Veggie of the Week Challenge: French Lentils meet Indian Spices

The Veggie Challenge started because writing can be TOO absorbing. If the family writer is also the family cook, mutiny threatens! The goal is to keep the family healthy while I draft the second Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tale. A brief word from our sponsor: Trouble With Parsnips is part of a special Buy 3 Get […]
Veggie of the Week Challenge: 3 Ways to Fight a Dinner-Isn’t-Ready-Crisis

I’ve missed a few posts, so I thought I’d write about three panicky dinners and the tricks I used to get something half-way healthy with vegetables on the table in a hurry. The good news: my family has noticed that I’m remembering to cook for them every once in a while. Even though I’m working […]
Another Veggie of the Week Challenge: Romanesco to the Rescue! Plus A Giveaway!

After years of studying chronic disease epidemiology, I’m convinced that vegetables are hugely important (And delicious.) But. . . .when I’m writing a story, I forget how much I like healthy food. Soooooooo. . . . Each week, I’ve been celebrating a vegetable in a Half-way Healthy supper. GIVEAWAY NEWSFLASH Until December 3rd, you can […]
Veggie of the Week Challenge: The Colors of Italy Pizza

This summer, my brand-new middle grade book, TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS, took up the vegetable portion of my brain (I heard that) so dinner was often shoot-your-own-sandwich. We interrupt our veggie challenge for a moment to bring you a word from our sponsor: If you’d like to try TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS at your local library, you […]
Veggie of the Week: Tendersweet Cabbage + Sausage Stir Fry

***************************************************** The Veggie of the Week Challenge ***************************************************** In case you missed last week, this’ll catch you up: In short, cooking went on the back, back burner, while I published my first book, TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS, so dinner was unimaginative for a few months. By the way, I got to see the hardcover for the […]
The Veggie of the Week Challenge is Back: Ruby Chard

***************************************************** The Veggie of the Week Challenge ***************************************************** And we’re back! In case you missed last week, this’ll catch you up: My family endured, uh, . . . minimalist cooking during the publishing of my first book, TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS. But they need vitamins and writers can’t run on chocolate forever. Hence the Challenge: —No […]
“Veggie of the Week Challenge” in honor of the upcoming holidays and my new children’s book

My first book for 9-12 year olds, TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS, made for some extremely casual (be kind, people!) meals at my house. Winter is coming, as they say, and the attention span for cooking vegetables is getting shorter. The garden is closing down and the holiday shopping list is ramping up! So, I have a […]
Dark and Light: Defense Against the Dark Hot Cocoa
This morning the day felt heavy for the first time this summer. The clouds are low and gray and the day looks dim. But I went for a walk in the forest just now. There the light is trapped between the dark sky and the ground. Every dead leaf, blue flower, patch of moss and […]