My dear friend Jessica Honigberg, whose daughter Clara is a vegetarian like Celia, told me about a beet and potato soup she had made that Clara loved. When my CSA delivered beets and potatoes that same week, I had to try making my own version. The whole family was mighty surprised by the deep pink [...]

Last weekend for my birthday I asked my family to join me in a neighborhood cleanup of the local park and stream where we walk our dogs every day. We collected a trash bag full of candy wrappers, plastic bags, and countless Styrofoam and paper coffee cups that people had either tossed or that had [...]

We eat rice at least once a week either as part of a main dish but more often as a side dish onto which we can ladle stew or a stir-fry or sprinkle soy sauce, and you may have noticed that we usually call for rice each week in The Scramble menus. Solomon and Celia [...]

In our house we foster a spirit of inventiveness and creativity in the kitchen.  Since the kids see me creating new recipes every day for PBS Parents and The Six O’Clock Scramble, they think experimentation in the kitchen is the norm. They aren’t afraid of making cooking snafus, since they see it happen to me [...]

For all you Scramblers who celebrate Passover, we know the upcoming holiday can have its dietary challenges.  With the need to refrain from eating chometz, we often hear the complaint, “My family is so tired of matzo and leftovers from the seder.  Help!  Can you suggest some easy, kid-friendly dishes for the week of Passover?”  [...]

One thing that really drives me crazy is wasted food. I’m not one of those clean-your-plate moms, which I know can lead to overeating or eating disorders, but I am one of those don’t-order-it-if-you-can’t-eat-it parents. Last month on an extended family vacation, my 8-year-old niece was very unhappy that I wouldn’t let her order spaghetti [...]

Guest column by Six O’Clock Scramble intern Molly Rubel  Nearly three million Americans are allergic to nuts, including me!  A common misconception is that nut-allergic people are only allergic to peanuts, but many of us are allergic to every kind of nut. If I were to eat a nut, I would go into anaphylactic shock, [...]

I love the pairing of sweet and savory flavors!  I work this combination into stir-fries and salads by incorporating fresh, dried or canned fruit. One of my family’s favorite healthy dinners is a Pineapple Chicken Stir-Fry that comes together in about 15 minutes from start to finish, so it’s perfect for a busy weeknight meal. [...]

Avocados are an awesome plant-based substitute for cream, but instead of the saturated fat in cream, this rich sauce has heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. The roasted tomatoes balance the tangy and garlicky sauce with sweetness. (Thanks to recipe tester Kathryn Howell Dalton for suggesting that addition!) Serve it with roasted fennel bulbs.         [...]

  I admit, like many I struggle to find time for a healthy breakfast for both me and the kids.  School busses screech up to our corner before 7:00, which leaves little time for a leisurely bowl of cereal over the sports pages or comics. When thinking about filling breakfasts for our active kids, I [...]