Roasted Rutabaga Hummus

What does one do with one single, lonely rutabaga?! After cooking a Root Vegetable Mash a couple of weeks ago, I had a leftover rutabaga that’s been hanging out in our vegetable crisper— waiting for a moment of inspiration to require its preparation. With a deep craving for an uniquely-flavored hummus this afternoon, this recipe was born….

Moroccan-Inspired Southern Vegetarian Chili

While it’s refreshing to experiment with new recipes and ingredients, in certain situations it can be beneficial to refrain from deviating too far from familiar flavor profiles— for example, when cooking for a crowd. This chili is just the recipe for that sort of situation. The Moroccan-inspired ingredient list includes some that are familiar to…

Vegetable & Wild Rice Soup

While hosting Thanksgiving, I filled our refrigerator with copious amounts of fresh produce. With a few pieces left in our vegetable crisper, awaiting their wilted destiny, this soup was born! Substitute or add any vegetables that may be in your fridge— it’s a free-for-all soup that can accommodate a variety of additional ingredients! Serves 6 Ingredients…

Homemade Tomato Soup

Serves 6 Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced ½ onion, diced 4 stalks celery, diced 6 large-sized tomatoes 2 tbsp tomato paste 32 oz vegetable stock Kosher salt, black pepper ¼ c chopped parsley, fresh 2 tbsp Pernod 1. In a Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté garlic until…

Pomegranate Guacamole

Serves 2-4 Ingredients 2 Medium-sized Hass Avocados 1 Medium-sized Pomegranate 1 Stalk of Green Onion (approximately 12″ long) 1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Cilantro Juice from 1/2 lime 1 Jalapeno Pepper (or Serrano Chili) Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste 1-2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (optional) 1. Mash avocado in a medium sized bowl. Do not…

Bell’s Best Berries

“Did you ever consider using chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides to protect your crop?”,  I asked Robin Ross of Bell’s Best Berries. She replied with a negative shake of the head. Robin explained to me that because she and her husband, Jay, live on the very land that they farm, as well as eat the…

The Local, Sustainable, Organic Series— Part 1

I return to The Local, Sustainable, Organic Series to begin to answer the question that I proposed in my introduction to the topic : can an entire nation purchase and consume solely local and organic foods, in order to lead more healthy and sustainable lifestyles? In the introduction, I proposed that “yes”, it is possible;…

The Local, Sustainable, Organic Series– An Introduction

Sustainable. Local. Certified organic. All-natural. Farm fresh. Pastured. Grass-fed. Cage-free. GMO-free. Artisan. These words are trending in the world of food, and it seems that everyone is talking about the movement. Given that I work in the food industry, and yet more that I’m a strong proponent of local, organic foods, these topics surface constantly…

Salmorejo—Spanish Summer Soup— with Sourdough Croutons & Olive Oil Garnish

I feel in love with this chilled tomato soup while living in Seville as a student. The Spaniards love this soup for several reasons: it’s fast and easy to make, it has few ingredients, and it’s a “garbage” soup in a way— it’s easy to substitute ingredients in order to utilize over-ripe produce or stale…

Keep Your Fork Farm

Daisy and Friday, the farm dogs, saunter between the trees, noses to the ground. Occasionally they lift their ears, listening for the sound of a chirping bird or a squirrel who scampers through the brush. Daisy and Friday are the truffle hunters at Keep Your Fork Farm in King, North Carolina, where Jane Morgan Smith…

Food Security in Haiti

Having recently moved to Charlotte, and having been incredibly busy while settling in to our new home, Cody and I were thrilled this past week to host new friends for dinner. We sat around the table together, enjoying pasta with local, seasonal vegetables and wine. Conversation leapt lightly as we shared stories. With laughter ringing…

Lucky Clays Fresh

UPDATE (25 July 2016):  Having adopted a plant-based lifestyle since this article was published, I hold true to a cruelty-free lifestyle. However, if one is to raise and harvest an animal for consumption, an aquaponic farm system is the most sustainable and ecologically-responsible way to do so. This growing operation’s commitment to environmental stewardship is…