Nourish Network | connecting YOU to a nourished life

You don’t find a whole lot of high fives when discussing Lent. It’s more like squashed up faces as people talk about giving up sugar, or deep sighs at mention of meat. But giving something up in a deliberate act doesn’t have to be about deprivation. In fact, saying “no” to one thing is just a way of saying “yes” to another.

This spinach wins over even those who normally snub the vegetable. Pre-washed spinach makes this dish come together in a flash.

1 pound spinach
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
½ lemon
Wilt the spinach in a wide, covered sauté pan over medium heat, for about 4 minutes, and pour…

This soup straddles the line between fresh and green and rich and hearty. So much so, in fact, that it would be perfectly appropriate in any season.
4 cups cooked white beans
1 quart chicken broth (here’s our recipe for homemade)
½ teaspoon red chile flakes, (optional)
2 links fresh Italian sausage, removed from casing…

This quick ragu exemplifies my “double up-halvsies” trick. It’s got loads of onion and fennel, just a bit of pork for flavor, and half the pasta you’re used to. Yet it’s so hearty you’ll never miss the extra meat and pasta.

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 cups onion, finely chopped
2 cups fennel…

The more I get to know Natalie Coughlin, the more I detect a kindred spirit (although she can swim a lot better than I can). As an Olympic medalist, Natalie is training almost constantly, yet she draws strength and balance from a nourishing lifestyle that includes fresh, seasonal foods (including veggies from her own garden)…

We’ve teamed up with Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin and the California Dried Plum Board to bring their Super Snacking Sweepstakes here to Nourish Network.

Acorn squash skins are quite leathery and the cooked flesh will pop out of it as you cut the wedges. Use a butter-knife to help separate the skin and flesh if needed.

Change–sustainable change–takes time. Here’s what you can expect along the way, and some help to make new habits stick.

Lia shares the chatter inside her head when she comes upon the 80 percent mark of “hara hachi bu.”

Make this great gathering dish with whatever you have in your fridge.