Legumes

Any plant-based diet should include legumes, frequently. Perhaps daily. Chickpeas (aka. garbanzos) have been part of the human diet for thousands of years. They’re a staple food in India and around the Mediterranean region, and are widely available in the Western Hemisphere. They have a …

Not that long ago, beans were far down on the food sophistication scale. You could politely describe them as economical. A cheap protein source, if you couldn’t afford meat. Times have changed. The focus on plant-based diets puts humble beans front and center for many …

Lots of home cooks find dry beans (legumes) intimidating. Black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans — they take a really long time to cook. Soaking them overnight before cooking helps, but the beans still need to simmer for hours. That means planning your meal one …

Protein intake might be the first thing on a person’s mind when switching to a mostly meatless diet. It’s a valid concern, particularly for older people. I’m a big advocate of real food, so I love to talk about plant foods that boost protein intake. …

At some point every summer, there’s just too much zucchini.  Gardeners can’t give it away.  Another problem: zucchinis quickly balloon in size and become inedible.  I pick zucchini small, assuming I can find them in time.  The small ones are slightly sweet, with a distinctive …