All About "organic"

Roast Chicken and Roots

Root vegetables are abundant in fall and winter, but they can be a little daunting: grubby and odd, and what on earth do you do with them? But roasting concentrates their sweetness, making them a natural for kids, even skeptical ones. Here, they roast below a whole chicken for an economical one-dish meal with the added benefit of soup later: just simmer the bones for a few hours with fresh carrots, onions, and celery, then strain, salt, and add a handful of pasta or rice.

Midwinter Vegetable Soup

This is a warming, hearty, and simple recipe that turns all your odds and end of winter vegetables into a giant pot of nourishing soup. You can prep the veggies in order as the soup cooks, and if you don't have any stale bread to add, you can do without -- but it does lend the soup a satisfying robustness Let your kids add their own cheese and a splash of olive oil from a small pitcher: they'll love feeling involved in their dinner.

Sweet Potato Curry with Tofu

Packed with vitamins and fiber, super sweet potatoes make a vibrant base for this easy, family-pleasing curry. If you can find them, choose the extra-sweet jewel variety of sweet potatoes (they may be called "yams") with their vivid, smooth flesh. And if you're short on time, skip the frying step and add the tofu directly to the pan of simmering vegetables; it may fall apart a little, but it will still be saucy and good.

Chilli Cheese Spoon Bread with Fresh Corn

As far as veggies go, fresh corn is not too hard a sell. But if you've got an abundance of it, and you're finally sick of corn on the cob (or your kids are currently too toothless to enjoy it), try baking up this puffy, cheesy, corn-studded casserole. It's delicious as a light main course, or as an accompaniment to any meat that might be coming off the grill.

Healthy Lunches That Rock

My memory of schools lunches is bittersweet. My mom is one of the best cooks I know, but she also had a busy nursing career.

Making Earth Day Personal

Earth Day celebrates respect for our planet, but it's also a wake-up call to turn awareness into action.

Celebrity Baby Weight Loss Secrets

Are all celebrities magically blessed with amazing weight loss powers allowing them to wear their skinny jeans only weeks after giving birth? It sure feels that way to moms who are still toting 15 extra pounds along with their six-month-old. The truth is that many celebrities hire trainers, nutritionists, and full-time nannies to help get their bodies in red carpet shape fast. Lucky for you, there are diet and exercise secrets that stars pay big bucks for that you will learn without spending a dime. Even though you won't be walking the red carpet any time soon, you will soon be walking through the grocery store looking red-carpet ready.

When Should I Buy Organic?

Green Greens Rice Casserole

Cheesy-green rice casserole makes a humble but delicious meal -- and a great way to showcase those enormous bunches of spinach, kale, or chard you may find at the farmer's market. Even if you usually use white rice, try short-grain brown rice here: whole grains are nutty and delicious, and they're a great, inexpensive way to add nutrients to your diet.

Caprese Pasta Salad

Named after the famous Italian tomato-mozzarella salad, this is a nearly instant, super-fresh recipe that's bursting with the summery flavors of juicy vine-ripened tomatoes and fragrant basil. Use as much of the fresh mozzarella as your budget will allow -- although if you're eating this as a side dish rather than a main course, you could skip the cheese altogether. And feel free to improvise: use halved cherry tomatoes, if that's what you've got, or add a few tablespoons of pesto, if you can't scare up any fresh basil.