Pasta Fagioli is a hearty Italian soup made with pasta and beans. It was once eaten only by the poor and was also Dean Martin's favorite Italian dish. He even sang about it in his hit song, "That's Amore." He called it Pasta Fazool. On a recent snowy day, I made a big pot of Pasta Fazool. Due in part to the frigid weather, I would describe it simply as a "bowl of comfort." Actually, the warm temperature of soup sends signals to our brains that trigger a calming response. No

Thanksgiving is a cherished annual holdiay where we give thanks for our blessings and then dig into a veritable food fest. Potatoes always appear in some rich, calorific form, aka mashed potatoes steeped in lots of butter. Here's a suggestion for potatoes that won't break the calorie bank: baby potatoes well seasoned and roasted until browned and crisp. They're utterly delicious, and what's more, you’ll have room for a slice of pecan pie! Life is about moderation, not depriva

From November 16, 2009: One of our family’s favorite Thanksgiving traditions is this sweet potato casserole. My daughter Elizabeth, who has been known to cast a suspicious eye on my attempts to make recipes more Weight Watcher-friendly, once said to me, “Don’t go messing with this recipe. It’s perfect just the way it is.” It took me years to admit to her that it came from an old Cooking Light cookbook. It’s not exactly “diet” friendly, but it’s a good example of how you can

In the 1950's, the Cabbage Soup Diet became popular as a fast way to lose pounds. Most recipes included dry onion soup mix and lots of chopped cabbage. Dieters were instructed to follow the diet for one week, during which they could eat as much soup as they wanted. I'm pretty sure no one could tolerate it for more than 7 days, and results were likely only short-lived. Even Weight Watchers took a turn with Cabbage Soup, calling it Zero-Point Soup and praising its ability to be

Trader Joe's Farro This salad is the epitome of healthy summer cooking. All of the ingredients (besides the farro) can be added straight...

The Mediterranean diet is a style of eating that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, protein-rich beans, lentils and whole grains (like...

It's Spring, which means April showers (no tornados, please) and lighter, fresher meals. This recipe from famed Italian cook Giada De...

This classic marinara recipe in the NYT cooking section is adapted from famous TV chef and cookbook author Lidia Bastianich. She is also...

Eating healthfully doesn't have to be tasteless or predictable (aka the ubiquitous boneless, skinless chicken breast...zzz! ). You can...

You could almost call this a non-recipe because it's so straightforward and simple. Roast three peppers and an onion and store them in a...

Earlier this month I accompanied a friend on a 7-day hiking tour of Scotland. I am not a hiker but I held my own (barely) for much of the...

A quintessential American summer side dish is potato salad. It goes with everything on our summer menus, from grilled burgers and brats...

I found this super-easy, delicious salad in a 1993 edition of the Sunset All-Time Favorite Recipes cookbook. I'm originally from Northern...

Here's a healthy suggestion for your summer BBQ sides. In lieu of traditional mayonnaise-laden and calorie-packed macaroni and potato...

Next time you make a salad, forget the romaine and make this leafless salad instead. It's named after the small cafes in Greece, or tavernas, that serve traditional Greek cuisine. Greek salads usually contain tomatoes, cucumbers and feta cheese. This version, adapted from the NYT Cooking section, also includes chickpeas, bell peppers, Kalamata olives and capers. It's so filling that you can serve it as a main course for a healthy lunch or light dinner. Want more options? Leav

Quinoa has become very popular as a healthful, meat-free source of protein. It’s called a super-grain because it contains a complete set...

Italians have traditionally thought of lentil soup as coming from " cucina povera," or the kitchen of the poor. It originated in Italy’s...

It should come as no surprise that what we eat and how we eat affects our overall health and weight loss success. This post focuses...

This easy-to-make lasagna uses no-boil noodles and a jar of your favorite marinara sauce. The original recipe, from Martha Rose Shulman’s...

Here's a rich tasting butternut squash soup that doesn't pack a caloric punch. Despite its creamy texture, there's no cream in this soup....