Recipe

Earlier this week, I harvested the last of my vegetables: huge zucchini, dark purple eggplant, shiny red peppers, stalks and stalks of celery, and the remaining cherry tomatoes.

There’s little better than fresh lavender, whether as an essential oil, an herb for cooking, in a fresh bouquet, or, my personal favorite, growing abundantly on a local farm.

Kids may be out of school for the summer, but that doesn’t mean that they need to live off of a diet of microwaved pizza, fruit roll-ups, and Slurpees. It’s likely easier than you think to prepare ready-to-go snacks between summer camps and beach days, and even simpler to ensure that they’re healthful, providing your children with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are especially needed during childhood.

Popeye had it all figured out: spinach makes you strong and healthy, equipped to tackle the day. Readily available all year round, this accessible and affordable green leafy vegetable, a member of the amaranthaceae family, is a durable and nutritious addition to almost any meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even as an afternoon snack. While spinach may not always top the charts as a superfood, it warrants a place at the table.

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a peanut butter addict! Whenever I see something with peanut sauce on a menu, I just HAVE to get it—it doesn’t even matter what it is. I love peanut butter so much that I decided to elevate my obsession to another level and make a batch of peanut noodles. The great thing about peanut noodles is that the recipe is super simple.

It can be hard to look away from puppy-dog eyes when you’re enjoying a piece of meat, a cube of cheese, or (in the case of me and my dog, Mohi) a slice of cucumber. Providing your pet with treats is fun, rewarding, and useful as a way of positive reinforcement training. Unfortunately, much like their human counterparts, many dogs, cats, and even smaller critters don’t receive enough exercise and thus can be victims to weight gain, lethargy, and the host of symptoms that overeating can bring.

Too hot for anything? How about making some fruity and delicious popsicles that beat the heat and raise the family's health and fun quotient?

With summer here and the kids at home, popsicle expenditure can go through the roof! We are kidding about that, but making popsicles at home is, in fact, a healthier and cheaper option than the store-bought ones. So here are five easy-to-make, healthy popsicle recipes to enjoy all through summer!

Stroll through any health food store and you’re guaranteed to see more than just sprouted broccoli.

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are powerful little legumes with high amounts of fiber, vitamins A and E, manganese, and folate. They originated in the Middle East and were cultivated for thousands of years, with evidence of their origin dating back to 3000 B.C.. This study, published in 2016, suggests that chickpeas can play a role in weight management and both glucose and insulin regulation.

Summer has officially arrived and so have her flowers. It’s time for the second round of dandelion blooms, which brings a great opportunity to make some mead for your next summertime get together! Next time you see the dandelions popping up in your yard, remember how useful the little plant is, run out and pick that fantastic yellow flower knowing that soon you will turn it into a delicious and fun drink that tastes like liquid sunshine!