Summer = fresh berries. YAY! It is finally strawberry season here in Maine which means it is time to pick, pick, pick and jam, jam, jam. It would be silly not to eat as many berries out of hand as possible during the fleeting season. Strawberry Shortcake is the perennial favorite so this dessert might […]
Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake
Mother’s Day is tomorrow. Are you ready? This cake can be made ahead with much success and is way better than burnt toast on mom’s special day, especially if it is served with good coffee. This streusel coffee cake is often referred to as Honey Bun Cake because of the extra layer of icing spooned over […]
Harira – Hearty Meat Soup
Our most recent April snow storm left me dreaming of harira, a wonderful dish of Moroccan origin often eaten during Ramadan. While we desperately need the moisture, these storms are a drag on the perennial hope for spring and summer. This recipe helps to shake off the last legs of winter and welcomes the warmer […]
Meatless Monday: Red Lentil Dal
I have made many dals, they are a key part of the vegan detox that I do a few times a year. To my understanding, dal is a staple in most Indian households and just like curry blends, each cook has his/her own variation with endless possibilities. Dal is usually made from yellow or red lentils seasoned […]
Growing and Cooking Tomatillos plus two Salsa Recipes
Now that we have rounded the corner to spring (please, oh please!), it is time to start planning the garden, I think I want to get some Evermore artificial grass, and get help from the services of Landscaping near Yardley. Growing tomatillos is really easy and rewarding. They are very hardy, productive plants and I’ve been […]
Sunday Brunch Monkey Bread
I was 30 years old when I first saw and tasted Monkey Bread. My reaction was where have you been all my life and my instinct was to abscond with the recipe. Monkey Bread is a sticky cake that you pull apart with your fingers. it is best eaten warm. There are countless variations but […]
One Pot Dinner: Ropa Vieja
This dish which originates from Cuba literally translated means “old clothes” which refers to the texture of the meat. This is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes. It can easily be made on the stove as well. Cuban food isn’t spicy but it’s very savory. Sometimes I add just a 1/4 cup high quality […]
One Pot Dinners: A New Way to Cook Pasta
I am not sure where this idea originated but I first saw it on Facebook then on Pinterest. I adpated my versions from Budget Bytes and it has literally changed the way I cook pasta. The key thing to note is that this procedure only works for dried spaghetti, linguine or fettuccine. What’s so wonderful about […]
Perfect Pine Nut Cookies
Most people associate pine nuts with Italian pesto. But there are many cuisines that use them in desserts. My favorite is the Italian pine nut cookie, sometimes called pignoli cookies. Admittedly I love almost any cookie that has nuts in it but the key for me is that they not be totally hard. That is […]
One Pot Dinners: Two Recipes for the Slow Cooker
Here’s the thing: Most of us flavor lovers enjoy a bit of variety in our diets. Unfortunately there are times when our children do not. So I try and mix up the same old with some variations. I insert these meals throughout the month, mostly on the nights when I don’t have time to be […]