Elle Republic

Here we are again, just me and what looks to be just another big bowl of salad. But wait, this one is different. A few veggies and a whole lot of grain. What I love about grains in salads is their ability to deliver an all-in-one healthy, filling meal -- this time with barley. This salad with its south of the border flavors is the perfect make-ahead vegetarian dish...

If you haven’t already been introduced to raw maca root powder, you may want to get acquainted. For centuries, maca has been referred to as “the Food of the Gods, Nature’s Viagra, and Peruvian Ginseng”. Grown in the glaciated slopes of the Peruvian Andes, it is the highest growing food plant in the world. What is Maca? What we know as the globally marketed maca powder is derived from a humble root...

Easy to make and full of powerful nutrients, smoothies are a great way to a give your body a super-charged start to the day. No longer for hippies and health nuts, the smoothie revolution has found its way to Hollywood stars, busy moms and everyone in between. The concept of blending leafy greens was popularized by raw food movement pioneers Dr. Ann Wigmore and Victoria Boutenko and in 2004, Boutenko's...

Chives with their beautiful purple buds are one of the prettiest things I’ve stumbled across at the farmers' market lately. And guess what? The entire plant is edible, even when in full bloom with its pale purple flowers! You're probably familiar with chives and their delicate just-the-right-amount-of onion-without-being-overpowering flavor. But what about their pretty little buds or blossoms? Just like the stem, both the purple buds and the light purple...

As the juiciest fruit of summer, is there such a thing as savoring too much watermelon? I think not. Healthy and delicious it’s such a wonderful summer treat. It’s ideal by itself, but then again it’s also fantastic in a salad. And here, as the star attraction. Watermelon Salad‏ with Basil Oil - so easy, so good! Light and refreshing, this super easy watermelon salad with basil oil has only handful...

This delicious and easy no-stir risotto creation, with its lemony flavor really brings back a touch of summer sunshine. I like to top my risotto with a lemon balm and basil pesto, it's simply delicious and adds a bright, fresh flavor to a traditional dish. Lemon balm, despite its name, doesn't taste like lemons, but rather it has a very light flavorful taste, an intense lemony scent, and is...