As a firm believer in the idea that vegetables never need to be smothered in butter and sugar to be palatable, I usually try to bring healthy and delicious veggie-full dishes to holidays and family functions to win over all of the skeptics in my life. And then there were these sweet potatoes, which, being smothered in a maple espresso bourbon sauce, are quite the indulgence yet are worth every calorie.

I may or may not have eaten half a batch on Thanksgiving and am still ruing the fact that I didn’t keep them all to myself.

Joanne Bruno is a food writer and third year MD/PhD student. Find more of delicious ramblings over at her blog: Eats Well With Others

Photo: Joanne Bruno

I’ve been focusing a lot on salad consumption lately to get me through the few weeks in-between one holiday season and another with my skinny jeans still intact. Don’t get me wrong, my days are still dotted with cookie consumption, but I like to think I’m evening it all out by devouring a plate full of veggies on a daily basis.

My favorite salads are the kinds where each bite is filled with bursts of flavor and texture, not just plain old lettuce, forkful after forkful. Case in point – this roasted sweet potato salad, which is hearty, healthy and satisfying all in one. It has a hint of heat and tang from the jalapeno-lime dressing that makes the sweet potatoes and bell peppers taste all the more vibrant, while the black beans ground the salad, adding protein and heft. This is definitely the kind of salad you’ll look forward to eating day after day, so much so that you won’t even miss the cookie excess. Pinky swear.

Photo: Joanne Bruno

Adapted from Mark Bittman

Joanne Bruno is a food writer and third year MD/PhD student. Find more of delicious ramblings over at her blog: Eats Well With Others

Photo: Aine Carlin

I might just go out on a limb and exclaim that Mexican is the greatest cuisine of all time. Personally, I’d be happy to live on a diet on of beans and tortillas. Add a spritz of lime and a decent sprinkling of cilantro to bring things alive and you have total perfection on a plate.

Even if you think I’m exaggerating and vehemently disagree, I’m sure you’ll concede that a Mexican Lasagna sounds insanely delicious. A Mexican version of a classic Italian dish, minus the pasta and, of course, minus the meat and cheese. Read More

Photo: Aine Carlin

Okay, first off, I have to give you the best piece of advice you’ll ever get with regards to homemade Mexican food: Buy yourself an authentic Mexican tortilla press and more importantly a bag of Masa Harina corn flour.

Now, onto the tacos. Read More

Photographer: Amanda Opaluch

Amanda Opaluch is the creator of the food blog, The Cilantropist, where she shares seasonal and vibrant recipes with a focus on eating well and living the good life.  Her work has appeared on GourmetLive, Fine Cooking, and The Kitchn, as well as on the food photography galleries Tastespotting and Foodgawker. Read her first piece for MarcusSamuelsson.com here:  Read More