Author: Lily

Haydari is a much-loved meze enjoyed throughout my homeland, Türkiye (Turkey). It’s a delicious, thick, yogurt dip and the perfect addition to a mixed grill! Photo Credits: Ali Redmond Haydari (pronounced hai-dari) is one of my favorite dips and a must on the mezze table for us in Turkey. You’ll encounter variations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. A lovely combination of extra-thick strained yogurt with garlic and herbs, it’s tangy, punchy, and refreshing. Haydari differs from the Turkish Cacık as well as Greek tzatziki. Cacık is made with regular yogurt and includes finely chopped cucumbers, along with…

Oh, seasonal allergies. They truly can make life miserable. The good news is, there are things we can do! Many unnecessarily suffer from seasonal allergies when a few simple natural remedies can offer allergy relief, even without medicine.  According to the CDC, over 30% of the population deals with some kind of allergy. And over 25% have seasonal allergies specifically. Common triggers include pollen from grass and trees, dust mite fecal particles, animal dander, certain foods, air pollution, personal care products, or even insect bites. These triggers can lead to allergic reactions with a variety of symptoms, including a runny…

This air fryer baked potato recipe makes perfectly cooked potatoes with crispy, salted skin and a soft, fluffy inside. It is one of the easiest ways to make baked potatoes without turning on the oven. With just russet potatoes, olive oil, salt, and pepper, you can make a simple gluten-free side dish that works for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or a loaded baked potato night. The air fryer circulates hot air around the potatoes, helping the skins crisp while the inside becomes tender and fluffy. Add your favorite toppings and serve these as a side dish or turn them into…

I added my frozen strawberries to a blinder with the soymilk, vanilla, and agave; I gave it some pulse action along with one of your little dances. I wanted to see the beautiful bits of fruity red and disguise the chia so my husband would at least try it. Then I added the chia, stirred it up, let it sit for a while, gave it another mix, and then put the Cha-cha-cha Chia into serving dishes and into the refrigerator for our after-lunch dessert. The soft, chewy pearls of chia, along with the sweet bits of strawberry, was quite a…

Sautéed yellow squash prepared Mediterranean-style with sweet onions, bell peppers, garlic, and Eastern Mediterranean spices is the summer squash recipe of my dreams—colorful, vegetarian, gluten-free, ready in 25 minutes, and so good! Photo Credit: Loren Runion Mediterranean-Style Sautéed Yellow Squash You can’t find a more affordable, versatile vegetable than yellow squash, also known as summer squash. The tender skin and mild flavor make it an easy backdrop to the Mediterranean flavors I was raised on, and now I’m sharing them with you.We use summer squash a lot in Mediterranean recipes (both zucchini and yellow squash), so I think it’s fair…

Although dancing is a great activity and job that boosts physical and mental wellbeing, it is also one of the most demanding jobs (if you are a professional dancer), which can cause a strain on the mental health of professional dancers. A study has linked professional dancing to increasing risks of mental health issues like anxiety, eating disorders, and compulsive-obsessive disorders. The idea of perfectionism in professional dancing has crippled the mental health of many. Most dancers have to resort to harmful drugs to increase their quest for perfectionism. In the end, they become addicts. According to a survey, 75% of dancers had reported…

If you love a classic lemon pound cake or those famous Starbucks lemon loaf slices, but want something lighter, higher in protein, and truly supportive for midlife fat loss goals, this new high protein keto lemon loaf might become your favorite low-carb recipe yet. Sugar Free Low Carb Keto Lemon Loaf This recipe was actually inspired by my popular lemon soufflé cake recipe after someone asked if it could be turned into a loaf for strawberry shortcake desserts. After several recipe tests, I finally created the perfect balance between a moist crumb, bright lemon flavor, and enough structure to hold…

Last month, I tracked every penny spent on groceries and discovered something that surprised even me: we’re spending 65% less than the average American family on food while eating more colorful, varied meals than we ever did before going vegetarian. The weekly farmers market has become my happy place. While other shoppers browse casually, I navigate with the focus of someone who knows exactly how to stretch $80 into a week’s worth of meals that make my family genuinely excited for dinner. No sad salads. No endless pasta. Just real food that happens to cost less than most people spend…

These crispy roasted chickpeas are golden, crunchy, and actually stay crispy. If you’ve ever ended up with soft or chewy chickpeas, this method fixes it. The secret is dry roasting first, then adding oil and seasoning at the end for the best crunch. If you’ve ever tried to make crispy roasted chickpeas and ended up with ones that were soft, chewy, or only briefly crispy… you’re not alone. A lot of recipes suggest spending time drying the chickpeas first, but even then, they often don’t turn out truly crunchy. After a lot of testing (and a lot of chickpeas!), I…

This roasted red pepper hummus recipe is creamy, smoky, and sweet, with just enough spicy kick! You’ll love this flavor-packed twist on classic hummus. Photo Credit: Ali Redmond Hummus appears at nearly every gathering at my house. With my husband’s family being from the Levant and mine from Egypt, this Mediterranean staple is kind of expected, which means I have lots of variations. Some, like this roasted red pepper hummus, are sweet, smoky, and with a little spice. This red pepper hummus is a bit on the rustic side. It’s still creamy (just as my mother-in-law taught me to make…