The heart-healthy answer to that eternal question of "what to make for dinner"? That's easy, one of these. I've made them and they are good.

I have been wanting to use that post title for a long time! I love a good cheesy pun. After my heart attack we almost completely eliminated red meat from our family menu, and began substituting ground turkey for ground beef in favorites like spaghetti and meatballs or tacos  . . . you know, foods kids like. […]

Since my heart attack, I have occasionally eaten ice cream (I think about six times in a year-and-a-half), we have had beef about that many times too, and at Christmas I ate cookies made with butter, but there are some foods that just seem beyond the pale, just too far for this heart patient to […]

This will be my second attempt at a whole chicken. My first did not turn out (a crock pot recipe, and chicken is not a slam dunk in a crock pot). This is Joy of Cooking recipe, so I’m feeling pretty confident. 3 1/2-4 lb. chicken 1 tsp. dried thyme 1 tsp. dried sage 1/2 […]

This is my invention, combining the Light and Tasty Pesto from the American Heart Association cookbook, with a roasted vegetable preparation from a Real Simple dish I made last week. Serves 6. Pesto Sauce 4 ounces fresh spinach leaves 1/2 cup firmly packed basil leaves (jam as many in there as you can, you want […]

Assemble-your-own meals always mean everyone’s happy and I’m heart-healthy. The fish is grilled or sauteed and I make the sauce with minced canned chipotles and Greek yogurt, with just a dollop of mayo (which, counter-intuitively, is fine for me to eat!). This recipe is from Ellie Krieger’s excellent book The Food You Crave. You can […]

This is my mom’s recipe – a light and delicious version of the Chinese take-out classic. She first made it for us when Owen was in the hospital and she lived near us. She shopped and cooked and fed us for weeks. If she hadn’t, I don’t know what we would have eaten! The first […]

This complete meal recipe is a standout. It is easy, took just 45 minutes to have on the table, and features completely whole foods, including many stars on the heart-healthy food pyramid. You have mushrooms, quinoa, walnuts, olive oil, garlic, sweet potatoes, and a very lean protein – the humble and ubiquitous chicken breast. Serve […]

This is another Real Simple gem. It is indeed simple, fast, and tasty. My son gave it a 9 (on a 1-10 scale) and so did my husband. An easy crowd-pleaser featuring heart-healthy mushrooms . . . that’s a win-win. The original recipe called for ground pork, which I’m sure would taste sensational, but I […]

Cooking Light photo. See original recipe here. This makes huge portions for very low fat and calories. And it is on the table in no time at all. 1 tablespoon olive oil 6 ounces (2 links) your favorite flavor chicken sausage, sliced 1 cup chopped onion 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano […]

Spicy, crispy, better than take out. This one is worth the effort. I served the red chili on the side so it wasn’t too spicy for kids. 1 cup long-grain white rice 1 large egg 1/2 cup cornstarch 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced (2 large) 3 tablespoons canola oil, plus more, if […]