I love paella but always thought it was a complicated dish to make at home. Recently a friend gave me a paella pan to prove how uncomplicated it is to put together. After my first attempt, I stand corrected: this dish is simple and can be easily made in a large saute pan. Once most of the ingredients are prepped, the scallop paella takes about an hour from start to finish. The recipe calls for Read more

Artichoke hearts, whether they're canned, jarred, or frozen, are a great pantry staple. There're countless ways to employ them — you can marinate them, make a quick dip, or as is the case with this recipe, use them to stuff chicken breasts. When mixed with fresh herbs and salty cheese, the artichoke hearts become a filling and flavorful stuffing that also seasons the chicken breast. A simple Read more

We might not be able to make it to Greece or Southern Italy anytime soon, but we can bring the cuisine to us by celebrating Mediterranean Diet Month in our own kitchens. The healthy benefits of the Mediterranean diet are touted by numerous studies, and for good reason: it promotes heart health, good vision, and weight control, to name a few. An easy way to get the Mediterranean diet into your own Read more

FitSugar reader Whipped shared this party-ready artichoke-walnut pesto crostini recipe in our Healthy Recipe group. Vegan Artichoke-Walnut Pesto Crostini Serves 4-6 The pesto can be made 2-3 days in advance and kept in the fridge. Otherwise you can freeze it for up to a month. Ingredients: 14 ounces canned artichoke hearts, drained 1 cup packed fresh basil 3/4 cups walnuts, toasted 3 cloves Read more

If your child has been diagnosed with a food allergy, you know both cooking at home and dining out can quickly become a challenge. Since healthy eating begins at home, and eating at home begins at the grocery store, we turned to Amie Valpone of The Healthy Apple for some advice on how to stock your pantry for success, whether you're dealing with food allergies or just want to take a cleaner Read more

When you've got really good ingredients, I believe it's best to prepare them in simple and straightforward ways. When it comes to artichokes, it's best not to mess around much. The flavor of fresh artichoke is unique and earthy, and that flavor is only enhanced by steaming it, then dipping the leaves in oil and vinegar. Once you've prepared your artichoke, which takes minutes, all you really Read more

After my last experience with Indian bitter melon, I was a little nervous to experiment with my next ingredient. Just like the last time, I scoured the shelves of Berkeley Bowl, looking for something intriguing but not too intimidating. I settled on a purple, prehistoric-looking ingredient known as a banana flower. The banana flower is also known as a banana blossom or heart, but frankly, I Read more

One of my favorite foods in the world appears completely inedible at first glance. But in a few simple steps, you can really get to the heart of the matter — and the artichoke. Using medium to large artichokes, cut one inch off the stem. With your knife, score an "x" into the bottom of each artichoke. Alternatively, you can cut the stems off entirely, peel the outer layers away with a knife, Read more