Swap healthier ingredients in this spiced black eyed peas recipe.

Vegan Spiced Black-Eyed Peas with Curry Leaves

By Jared Koch / February 15, 2012 /

Enjoy the rich Indian flavors in this recipe for Spiced Black-Eyed Peas with Curry Leaves, made all the more delicious with these substitutions recommended by holistic chef Lisa Roberts-Lehan…

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Farmstead Meatsmith teach classes on butchering.

Farmstead Meatsmith Shares the Beauty of Butchery

By Jared Koch / February 13, 2012 /

“Short of apprenticing with a master, good butchery instruction is in film,” says Brandon Sheard, co-owner of Farmstead Meatsmith…

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Red Velvet Pancake recipe with healthier ingredients.

Red Velvet Pancakes for Your Valentine

By Jared Koch / February 10, 2012 /

This Valentine’s Day, treat that special someone to our makeover of Tidy Mom’s decadent Red Velvet Pancakes with Sweet Cream Cheese Topping…

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Valetine's Day

Chocolates We Love (Hint: So Will Your Valentine)

By Jared Koch / February 9, 2012 /

This Valentine’s Day, show those you care about a little extra love with these top quality chocolates, produced with better-for-you ingredients like organic cacao and natural sweeteners…

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ROOT, SNAP, and RHUBY are 3 organic spirits with a long history.

Organic Spirits: Folktales in a Bottle

By Jared Koch / February 6, 2012 /

Three organic spirits inspired by one man’s family history in Pennsylvania Dutch Country…

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Cinnamon Brown Butter Puffs Healthy Recipe Makeover

Recipe Makeover: Smitten Kitchen’s Cinnamon Brown Butter Breakfast Puffs

By Jared Koch / February 6, 2012 /

Try my makeover of Smitten Kitchen’s Cinnamon Brown Butter Breakfast Puffs—same deliciousness, packed with better-for-you ingredients…

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Master Food Preserver Class at University of California's Cooperative Extension

Yes You Can! …Become a Master Food Preserver and Give Back

By Jared Koch / January 25, 2012 /

Los Angeles is a veritable urban orchard, which may explain the popularity of the Master Food Preserver Class at University of California’s Cooperative Extension…

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CSAs for busy people in Brooklyn

CSAs for Commitmentphobes

By Jared Koch / January 25, 2012 /

A crop of local CSAs let you opt in on a weekly basis. Get groceries straight from the farm, when you want them—and when they won’t go to waste…

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Jamie Oliver teaches children in Southern California about healthy eating

Trailer-Made: Jamie Oliver’s Portable Health Lessons for Kids

By Jared Koch / January 23, 2012 /

The so-called Naked Chef has long been on a quest to help kids swap French toast sticks for apple slices. Now he’s imparting his healthy eating ethos with the Big Rig Teaching Kitchen…

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Lasagne Mario Batali's Bolognese Healthier Recipe Makeover

Recipe Makeover: Mario Batali’s Lasagne Bolognese

By Jared Koch / January 14, 2012 /

Try this better-for-you (but still delicious) take on Mario Batali’s Lasagne Bolognese.

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Physical activity helps awareness of our own bodies.

How Aware Are You of Your Own Body?

By Jared Koch / January 13, 2012 /

Our focus here at Clean Plates is on healthy eating, but clearly, there’s more to living a healthy life than eating well. Physical activity is a huge part of the equation…

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Chicken and Sausage Healthier Gumbo Recipe

Recipe Makeover: Bon Appetit’s Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

By Jared Koch / January 6, 2012 /

Cook up a steaming batch of this better-for-you gumbo on a cold winter day…

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Butternut squash soup.

Butternut Squash Soup

By Jared Koch / January 4, 2012 /

We’re big fans of GreenSquare Tavern in Chelsea (read our review). Here’s chef John Marsh’s recipe for butternut squash soup—perfect for a cold winter day…

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Deviled eggs

Recipe Makeover: Deviled Eggs from Epicurious.com

By Jared Koch / December 28, 2011 /

Substitute Greek yogurt for mayo, plus other ways to boost the health quotient of this popular hors d’oeuvre…

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Hot chocolate in a mug

Recipe Makeover: Peppermint Hot Chocolate from The Food Network

By Jared Koch / December 20, 2011 /

Try our makeover of the Food Network’s recipe for delicious Peppermint Hot Chocolate…

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Cranberries in a bowl

Ingredient Spotlight: Cranberries

By Jared Koch / November 18, 2011 /

If votes were being cast for favorite Thanksgiving dish, cranberry sauce would earn mine, hands down…

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Fall cocktail

Delicious Autumn Cocktails

By Jared Koch / November 16, 2011 /

November is time to give thanks to fall flavors—on your plate, and in your glass. From tart cranberries to delicately sweet pumpkin and pear, autumn produce makes for deliciously comforting cocktails…

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