve sweating over a hot stove! 

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For a tasty finale to any meal, try this delicious cobbler that’s brimming with summer fruit.

This month’s Recipe Redux theme is “Pie Love” and we were challenged to create a healthy makeover of our favorite pie recipe.  I love pie- apple, pumpkin, cherry, blueberry, you name it.  But that flaky, buttery pie crust that’s oh so good, is usually made with flour and lots of butter or in some cases, lard.  So for my healthy makeover, rather than go the traditional route, I decided to do a twist on a pie and make a fruit cobbler.  With a cobbler, you have a higher fruit to topping ratio so it’s a lot healthier.     

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A quick and easy version of a classic Indian dish, this delicious biriyani features U.S.-grown rice and can be made in just thirty minutes.

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by USA Rice Federation and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Think rice!  In honor of National Nutrition Month, the USA Rice Federation challenged the RecipeRedux members to create our own nutritious and delicious recipes featuring U.S.-grown rice. 

Whether you prefer white, brown, wild, black or red rice, U.S.-grown rice has you covered!  Not only is it delicious, but U.S.-grown rice is healthy, sustainable, locally-grown, GMO-free, affordable, and versatile.  How can you beat that?  You can use it in so many ways, from savory to sweet.  Try pairing it with other nutritious foods like seafood, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables for a perfect meal.  An added benefit- it’s also gluten-free and easily digested.  Because it is the least allergenic of all grains, rice cereal is often recommended as a first food for babies.

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Are you looking for the perfect sweet treat to serve to your loved ones this Valentine’s Day?  These lovely bites are big on flavor and low in calories and will please adults and kids alike. 

This post was created in partnership with Stonyfield.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve always preferred having a romantic meal at home over going out on Valentine’s Day.  What better way to show your loved ones how much they mean to you than to prepare them a delicious, home-cooked meal?  My Yogurt-Dipped Strawberries with Drizzled Chocolate are the perfect Valentine’s Day treat.  Using Stonyfield organic Greek yogurt helps make these treats feel really indulgent tasting even though they’re actually very nutritious. 

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My Crispy Spiced Chickpeas are the perfect snack- healthy, satisfying and portable.  Keep them in a plastic bag and take them on the go so you have something nutritious to reach for when hunger strikes

Smoked foods are among the most commonly predicted food trends for 2015.  Both restaurant chefs and home cooks are experimenting with smoking techniques to add flavor to food and even drinks!  If you don’t have a smoker at home, don’t fear.  You can add smokiness to your food using spices.  This month’s Recipe Redux challenge was to share a healthy dish that we’re heating up with smoke and/or spiciness.  My Crispy Spiced Chickpeas definitely fit the bill.  They’re dusted with Moroccan spices and roasted in the oven.  Crunchy, smoky and packed with nutrients, these addictive morsels are the perfect snack.  Keep them in a plastic bag and take them on the go so you have something healthy and satisfying to reach for when hunger strikes. 

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Nutrient-packed cauliflower forms the base of this low-calorie, gluten-free bread that's topped with cheesy goodness.  It's the perfect guilt-free appetizer for the holidays!  

As 2014 comes to a close, it’s nice to take a moment to reflect on all of the events of the past year.  This month’s Recipe Redux theme is all about reflection.  Since the group has been around for 42 months, they decided to put out a fun challenge to finish up the year.  We had to pick a cookbook and create a healthier version of the recipe on either page 42 or 142. 

The recipe I’ve chosen to redux is “Cheese Bread from Genoa” or “Focaccia al Formaggio” from Mario Batali’s cookbook Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes to Cook at Home.  There's a full page picture on page 42, so technically the recipe is on page 43.  Mario Batali is of course, a chef superstar with an endless knowledge of Italian cuisine.  In this book, he demystifies many traditionally elaborate Italian dishes, simplifying them for the home cook.

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This nutritious twist on lasagna uses spaghetti squash instead of pasta.  Spaghetti squash has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and is loaded with nutrients.  Packed with protein and fiber, this dish will keep you feeling full and satisfied!

I’m excited to announce that I recently became a member of a wonderful community of bloggers called The Recipe Redux.  Started by three registered dieticians, The Recipe Redux was founded on the belief that healthier eating should always taste delicious.  It’s right up my alley!  I’m so happy to be a part of this unique and talented group. 

For this month’s challenge, The Recipe Redux asked us to share a healthier “redo” of one of our favorite food memories.  It’s the perfect challenge for this time of year with Thanksgiving right around the corner.  For many of us, some of our most treasured memories revolve around sharing festive holiday meals with family and friends. 

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In my last post I promised you another recipe featuring the delicious Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken that I made.  It's part of my Cook Once, Eat Twice series where I show you how to make a large batch recipe and then use the leftovers in a variety of other dishes. This week I decided to use my leftover chicken to make these scrumptious Pulled Chicken Quesadillas. These quesadillas are a terrific family-friendly meal that you can get on the table in a pinch. You simply layer chicken, shredded cheese and any other desired toppings on tortillas and toast them in a skillet until they're golden brown on the outside with melting, gooey cheese on the inside.


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When my daughter Sienna was born, one of the most common questions that people asked me was whether I was going to make my own baby food.  Usually I would just laugh nervously and say something along the lines of “We’ll see…” The truth is that even though I had always pictured myself creating culinary masterpieces for my baby, in reality I couldn’t imagine finding the time to do it.  Now that Sienna is nine months old, I am happy to say that I’ve been making all of her food and it’s not as hard as you would think.  In fact, it’s pretty easy.  All you need is a food processor, blender or immersion blender and preferably a steamer (or steamer basket).  If you can set aside a couple of hours one day, you can make enough baby food to last for weeks.

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Here's an easy, delicious smoothie recipe to get your day started. My Cherry Almond Smoothie is packed with flavor and nutrients. The base of this smoothie is made with almond milk, which gives it a nice nutty flavor. Almond milk has become particularly popular in recent years because it has a lot of great nutritional properties.  You can buy it at the store or make your own at home by soaking almonds in water overnight and then pureeing them. 


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Are you looking for a crowd-pleasing recipe to serve on Super Bowl Sunday?  If so, try my Lightened Up Spinach Artichoke Dip. This dish is the perfect appetizer that everyone will love to dig into. And it's packed with nutritious ingredients.  Classic Spinach Artichoke Dip has a good amount of mayonnaise, cream cheese, parmesan and shredded cheese, which all add up to a high calorie count. To make my lightened up version, I swap in nonfat Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise. This cuts a large amount of saturated fat. Greek yogurt is naturally thick and creamy and adds a nice tangy flavor. Plus, it's packed with protein and calcium and it's low in carbohydrates.

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