IN THE KITCHEN Veggie Chili with Sweet Potatoes

Sunday is fast approaching and what does this mean? I'll be traveling back from a week in New York and looking forward to some rest. But perhaps you will be gathering for the biggest football game of the year with mountains of snacks. I can't blame you. It's a fun celebration! That being said, I thought I'd get in the spirit and find a yummy recipe for you that is hearty, great for a crowd, but healthy and fresh, too. Hey, if you're going to eat like this, at least get a some nutrition in there, right? This recipe, from Real Simple, packs a punch of cruelty-free protein, iron, and beta carotene from the vibrant sweet potatoes. Serve yourself a bowl, pour a good beer and have a great time! May the best team win.

Photo by Con Poulos.

WHAT WE'RE EATING: Winter Breakfast 2012

They say the best way to start a day is breakfast and around here, we agree. But, like any of you busy bees out there, sometimes we just don't have time to slow down for a hearty meal. So this What We're Eating is a roundup of the foods and dishes we'd eat if we had more leisurely mornings where we can savor our time and every bite. My choice works for a simple snack too, but as for Cristina's favorite frittata? Perhaps it's best left for a relaxed Sunday.

What's your favorite morning meal?

Healthy Green Kitchen: Blueberry Lavender Rhubarb Jam

Local Kitchen: Ramp & Asparagus Frittata

Simply Breakfast: Yogurt and Fresh Fruit

Verses from my Kitchen: Homemade Granola Parfait

The Kitchn: Baked Pumpkin Steel Cut Oatmeal

LeelaCyd: Toad in a Hole

IN THE KITCHEN Go Go Green Smoothie

What better way to start 2012 right then to go a little green, right? And what better way to green out than by starting with changing the amount of greens you get. I came across this recipe in Whole Living and while they just call it Green Smoothie, I'm going to name it Go Go Green Smoothie. It's full of vitamin K (in kale), vitamin C, fiber and potassium which is a great way to start the morning. Trust me, you're not going to notice the parsley or the leafy greens—this smoothie is awesomely yummy and good for you.

Do you have any smoothie or fresh-pressed juice recommendations? I'd love to try them!

JOSIE LOVES Sunday Suppers

Karen and Lizzy not only bring their talents to people in person through their cooking classes, fresh and convivial approach to eating and entertaining, but they also share the moments in a gorgeous and vibrant way through Sunday Suppers, their journal documenting their experiences. In sort, they've inspired us to make 2012 a year of healthy eating with the company of our loved ones. Thank you!

WHAT WE'RE EATING New Year's Eve 2011

If you're taking on the task of throwing a New Year's Eve fete this year, we gathered up some inspiration for you in shades of green. We thought, why not start 2012 off a little bit healthy after this past month of eating sweets and stuffing cookies in our (*ahem), your faces? Plus, these recipes work well into spring as they are verdant and fresh. Happy eating and cheers to you!

The Kitchn: Trio of Cheese Balls

Kitchenist: Shaved Asparagus Tartine

Deliciously Organic: Sauteed baby Artichokes with Lemon

101 Cookbooks: Hummus en Fuego

Bon Appetit: Mini Zucchini and Goat Cheese Tarts

Martha Stewart: Lemon Drop Champagne Punch

WHAT WE'RE DRINKING Holidays 2011

In the world of beauty, December is joyful, spirited and inevitably, our busiest time of the year. Come the weekend, we all look forward to a chance to wind down, take a deep breath and forget for a moment the mile-high stacks of products and the late evenings working hard. For some of us it's yoga to relax, for others it's spending a Saturday reading, but for the rest of us. . .especially in this chilled air, it's a holiday sip that we look forward to. Hey, a Hot Toddy with fresh lemon has been known to ward off a cold.

So we share with you our favorite seasonal concoctions.

Cheers!

 

BBC: Mulled Wine

Cocktail Remedy: Wassail

Martha Stewart: Eggnog Cocktail

The Kitchn: Pumpkin Buttered Rum

Deliciously Organic: Cranberry Amaretto Kiss

Sweet Tea & Stilettos: Hot Toddy

JOSIE LOVES Roost

You're going to take one look at these photos and fall in love with Roost just as much as I (and the rest of JMC) did. Explore further, and you'll find that Coco's gorgeously photographed life journal is peppered with adventures in eating gluten/refined sugar-free and organic all in the name of love. Who would have thought (I mean, just LOOK at that harvest cake)?!

Thanks Coco for making our lives both healthier and sweet at the same time. We're big fans and we look forward to following your journey and eating along with you. Check her blog out here.

WHAT WE'RE EATING Autumn 2011

Every now and then, we'll offer you a roundup of yummy recipes that use our favorite ingredients of the season. This time, it's a pumpkin here, a squash there, and some apples and cranberries for a bit of sweetness. As we may have mentioned, here at JMC we sit around the big wooden lunch table every day and the topic of conversation that comes up often? Food. I guess what parts of brains aren't dedicated to cosmetics and products are saved for all things edible.

So enjoy! And keep us posted if you happen to whip up these amazing dishes.

101 Cookbooks: Winter Vegetable and Tofu Korma

Bon Appetit: Pumpkin Pear Crisps

Kitchenist: Roast Squash Soup

Smitten Kitchen: Baked Kale Chips

The Kitchen Sink Recipes: Hot Mulled Cider

Martha Stewart: Orange Scented Cranberry Sauce

IN THE KITCHEN Beet, Endive and Walnut Salad

So you know I regularly fly across the country to visit the QVC studios in Pennsylvania, but what you may not know is that I always stay with a friend when I go. It's a home away from home, if you will. And one of the comforts of home is cooking at home! For this earthy salad, we followed a recipe from a Williams-Sonoma cookbook that was created by Pastis, one of the greatest French bistros in New York. Here is the recipe.

To put my spin on it, I try using an organic Roquefort, fresh-picked beets, and some high quality nut oils from the farmers' market. Carefully constructed on a large serving plate and this salad makes for a healthy and wonderful weeknight dinner.

JOSIE'S PICKS Pie Making

What can feel more like the season than getting your hands dirty by making pies with family? My mom, Roberta, can whip up a pretty mean apple pie and while I've tasted a few, hers just can't be beat. She also makes the best cheesecake in the world, but I'll have to get her to give us the secret before I can share the recipe.

As an ode to autumn, here are my picks for pie making—a few new eco finds, a few vintage finds, all perfect for turning ingredients into lovely, yummy pies. In the comments, send me your links for your favorite organic apple pie recipes!

1. Eco-Friendly Wood Cutting Boards 2. Organic Cotton Apron 3. Organic Pie Spices 4. Vintage Flour Sifter 5. Vintage Apple Slicer 6. Clay Pie Pan