making life delicious blog
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 [...]
There’s something about cool air and the color of autumn leaves that causes me to start craving comfort foods. I start adding soups and roasted vegetables to our weekly menu, which will often include grits and polenta. I like my grits both savory and sweet, and this simple bowl of homey grits and mushrooms hits [...]
Summer at Ticonderoga Farms is a big growing season. In addition to the bamboo and figs, they have a large pick-your-own garden as well as a community garden that has been filled by many people from the surrounding area. You can drive out to the farm to pick sweet peppers, chilies, tomatoes, watermelon, corn, and [...]
When spring comes around our family looks forward to eating out of garden, and this easy frittata is a great garden recipe. We use the fresh chard, green onions, and garlic chives we pick right before cooking, and add purchased mushrooms. Frittatas are an easy meal for the kids to help with because they cook [...]
When the cold of winter comes on, I don’t crave cold salads and raw vegetables, I like my vegetables cooked and my salads warm, or at least want some warmth, and cooked lentil salads are perfect for winter. The thing I like about this lentil dish is they can be a bowl of comfort food [...]
Polenta isn’t typically the first dish I think of for Thanksgiving dinner, but after tasting this baked polenta with the roasted butternut squash and smoked Gouda, I’ve changed my mind. This dish would make a delicious substitute for traditional stuffing and has a lovely rustic appearance. The combination of the roasted squash, smoked Gouda, and [...]
About two years ago, a researcher for Molly O’Neill contacted me about a pickled green tomatoes recipe that I had posted from my sister Angela. She liked the family twist on the recipe and interviewed both of us, but when we didn’t hear anything back we assumed that the recipe had not been selected for [...]
We’ve had quite a few snow and ice days recently, more than we thought we would have this year. I guess after the unusually powerful snow storms we had last year we thought the next few winters would be milder, more like the average winters for this area. But there is still snow on the [...]
Ten years ago Michael and I made a trek to Germany for our honeymoon. We travelled around the country with a tour group—not exactly romantic for a honeymoon, especially since we couldn’t convince the strict tour guide to get us hotel rooms with a double bed instead of two singles—but we had a great time [...]
We are very fortunate to live near DeBaggio’s, a truly wonderful herb farm and nursery that’s been growing beautiful healthy plants since 1975. One of the ladies in the neighborhood told me about them the first year we lived here, specifically mentioning their wonderful tomatoes, so I made a point to check it out and [...]
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.
