One of the best things about belonging to your local Community Supported Agriculture farm (CSA) is how quickly the season gears up -- and how big your box of veggies gets.  Our first few distributions of the summer season are teasers. Just yesterday, we got eight sprigs of basil -- yet the smell was … Continue reading Spring Pasta Salad with Aparagus, Spinach, and Mint
Whole Wheat Belgian Waffles
Are your children as obsessed with maple syrup as mine? Oh my. I swear they don't even consider it a weekend breakfast if syrup isn't involved. And they always shoot for the moon with their requests -- first they go for waffles, second choice is pancakes, and if they know Mommy looks especially "tired" after … Continue reading Whole Wheat Belgian Waffles
Grilled Pizza with Asparagus, Caramelized Onions, and Brandied Figs
At the beginning of last summer, we decided to abandon our patio as a dining room. Â We had the obligatory table and chairs outside and never ever sat there. Â Because the patio is right spanking next to our eat-in kitchen, it just always seemed so pointless to lug all of our food outside. Â And then … Continue reading Grilled Pizza with Asparagus, Caramelized Onions, and Brandied Figs
Whole Wheat Macaroni and Cheese
It's only been recently that I have been able to crack open a box of mac and cheese and cook it for my kids. Â I've always had to make it from scratch with soy cheese/soy milk because my daughter was severely allergic to dairy (which she has thankfully outgrown). Â And somehow when you get used … Continue reading Whole Wheat Macaroni and Cheese
Fried Tofu: Chicken Style and Buffalo. Yes, Buffalo.
Like many people right now, we are cutting back on our meat consumption.  And when we do eat it, we now spend our "meat dollars" (wow, that sounds gross) on responsibly raised and locally produced animals. Clearly, ethical issues and environmental impacts have led us down this path. I absolutely cannot justify having cheap, feedlot … Continue reading Fried Tofu: Chicken Style and Buffalo. Yes, Buffalo.
Banana Honey Caramel Ice Cream with Salted Tuile Cookies
So, this was the week when everyone in my family decided they didn't like bananas -- and I was left with four sitting in the fruit bowl (Bananas, that is. Â Not family members.). Â Of course, the natural inclination is to make banana bread. Â Or more likely, the natural inclination is to pitch them. And even … Continue reading Banana Honey Caramel Ice Cream with Salted Tuile Cookies
Homemade Flour Tortillas
I hope I don't lose you on this one. Â Because, probably even a year ago, I would have seen this recipe title and furrowed my brow and clicked on over to the Huff Post or something. Â Homemade tortillas sounded like a gargantuan task to me -- somewhere between homemade bread and homemade puff pastry (although … Continue reading Homemade Flour Tortillas
Agave-Sweetened Chocolate Cream Pie
So I have been entertaining like a madwoman lately. Â It seems that once spring hits, the pace of life quickens even beyond its normal speed. Â Family comes back north, end of the year activities are rolling, and we all climb out of winter's woodwork and feel more free to invite friends over on a whim. … Continue reading Agave-Sweetened Chocolate Cream Pie
Paella
Some of my best memories growing up are placed around the dinner table. Â Beyond that, I will say that the wonderful ritual of food expanded my world in many directions. Â There was no reason, in Pennsylvania in about 1980, that I should have been eating things like Moussaka or Paella, but I did. Â We had … Continue reading Paella
Brown Butter and White Chocolate Blondies
When my new niece was born, I wanted to take some food to my sister-in-law at the hospital. You see, I had visions of the Hungarian Goulash that I was served after I gave birth to my son not too long ago ... At that moment, I felt like I was on an episode of … Continue reading Brown Butter and White Chocolate Blondies