Cooking with the Moms

Here in New England, we count the days until summer. Why? Because it's so darn cold and snowy the rest of the year! This summer has turned out to be warm and sunny, and the bounty of fresh produce has been something to celebrate. On this week's show, we share a new recipe for Sweet Carrot Ginger Soup, dish about Janice's July 4th visit to her parent's lake house in N.H., travel with Liz to Nantucket for some fresh, seasonal island nibbles, and reveal what's growing at our CSAs and in our backyard vegetable gardens. It's a fabulous show --- no, make that a terrific show --- and you definitely won't want to miss it. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

When we think "summer," we think fresh, colorful salads tossed with zesty homemade dressings. While store-bought dressings may be convenient, making dressings from scratch with a handful of simple ingredients -- things like evoo, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, fresh herbs, and garlic -- can be almost as convenient...not to mention fast and flavorful. On this week's show, we talk to Kirsten, a fan and a mother of two from California who also happens to work for the California Olive Ranch company. She shares her expertise on olive oil -- how it's made, the best way to store it, its many health benefits -- and chats with us about two family-friendly salad recipes: Greek Village Salad and Sweet Basil Dressing. Tune in for the recipes as well as news on the Seasons Best Salad Recipe Contest hosted by California Olive Ranch (you could be a winner)!! For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

When we think "summer," we think fresh, colorful salads tossed with zesty homemade dressings. While store-bought dressings may be convenient, making dressings from scratch with a handful of simple ingredients -- things like evoo, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, fresh herbs, and garlic -- can be almost as convenient...not to mention fast and flavorful. On this week's show, we talk to Kirsten, a fan and a mother of two from California who also happens to work for the California Olive Ranch company. She shares her expertise on olive oil -- how it's made, the best way to store it, its many health benefits -- and chats with us about two family-friendly salad recipes: Greek Village Salad and Sweet Basil Dressing. Tune in for the recipes as well as news on the Seasons Best Salad Recipe Contest hosted by California Olive Ranch (you could be a winner)!! For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

The vegan diet --- a vegetarian diet also devoid of eggs, dairy, honey, and other animal by-products --- is all the rage. It's been featured on Oprah, Ellen, and Martha and it's making its way into the mainstream. On this week's podcast, we sit down with our nutrition intern, Ashley, to chat about her self-imposed Vegan Diet Challenge. For Lent, Ashley decided to give up meat and follow a vegan diet. Through her month-long culinary adventure, she sampled new foods and flavors, read food labels like it was nobody's business, and came to the realization that eating in restaurants was "nearly impossible." We also share one of Ashley's favorite vegan recipes for Eggplant Scallopini that she adapted from the Moosewood Cookbook. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

The vegan diet --- a vegetarian diet also devoid of eggs, dairy, honey, and other animal by-products --- is all the rage. It's been featured on Oprah, Ellen, and Martha and it's making its way into the mainstream. On this week's podcast, we sit down with our nutrition intern, Ashley, to chat about her self-imposed Vegan Diet Challenge. For Lent, Ashley decided to give up meat and follow a vegan diet. Through her month-long culinary adventure, she sampled new foods and flavors, read food labels like it was nobody's business, and came to the realization that eating in restaurants was "nearly impossible." We also share one of Ashley's favorite vegan recipes for Eggplant Scallopini that she adapted from the Moosewood Cookbook. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

For an in-depth look at PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and a breakthrough way to treat it with diet and lifestyle changes, we invite our friend and fellow dietitian, Hillary Wright to join us on this week's podcast. Hillary recently released The PCOS Diet Plan: A Natural Approach to Health for Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and we're excited to share the book -- and Hillary's nutrition insights -- with you. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

For an in-depth look at PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and a breakthrough way to treat it with diet and lifestyle changes, we invite our friend and fellow dietitian, Hillary Wright to join us on this week's podcast. Hillary recently released The PCOS Diet Plan: A Natural Approach to Health for Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and we're excited to share the book -- and Hillary's nutrition insights -- with you. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

When it comes to hummus, we're huge fans. Hummus is a dip or spread made with cooked, mashed chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), lemon juice, and lots of other yummy things. We often serve it with lots of crunchy vegetables --- things like baby carrots, sugar snap peas, and celery sticks. Recently, Liz traveled to Richmond, VA where she toured the Sabra company's hummus factory. She was joined by a group of fellow food bloggers and learned that using hummus as a dip is just the tip of the culinary iceberg. Liz shares her hummus adventures on this week's podcast and serves up a delicious recipe for Hummus Deviled Eggs. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

When it comes to hummus, we're huge fans. Hummus is a dip or spread made with cooked, mashed chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), lemon juice, and lots of other yummy things. We often serve it with lots of crunchy vegetables --- things like baby carrots, sugar snap peas, and celery sticks. Recently, Liz traveled to Richmond, VA where she toured the Sabra company's hummus factory. She was joined by a group of fellow food bloggers and learned that using hummus as a dip is just the tip of the culinary iceberg. Liz shares her hummus adventures on this week's podcast and serves up a delicious recipe for Hummus Deviled Eggs. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

Did you know that salmon and sardines are two of the best sources of health-enhancing omega-3 fats? Lucky for us we love salmon...and like sardines (okay, so maybe they're not our favorite fish on the planet)! Omega-3 fats are critical for good health. They reduce our risk for heart disease and are vital for normal brain development in the fetus and young child. On this week's show, we're joined by Harvard cardiologist, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian. He offers a primer on omega-3 fats and answers questions from our Facebook fans including: Do you have to eat the skin of the fish to reap the benefits of omega-3s, should I give my children omega-3 supplements and if so, what's the best kind, and are non-seafood sources of omega-3s just as beneficial as marine sources? Be sure to tune in for the skinny on omega-3. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

Did you know that salmon and sardines are two of the best sources of health-enhancing omega-3 fats? Lucky for us we love salmon...and like sardines (okay, so maybe they're not our favorite fish on the planet)! Omega-3 fats are critical for good health. They reduce our risk for heart disease and are vital for normal brain development in the fetus and young child. On this week's show, we're joined by Harvard cardiologist, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian. He offers a primer on omega-3 fats and answers questions from our Facebook fans including: Do you have to eat the skin of the fish to reap the benefits of omega-3s, should I give my children omega-3 supplements and if so, what's the best kind, and are non-seafood sources of omega-3s just as beneficial as marine sources? Be sure to tune in for the skinny on omega-3. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

It's hard to believe Memorial Day is this Monday (!!), and just in case the weatherman doesn't cooperate, we decided to create a veggie-topped burger recipe using our indoor grills. The recipe is made with ground beef and grilled red bell pepper and red onion ... and it's topped with super-flavorful basil pesto. Oh yes, and of course, it's served on a whole wheat hamburger bun. We share our juicy burger recipe on this week's Cooking with the Moms podcast, and we also announce our latest giveaway for a George Foreman Grill and exciting news about a recipe contest that we will be judging. Indoor grilling makes good nutrition easy because the fat drips away. In fact, Expect to lose 42% of the fat when you cook 80/20 ground beef on an indoor grill. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

It's hard to believe Memorial Day is this Monday (!!), and just in case the weatherman doesn't cooperate, we decided to create a veggie-topped burger recipe using our indoor grills. The recipe is made with ground beef and grilled red bell pepper and red onion ... and it's topped with super-flavorful basil pesto. Oh yes, and of course, it's served on a whole wheat hamburger bun. We share our juicy burger recipe on this week's Cooking with the Moms podcast, and we also announce our latest giveaway for a George Foreman Grill and exciting news about a recipe contest that we will be judging. Indoor grilling makes good nutrition easy because the fat drips away. In fact, Expect to lose 42% of the fat when you cook 80/20 ground beef on an indoor grill. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

Are you a fan of the hit NBC show, The Biggest Loser? Whether you watch the show or not, you'll want to tune into this week's podcast for our interview with The Biggest Loser dietitian, Cheryl Forberg. Cheryl has been with The Biggest Loser since the show's beginning...11 seasons ago. She's contributed to a number of books in the "Biggest Loser" series, including The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps, and she's just written a new cookbook, Flavor First: Cut Calories and Boost Flavor with 75 Delicious, All Natural Recipes. Cheryl answers weight loss questions from our friends and fans and takes us behind the scenes for a glimpse into the diets of the contestants. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.

Are you a fan of the hit NBC show, The Biggest Loser? Whether you watch the show or not, you'll want to tune into this week's podcast for our interview with The Biggest Loser dietitian, Cheryl Forberg. Cheryl has been with The Biggest Loser since the show's beginning...11 seasons ago. She's contributed to a number of books in the "Biggest Loser" series, including The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps, and she's just written a new cookbook, Flavor First: Cut Calories and Boost Flavor with 75 Delicious, All Natural Recipes. Cheryl answers weight loss questions from our friends and fans and takes us behind the scenes for a glimpse into the diets of the contestants. For more information, visit the Moms' website and blog at http://www.mealmakeovermoms.com.