making life delicious blog
Part of summer memories includes snapping green beans with my sister. My father would bring them home by the bushel or half bushel, and we would sit down on sheet with the beans piled in the middle and begin snapping. Mom canned many of them, and some went straight into a pot with a ham [...]
I planted our first carrots two years ago. We have raised beds over heavy clay soil, so I opted for shorter Danvers half longs. Crop failure the first year, then finally last year we got some. Monkey Boy was so excited when he pulled them and realized that carrots really do grow underground. So our [...]
In 2011, we put in an asparagus bed, and for two springs we have patiently watched and tended, waiting for our first harvest. Last year we let the plants grow full and fern out, knowing this would be the year we would finally get to eat. The spears started popping last week, and I’ll say [...]
We planted Brussels sprouts in our garden over the summer hoping to have our own crop this year. I looked forward to seeing the plants grow tall with many little sprouts covering the stems, but we lost our plants to greedy insects who liked the sprouts as much as we do. After that battle, I [...]
I remember my father talking about his childhood and how his parents kept food on the table. They raised pigs for a while and my dad hunted with his dad, then later alone. As their family grew, food had to go further, and my dad would comment on how they stretched the family budget. They [...]
After my first taste of a sautéed Spanish padron pepper a couple years ago, I knew I had to grow them in the garden. Our first plant grew well, but only produced a few peppers, hardly enough for a tapa. The second year was slightly better, then this year I decided to go all out [...]
My boys don’t agree on many things, including food. Two like tomatoes, one doesn’t. Two like corn, one doesn’t. Two like carrots, one doesn’t. Two like melted cheese, one doesn’t. (I don’t get that one at all.) But one thing they all agree on is cucumbers. They’ll eat them sliced with lunch or dinner, plain [...]
Our summer garden is going gangbusters this year, and we have some surprise Thai basil volunteers that seeded themselves in our bay laurel tree pot. The plants have already gotten huge with fragrant leaves and pretty purple flowers, giving us plenty to cook with. The pungent flavor is a perfect match for this spicy Thai-style [...]
Grilled vegetables have become a favorite at our home, partly because of the flavor and partly because they are often easy to prepare. Our boys help with slicing the vegetables and mixing the marinades, and Michael or I take over at the grill.
I remember my first falafel in Saudi Arabia, thinking how it was like a hush puppy, only different. Perhaps a silly response, but it’s true. The texture and flavor are different, but the general idea is the same. Instead of fried balls of soaked cornmeal, it’s fried balls of soaked fava bean or chickpea meal. [...]
It's spring in the U.S. and the following foods may be in season in your area:
artichokes, fennel, fiddleheads, radishes, broccoli, rhubarb, kale, cresses, spinach, spring lettuces, chard, cabbages, chives, cilantro, collards, tatsoi, mustard greens, spring onions, asparagus, rosemary, wild garlic, ramps, strawberries, blueberries, cherries
Eat fresh seasonal produce to stay healthy and help your food budget.Learn more about seasonal and sustainable cooking at Sustainable Table - In the Kitchen.
