Ever wonder how actors get fit and how they maintain their weight in between roles? Take a trip with me to the Royal Theater in New York City. I have a birthday surprise for my friend Chad Carpenter who is preparing for his next role. Will he be able to resist my extra “rich” Devil’s Food Cake that I just baked for him?

Celebrating two of my favorite holidays, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, I’m dedicating this newsletter to my Granny, “Patricia”, born on the March 17th! Even though she isn’t Irish, she certainly has had a lot of “luck” with her dishes. Queen of our family kitchen, she has passed on some fierce cooking skills and many cooking tips that you can see on the site.

Green tea, often associated with wise men and sages of the East, is highly revered in China and Japan for good reason. Black tea production uses fermentation to give a hearty flavor unlike green tea that is created by gently steaming and drying fresh tea leaves.

Don’t worry about fancy cleaning products, a bucket of hot water and vinegar or dish liquid will do the trick. Getting your fridge and freezer organized is the best way to save money on groceries, avoid waste, and inspire you to cook more often.

My Granny used to cook a large leg of lamb every year for our large Easter gathering, along with small roasted red potatoes. She would set the table with a basket centerpiece that displayed her antique collection of hand carved, wooden Ukrainian eggs brought back from her travels around the world.

Butternut squash adds flavor and color to this classic fall recipe. Since butternut squash is naturally creamy and non-fat, it creates the “risotto” texture without relying on Mascarpone that is extremely high in saturated fat. Frozen butternut squash puree can be found in most freezer sections of your local grocery store.

Listen to the radio interviews below to learn how easy it is to incorporate superfoods like grapefruit into your diet. I share many of my favorite tips and kitchen tricks over the air waves to anyone who wants to look a feel better, including busy parents, sports buffs, working singles, and growing teens.

I am a huge fan of spicy hot chili peppers. When it comes to adding a little heat and whole lot of flavor to food with zero fat, no processed sugars, and hardly any calories at all - chilies are a one of my best friends!

Agave syrup is a sweetener made from the heart of the agave plant native to Mexico, the same plant that is used in tequila production. It has thinner texture than honey and a sweet, mild taste that makes it great for baking, a perfect topping for hot cereal, and ideal for sweetening drinks.

I call these cookies “Irish” because their green hue makes them perfect for St. Patty’s Day. Instead of using food coloring, I mix in anti-oxidant green tea powder that helps make these low-sugar cookies even healthier!