Chili when made with good ingredients is a healthy dish and not too heavy when you use ground turkey. It's easy to make whether you cook it on the stove or in a slow cooker and is a good source of protein. You can add more calories to it by adding more toppings but if you eat it by itself with maybe some whole grain or fresh baked bread it's fairly low calorie. I found that … [Read more...]
Traditional Braided Challah Bread
Braided Challah bread is traditionally served by Ashkenazi Jews during rituals, particularly for Friday and Saturday Shabbat, except during Passover. Its woven ropes symbolize unity and the twelve mounds represent the twelve tribes of Israel. I'm sure you will agree that unity is much needed today. The origin of challah bread goes back to medieval times in Southern Germany … [Read more...]
German Gingerbread Recipe: Authentic Lebkuchen
Europe sparkles in the winter and Christmas decorations are everywhere. It’s a magical time to travel. During a Christmas Market cruise, I tasted authentic German gingerbread which inspired the recipe you see below. German gingerbread is much different than the kind we have here in America. If you can't go there to taste it, you can make it European-style at home. Enjoy … [Read more...]
Freezy Vanilla Pumpkin Smoothie
My friend Michele the Trainer shared a wonderful pumpkin smoothie recipe with me that's perfect for fall. She's a Los Angeles-based Concierge Celebrity Fitness Trainer who lost 165 lbs and has kept it off since 1998 without drugs or surgery. Her philosophy is to eat plant-based healthy foods and, of course, stay active. She's also a published author, lifestyle coach, and … [Read more...]
Classic Summer Italian Bruschetta for Two
When I was in Italy almost a day didn't go by when I had some type of bruschetta. (brews-kay-ta) There are so many variations of toppings you can put on toasted bread. Often it doesn't involve tomatoes but when they are in season, there is nothing better. Bruschetta is an antipasto from Italy consisting of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil and salt. … [Read more...]