Discover which foods

Fuel Your Body

Fuel Your Body

I encourage you to try my collection of recipes and to use as many organic, non-GMO and locally sourced ingredients as possible. Visit your farmers market for the freshest produce. At the supermarket, select items that are in season. Be aware that food that is transported from hundreds of miles away loses some of the nutrients and also contributes to the pollution of our planet. Shop local and purchase locally grown produce whenever possible!

"To keep your body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."
—Buddhist teaching

Skip the Meat, Let’s Cook Some Buckwheat!

Gluten free buckwheat risotto

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Improve Your Gut Health with Kombucha

I wanted to improve my gut health so I started to experiment making kombucha at home a few months ago. Now I want to share my findings with you. This new discovery takes some time to finetune, but I can tell you this: I save a lot of money by not buying this drink from the store anymore. Below you will see the recipe for home made kombucha. You will…

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Oatmeal Banana Cookies

Banana oatmeal cookies

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Apple Pastry, No Sugar Added

Ingredients: 6 big apples (yellow, less juicy, work best) Half pack of Phyllo Dough 1-2 tbs cinnamon 1-2 tbs nutmeg (optional) 1 TBS honey Handful of raisins (optional) Handful of walnuts (optional) Avocado or coconut oil spray (or 1/4 lb of melted butter for non-vegan version, to brush the dough sheets) Preparation: Peel, then shred the apples or use food processor. Add the shredded apples to a pot, then bring…

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Roasted Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a very versatile vegetable that is naturally high in fiber and B-vitamins. It’s low in calories and rich in antioxidants. It can be adapted to many recipes, from pizza crust to “fried rice”. Here is a quick recipe that has a little “kick” to it, mainly from the cayenne pepper and the chipotle chili. Ingredients: 1 head cauliflower 1 cup sour cream 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped 2 tablespoons…

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Salmon Patties

With inflation hitting the wild caught salmon prices pretty hard, I turned to my pantry to discover some cans of this delicious fish. So instead of baked salmon, I decided to make salmon patties. I used a 14 oz can, so I ended up with 6 patties. You will probably get 3 patties from a 7-8 oz salmon can. Check out my recipe below! Ingredients: 1 can wild salmon ( 7-8…

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Food for the Soul

With frigid temperatures and short days, we tend to navigate towards rich and sugary foods. Holiday time seems to be a big wave of cookies, cakes and all kinds of treats. I hear from my clients how the break rooms at work are filled with treats every day. Now that is past the beginning of January, it is time to realign our food choices. In order to warm up my…

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My 14 Day Reset

I’m on day 12 of the reset diet and feel great! How can I feel great when I can’t have sugar, alcohol, coffee, dairy, egg or gluten? Well, I guess my body likes the stuff I can have, the good, clean, made from scratch food. I’ve been busier nowadays, with a lot of food planning, washing, chopping, roasting and sautéing. The spices I use fill my kitchen with a delightful…

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Tzatziki – Cooling Cucumber Dip

Summer is in full swing and we got cucumbers in the garden. Time to make this delicious cucumber dip or Tzatziki sauce. Tzatziki is a very refreshing Greek appetizer consumed with pita chips or, in my case, blue corn tortilla chips. Ingredients: 1 cup Greek or regular plain yogurt (remember “plain”) 1/2 of big cucumber 1 TBS full fat sour cream 2 cloves garlic 1 TBS olive oil fresh dill…

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A Refreshing Summer Dessert: Raspberry Mousse

The other day I realized my sweet tooth was asking for something fruity, but not just plain fruit…something refreshing and different. So I remembered I had some extra raspberries in the fridge and how my Grandma use to make this delicious mouse (we called if “foam”) out of raspberries or strawberries. So here you go! INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup raspberries 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg white* 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar…

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Wonderful Sauteed Mushrooms

Mushroom are not only very tasty and versatile, but they are also packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Researchers point to this vegetable (actually a fungus…) as a great source of antioxidants (especially selenium). Antioxidants protect the body from damaging free radicals that can cause conditions like heart disease and cancer. Mushrooms also help boost your immune system. Here is a quick Mushroom Sautee recipe (takes about 25 mins), so…

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Stuffed Poblano Peppers

I got this recipe from my student Jan, and she probably got it from her friend Chris, so not really sure who to give credit here. I adapted it just a bit, I really think you will enjoy it. Poblano peppers are mild and have thin skin. They can be substituted by green bell peppers. You can turn this into a vegan dish if you skip the cheese and the…

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Cheese and Pear?

I have heard about the French paring up the most diverse cheeses with pear, but I honestly didn’t quite trust that combination. Until I tried it as part of a salad. What a yummy “pearing”! This salad is so delicious, I had to share it with you! Check it out! Ingredients: 2 cups mix greens/ salad greens 1 pear, cored and cubed 2 oz goat cheese crumbles 2 TBS pumpkin…

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All-Powerful Kale

We hear about kale all the time, how it is a super food, chock-full of nutrients and antioxidants, having more iron per ounce than beef, being an excellent source of magnesium, vitamin C and vitamin A. But did you know that kale is an incredible source of often-overlooked vitamin K, with more than 10 times the daily value? What is special about vitamin K? Sarah L Booth, PhD, director of…

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Mediterranean Scramble

Easy to make, this scrambled eggs dish has plenty of veggies and aside from being delicious, it looks so colorful! This will help you start your day with about 12g of protein, but no worries, you can try this for lunch or dinner. 2 eggs, organic or free range 5 grape tomatoes, halved 5 olives, halved 1 green onion or some chives handful of greens: baby spinach, kale or collard…

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No Sugar, No Guilt Treat

As we are getting ready for the big Thanksgiving feast and we count our blessings, let’s try to be mindful about other people that are partaking in the delicious meal and have some dietary restrictions. Maybe you will have guests that can not have gluten or dairy or processed foods or simply want to decrease their sugar intake. Then here is a super easy recipe to entertain these guests! It…

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Gnarly Barley

Did you know that barley is an excellent source of molybdenum, manganese, selenium and magnesium and helps lower cholesterol and control blood sugar? Why “Gnarly Barley”? Because my kid decided it sounds funny! Here is a delicious recipe that I presented at the National Czech and Slovak Museum. Be aware: your kitchen will smell really good, it is something related to the combined flavors of garlic, caraway and marjoram. Contact me…

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Savory Squash Soup

Here is one of my favorite fall recipes, using in season ingredients to help warm up your soul. 1 medium butternut squash or 2 smaller acorn squash 1 carrot 1 medium onion 1 stalk celery 1 zucchini (peeled) 2 tbs butter or olive oil (vegan option) Salt, pepper to taste ½ tsp cumin ½ tsp turmeric (optional) Parsley (optional) Preparation time: 50 mins Roast the squash (cut in half, remove…

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A pretty salad? Why not?

I have to admit I am very proud of my garden. Although I can not take much credit for the early spring tiling and prepping, and even some planting, I do take good care of my garden afterwards. I learned that if I do not pick the goodies every other day, the zucchini and cucumbers turn to be the size of baseball bats… So now it is the time to…

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No Bake Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients: For the truffles: 2 cups pitted dates, coarsely chopped 1 cup boiling water 1 cup almond butter 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¾ cup coconut flour 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder For the chocolate coating: 5 ounces dark chocolate (70% cacao content or higher) cut into small pieces 1 teaspoon coconut oil ¼ cup boiling water 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut Preparation: 1) Place dates in a…

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Breakfast Chia Pudding

Ingredients: 1 cup unsweetened coconut or almond milk 3 Tbs chia seeds 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 mango or pear Preparation: Mix chia seeds and coconut milk in a container, stir until seeds are soaked, add vanilla. It will become gel like in about 15 mins, but it is best to cover and store in the fridge overnight and have this ready for breakfast. Sprinkle some cinnamon or cocoa for additional…

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Avocado Pudding

Ingredients: 2 large avocados – peeled, pitted, and cubed 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 cup sugar 2 tsp honey 1/3 cup coconut milk 1 tsp vanilla extract ½ tsp ground cinnamon Preparation: (10 min) 1) Blend avocados in food processor. 2) Add cocoa powder, sugar, honey, coconut milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon and blend until smooth. Refrigerate pudding until chilled, about 30 minutes.

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Guacamole

Ingredients: 2 avocados 1 medium tomato 2 cloves garlic 1 small lime 5 pieces cilantro chopped Salt & pepper Dash of hot sauce (optional) Mash avocados with a fork in a medium bowl. Add lime juice. Add minced garlic, and chopped cilantro. Cut onion into small cubes then add. Last, include the spices.

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Savory Easy-Peasy Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients 2 big sweet potatoes peeled and cubed 2-3 cloves garlic chopped 2 green onions or some chives chopped 2 TBS olive oil 1 TBS slivered almonds (optional) Rosemary, Thyme or Italian seasoning (depending on your taste) Salt, pepper Preparation (10 mins) Boil sweet potatoes until tender (not mushy), drain water and set pot aside so the potatoes cool a little bit. Add the remaining ingredients and mix together. This…

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Spinach artichoke dip

Ingredients: *1 package of cream cheese softened *1/2 cup of shreded parmesan cheese *1/2 cup of shreded mozzarella cheese *2 full cups of fresh spinach leaves *14 oz. (1 jar) of artichoke hearts drained *1/4 tsp. of garlic powder * Salt and pepper *3-4 basil leaves (chopped) or ½ tsp. of Italian Seasoning Preparation: Mix cheeses and spices then add artichoke hearts and spinach. Optional: top with bread crumbs. Bake…

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Spaghetti Squash

Makes 4 servings Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the baking sheet 1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 teaspoon thyme or oregano 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 cup baby spinach Salt and black pepper Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350 ˚F. Wipe a baking sheet with olive oil. Place the squash, cut sides down, on the prepared baking sheet. Prick all…

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Shrimp and Asparagus

( Can substitute crab meat for shrimp) Ingredients: 2 tablespoons coconut oil or grape seed oil 1 pound peeled shrimp 1 bundle chopped asparagus 2 tablespoons lemon juice 4 cloves minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (optional) 1/2 cup broth (or water) Preparation: (15 min) 1) Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. 2) Add the shrimp, asparagus, lemon juice, garlic, and ginger to the pan. 3) Cook about 2 minutes, then stir and…

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Sautéed Kale and Vegetables

Ingredients: 3 tablespoons grape seed or safflower oil 1 small onion 3 cloves chopped garlic 1 green or red pepper chopped 1 yellow squash ½ broccoli crown 1 bunch kale – washed and chopped ¼ cup water Few parsley leaves 1 TBS pine nuts or pepitas/ pumpkin seeds Salt and pepper to taste Preparation: Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add onions and garlic; cook and…

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Beet salad

Ingredients 1 bunch red beets or 2 big beets 1 medium celery root (could be replaced with 2 big carrots) 2-3 TBS olive oil 2 TBS vinegar 1-2 TBS grated horseradish (or more if you can stand the “kick”) Salt, pepper Preparation (15 mins) Peel beets and celery root (no use for the beet stems/ leaves, unless you want to use them for soup or other dish). Grate the beets…

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Cucumber Quinoa Salad

Cucumber Quinoa Salad Ingredients: 1 English cucumber diced 2 cups chilled or room temperature cooked quinoa (boil 1 cup quinoa in 2 cups of water until soft) ½ cup diced red onion ½ crumbled feta cheese 5-6 chopped fresh basil leaves 1 batch Italian Vinaigrette Italian Vinaigrette: 1/3 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning Pinch of salt and black…

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