The Best Buttered Popcorn

It recently came to my attention that people still eat microwave popcorn! Why?! Besides being not delicious, the makers of microwave popcorn are guilty of taking a simple, healthful, easy-to-make snack (popcorn) and unnecessarily assaulting it with salt, food coloring, and chemicals, all in the name of convenience. Don’t be fooled. It’s so easy and delicious to make yourself!

Healthy Tip: Veg-ify Your Chili

When cooking for kids (or adults) I’m all for sneaking in a little extra nutrition here and there, but I’m not one of those “hide the vegetables,” spinach-in-the-brownies kind of people. (Not that I’m judging those who are–whatever works, folks!) Instead I prefer the “hiding in plain sight” approach, which (I believe) teaches my kids to recognize and like the veggies they eat. Here’s an easy way to add extra vegetables–and therefore more nutrients and fiber–to any chili recipe.

Chewy Granola Bars

I’m so excited to share this recipe with you. In search of healthy, homemade treats for my kids I tried a few different recipes for granola bars over the holiday break. After being underwhelmed by what was out there, I took it upon myself to come up with my own version. I love the resulting recipe and I hope you will, too! (I’ve even included a nut-free variation for allergy sufferers!)

Chicken-Ginger Noodle Bowls

What do you think of this steamy, gingery bowl of soup? It’s my non-authentic version of an Asian noodle soup–the perfect winter supper for a family, as each person can build a bowl to his liking. Picky kids can have their plain noodles and broth, but you still get to have a grown-up dinner. Read on for the recipe…

I’m Dreaming of a White Pizza

Pizza is a fixture in our regular dinner rotation. I always have a ball or two of dough in the freezer. At some point during the week, I’ll pop it into the fridge so it’s thawed and ready to be topped for a fast dinner. Pizza is a great vehicle for veggies (and a good way to introduce new ones to wary youngsters.) One of my kids recently declared that she “doesn’t like sauce” anymore so I made this white pizza for her. Nothing earth-shattering here–it’s pretty standard fare, but I did make a nice garlic and herb oil to brush on the crust before topping it, which added a lot of flavor. I think the lesson here is to get creative and inspired with your toppings. The possibilities are endless–and a wholesome homemade dinner is easily achieved.