In the past week, San Francisco's seen some of the hottest days of the year. Which is why when a friend came over for lunch, I suggested we make a big, chilled salad with a cooling dressing to top it off. I chose taco salad: not the traditional kind with a fried tostada bowl and ground beef, but a lighter, meatless version with a creamy cilantro, cucumber, and avocado dressing. The salad turned Read more

Purple-hued fruits and vegetables are works of art. It's surprising just how many exhibit this bold color profile. I grabbed a bright purple head of cabbage, a box of blueberries (a personal favorite), an elegant Japanese eggplant, and a seasonal Spring onion. Not only did they make a fun photograph, but each can be enjoyed in so many different ways. For ways to enjoy these purple fruits and Read more

Popeye may have been partial to canned spinach to give him his giant muscles, but we prefer the fresh stuff. Despite the numerous health benefits of spinach (it's loaded with antioxidants and vitamins), we love the earthy flavor that it brings to all kinds of recipes. The addition of a handful of spinach can take your morning smoothie up a notch, and it's the perfect bed for a piece of warm, Read more

Sometimes it's nice to prepare a big bowl of beans; then, you can use the beans over and over again to make different dishes throughout the week. Tonight I suggest you throw together a pot of these fragrant and flavorful black beans. The recipe calls for canned beans, so you don't have to worry about overnight-soaking or cooking for a long period of time. Serve the beans in a crispy taco shell, Read more