Every summer, we seem to gravitate to one dish, a lot.  This year, the winner was any form of a watermelon salad. Mainly because it pairs so well with BBQ’ed meats and fish.  And any dish that is both sweet, salty and spicy always has my vote.  And,  I am the one cooking, we eat… Continue reading

I must admit I am a kitchen gadget junkie, drop me off at any Williams Sonoma, Bed Bath & Beyond, or heck, even a lowly bottom of the rung department store, and I can pick up something that I think might be useful in the kitchen. After making these Corn Black Bean Fritters, which were… Continue reading

I was watching the Barefoot Contessa the other day while she made homemade tomato soup, not hard to do really.  I started to wonder why I’ve never made it myself? I think it is perhaps time to put away the childhood version of tomato soup from the can, We deserve a more refined, grown up… Continue reading

I think I have to thank Mrs Kim, a cute little Korean lady in her late 60’s, for making my children adventurous eaters.  You see, she and her husband have owned the Japanese/Korean restaurant near us for as long as I can remember. We started taking our children there when they were perhaps 4 and… Continue reading

It may be a bit early for some of you to be thinking about Thanksgiving, but not me. With tons of family and friends up north, as in Canada, it’s time to talk turkey. Or to discuss Gluten Free Thanksgiving Stuffing. Since Canadian Thanksgiving is this coming Monday October 14th. Some of you might be… Continue reading

I have been making this pasta for a while now, but have been reluctant to share it with you. It being green and all, and me with no professional photography training. I thought it would be hard to get a mouth-watering photo. What light is good for green food anyway? Also, I thought it might… Continue reading

Mealtimes here are more often than not, a compromise, and lunch yesterday was no exception. Earlier in the week I had purchased a nice package of assorted exotic mushrooms, and was planning on mushroom risotto for dinner. However Bunny wanted pasta, she always wants pasta. I had been looking at those fancy mushrooms in the refrigerator for… Continue reading

It seems every year at this time, and this year is no exception, we try to fit in all those casual  BBQ’s that we haven’t had time for all summer. This year we promised ourselves we would not schedule every weekend, that we would try for more spontaneous get togethers. With no plans we could… Continue reading

Today, if you are thinking this is one of my well researched, thoroughly tested and executed recipes. I must say, thank you. Because it was really just some great leftover BBQ chicken, a few veggies from the crisper, and a couple of spoonfuls of pesto. It was really fabulous. If I can give you one… Continue reading

With temperatures steadily rising this past weekend. I was longing for salad that was crisp, cool, tangy, and just a tiny bit spicy. A salad that would happily share a plate with grilled chicken, or perhaps fish. Because, I was not involving the oven in the preparation of this meal – way too hot for… Continue reading

Yesterday, after setting out breakfast for the kids. I made my usual plea for input. “What do you guys think we should have for dinner tonight?” No response. Perhaps too early in the day? I went through usual litany of choices. Chicken? Fish? Salad? Eggs? Stir Fry? BBQ? Fancy Sandwich? Beans? Pasta? Still nothing. Until… Continue reading

I am so done with braises, roasts and stews. I want fresh, light, crisp fare. It is Spring you know. What dish could scream spring more than Pasta Primavera? I used crisp tender asparagus, bright green broccoli, baby spinach, and threw in a handful of bright little tomatoes. All tossed in a light vegetable broth… Continue reading

I am definitely seeing a weekly pattern forming here. Start off the week with super healthy, tasty food. To put a stop to the food debauchery that occurred all weekend. It usually starts out quite innocently. Maybe the Hubby has been out traveling all week The fancy market has that really good french pate, the… Continue reading

It was so warm and sunny here earlier this week. The birds had returned to their perches and were singing, again. Almost all the snow had melted, again. It seemed only a matter of days and those long buried bulbs would be sprouting in the garden. Spring was in the air. I was longing for… Continue reading

We have a riot of swiss chard growing in the garden. Huge red, orange and green leaves bursting from the ground. Leaves so large and colorful that they could have been planted by Dr. Seuss. I feel obligated to use them up. The rest of the family does not. I have included swiss chard or… Continue reading

This last Saturday night, I had a beautiful dinner all planned. First some swiss chard, plucked from the garden that morning, sautéed with caramelized onion and finished with red pepper flakes and a bit of lemon zest. Add to that a crispy quinoa, kale and leek cake. Crowned with a perfectly cooked poached egg. Sounded… Continue reading

Another zucchini recipe. Yep. I didn’t plan it. It just happened. We were craving meatballs. Lately, I have been making them with turkey. And most of you know that you have to be careful with them, or they tend to get dry. While collecting all the ingredients from the fridge, I glimpsed one of the… Continue reading

Every year I seem to forget how busy the weeks leading into the new school year wil be. With varsity sports starting this week, our summer schedules were all in a tizzy. Had to squeeze in some back to school shopping, Make sure Bunny has had enough time driving so she will pass her road test…. Continue reading

I had dinner all planned , in my head that is. Had written a grocery list, for this and that. Drove to the store. However, the first item I see in the produce department are these gorgeous ripe figs. Game over. Figs for dinner. No question. They are only in season from June until September,… Continue reading

If you, or any of your family, or friends have a garden you are probably looking for more zucchini recipes. Right? I am here to help. For those of you who don’t have an abundance of zucchini littering your kitchen, and just purchased some at the grocery store. Then choose the smaller ones, they have… Continue reading

Last week my Husband hosted his french wine group here for a tasting of really expensive Burgundies. And, being the fabulous wife that I am, I offered to make a few snacks. Now this is not dinner.  Just wine and a few snacks. The Hub had already picked up some nice runny stinky french cheeses,… Continue reading