These days, I’ve been finding myself spending more time focusing my creative energy behind the computer than in the kitchen. Creating a book has me thinking, talking, writing, studying, testing and photographing food in its many forms and purposes daily. Yet, I must confess, when it comes to actually feeding myself I’ve become admittedly lazy. A quick daal. A pot of kitchari. A steamed sweet potato and broccoli. …

Happy Thanksgiving and holiday feasting season! I was on the mainland this fall and got to enjoy a few weeks of cozy sweater weather and cooked meals with my favorite autumn ingredients. I baked a lot. Tested new recipes, including this warm farro salad, and caught up on a few books and shows (I’m all about the Durrell’s in Corfu right now). After two years skipping winter for island weather, I forgot …

Have you noticed? Ayurveda is starting to gain more momentum in the mainstream–from Goop to Hillary Clinton to Oprah–people are curious what this science is and how it applies to their health. There has been a great run of new books coming out this year exploring food and self-care, and there are two that have really caught my eye: Laura Plumb’s Ayurveda Cooking for Beginners and …

As the season shifts, so does my spice box. Slowly as winter gives way to a warmer spring and summer, the mustard seeds give way to more fennel and coriander. Saffron and cardamom tint my homemade nut milks and an extra pinch of turmeric accompanies my grains and greens. Almost intuitively, I find myself reaching for certain spices that not only flavor a meal but bring balance and support to …

This summer I’ve been facing the proverbial question every human seeks to answer at some point in their life. What is my greater purpose on this planet? Really since the election last fall, I’ve been asking myself the question of how can I make a bigger difference in the world. Is my work meaningful? Am I using my time and talents as efficiently as I can? Am I truly living my …

I’ve been a bit seasonally confused lately. I left the cold Midwest winter last month and landed in Kauai on my birthday. It’s been an incredible month settling into the island and receiving her many blessings, including the abundance of gorgeous produce here. Saturday markets are filled with fruits and vegetables I’d never heard of before…soursop, egg fruit, bread fruit, longons, and over 80 varieties of avocados that I’m tasting my …

Quest Food (n.) ‘kwest-ˈfüd : a dish so spectacularly satisfying to your taste buds you spend a lifetime searching for the perfect version of this meal wherever you travel; an endless pursuit for perfection of your desired dish. Example: “Phô is my personal quest food.” 

I love pho. I also love vegetables. And I’ve spent the better half of my life as a vegetarian…so what’s a girl to do when one of …

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know Cinco de Mayo for me marks the beginning of what I’ve declared “Taco Season” – because usually by the 5th of May it’s consistently in the 70’s and that feels like a suitable enough time for me to start diving into bowls of guacamole! Anyone else with me here?The first year I shared this tradition, …

Hello Spring! As I lead a global group through our third annual spring cleanse, I have food on the brain…quite literally! This post explores the subtle layers of cooking and how the tastes of each food creates not only a physical experience, but a mental/emotional experience as well.

Ayurveda explains that there are six rasas or tastes: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter and Astringent. Each of …