2020 was a doozy of a year, and I don’t need to say why! On this week’s show, I look back at my favorite episodes from 2020, the changing food and eating trends we saw during the pandemic, a new killer recipe for Chocolate, Orange & Almond Sparkle Cookies, and the silver linings that sprung from nearly a year of quarantine. Of course, we all had big hopes and dreams for the year, and I even talked about them on episode 67 during my Celebrate 2020 episode. But like so many people out there, I nixed a year of food adventure and travel for an at-home lifestyle that included working (initially) from my dining room table and cooking a heck of a lot more for my immediate family. What were YOUR silver linings? Share a comment below and tell me about the good things that emerged from your COVID life.

Today’s show is about silver linings as I want to explore all the good things that came with the difficulties of the pandemic. We’ll wrap up the show with one of my new favorite cookie recipes, Chocolate Orange Almond Sparkle Cookies. It’s a yummy treat for the holidays--or any day! Join me as we take a look back at 2020’s Silver Linings and look ahead to 2021 and new adventures!

Show Highlights:

• How I transitioned to my new stand-up desk and saw immediate improvement in my physical health
• How I discovered yoga classes at home; my new favorite teacher is Jordan at Burning Wheel
• How I’ve had great fun discovering new parts of Nantucket with my new eBike
• How I’ve enjoyed some really good TV shows, like Emily in Paris, The Queen’s Gambit, and The Mandalorian
• How I’ve been cooking a LOT! Like many of you, I’ve enjoyed the return to family mealtimes
• How I’ve discovered Master Classes; I’m currently taking a class on Modern Middle Eastern Cooking with my favorite chef, Yotam Ottolenghi
• How I’ve loved working with my awesome intern from Shanghai who currently lives in Boston; check out Resources for her delicious family recipe for Ketchup Shrimp with Vegetables
• How I’ve learned to do Zooms, webinars, and TV segments--all from my home kitchen, with the help of some basic lighting and recording equipment 
• Some of my favorite Liz’s Healthy Table episodes from 2020: my visit with Joe Yonan, the author of Cool Beans and food editor of the Washington Post; my visit with Annie Fenn, the doctor and chef whose blog is Brain Health Kitchen; and the relevant shows we did on quarantine cooking, immunity, and food safety
• Some favorite 2020 Silver Linings shared by listeners
• My plans for this winter include moving into our new Boston condo, enjoying city life, and waiting for the COVID vaccine
• As promised, my recipe for Chocolate Orange Almond Sparkle cookies; they are made with gluten-free baking flour, almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, eggs, sugar, canola oil, vanilla extract, orange zest, and sparkly sprinkles
• Glimpses into upcoming shows for 2021; I hope you’ll join us in 2021!

 

Resources:

Master Class - Modern Middle Eastern Cooking with Yotam Ottolengi

Learn more about Liz Weiss, MS, RDN, Food & Nutrition Blogger, Podcast Host, Author, Speaker, Spokesperson

Author, Color, Cook, Eat! coloring book series

Website: Liz's Healthy Table

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Media Excellence Award winner - Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics