Cilantro Secret

Speaking of cilantro, I’d like to share a little secret.  One of my neighbors, who makes her way around a tri-state area, takes my wish list to Trader Joe’s when she’s in TJ’s neighborhood.  Lisa, from farm or grocer to front door, I appreciate your generosity!  So what has Lisa slipped into my Trader Joe’s […]

Herbs – make no mistake

There’s nothing like fresh herbs in the cookery.  I’ve had some success growing my own, but this time of year, the frost wins out and I’m at the mercy of the green grocer.  Patience goes a long way in a relationship and my husband and I share in the matter. Over the years, I’ve learned […]

Scouts unite-in the cookery

My little Cub Scout is working his way through Wolf Scout Achievements in his Scout handbook.  This week, the Akela duties fall to me as he completes Chapter 8:  Cooking and Eating.  Today’s assignment:  Fix your own breakfast, wash and put away the dishes.  My Scout prepared whole wheat toast, sliced strawberries, cereal and milk.  He joined […]

Tomato Toss

This low maintenance dish goes a long way with flavor. Start with 16 ounces rinsed cherry or grape tomatoes.  Halve tomatoes. Chop two tablespoons fresh cilantro. Crumble two tablespoons goat cheese. Mix together with 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil.  Add a dash of salt and a twist of freshly ground pepper.  Toss and you’re ready to serve and savor.    

One Smokin’ Cookery

Well, life ’round My Cookery would be a little too predictable if I was full of finesse.  I was baking breakfast muffins early this morning when my husband ducked in and said “wake the kids.”  I told him not to wake the kids and he reiterated that I was about to “wake the kids” . . […]

Tortellini Salad

Serve this!  Add bread at your table and you’re feeding the masses. Tortellini Salad Two large packages (16 oz each) uncooked tortellini ( Have you tried Portobello Mushroom tortellini?  Give it a go.) Prepare tortellini per package directions along with one teaspoon extra virgin olive oil. Dressing: 1 cup olive oil ¼ cup red wine […]

Whip It!

I trust you love whipped cream.  This morning, to serve with waffles, we whipped up a little fresh topping with my new iSi Dessert Whip for the family breakfast.  I’m not outgrowing my simplistic methods around the kitchen counter, but the dessert whip was a gift, one of those tools you’d love to have . […]

From farm to front door

To provide healthy meals around our family table, little chance for success exists unless the ingredients find their way to the kitchen.  When I postpone a shopping trip to try to squeeze one more writing project or errand into my day, we all pay the price.   We eat less (once in a while, MUCH less) than fresh food.  Pretty obvious, […]

Dressing the greens

Garden greens taste great right from the rinser but this basic vinaigrette transforms the greens into a salad worthy of sharing. Vinaigrette Dressing  2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 ½  teaspoons balsamic vinegar ½ teaspoon chopped fresh basil ¼ teaspoon sugar Whisk ingredients together and toss with greens.  Serve immediately.

Through the Garden Avocado Salad

My friend, Maia, introduced me to a version of this salad.  Here’s my latest twist on it. Through the Garden Avocado Salad 1 large ripe avocado (or 3 small) 12 oz. (1 can) garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed) ¼ of a small onion (chopped) 12 oz. (frozen, drained) corn kernels 12 oz (1 can) black beans […]