making life delicious blog
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 [...]
This year started off with a bang and hasn’t stopped yet. I had surgery in February and spent several weeks recovering with assistance from many. Friends made meals and helped with the kids, and our parents stayed with us for a few weeks helping with food, cleaning, and laundry. When times were tough, the love [...]
I always enjoy looking back on our favorite recipes from the past year, the ones that we would make over and over again. Though there are often many—and this year was no different—I try to keep the list down to twelve. So here they are, our family’s favorite recipes from 2012. We hope you enjoy [...]
Life is crazy enough during the holidays without adding complicated meals on top of the craziness. I try to keep weeknight meals easy any time of the year, but especially during December. This recipe for steak tips with mushroom pepper gravy from Cooking Light is an easy favorite, one that Hockey Guy requests regularly. It’s [...]
We are big fans of robust Caribbean spices. Allspice, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger are all staples in our pantry and add tons of flavor to both savory and sweet dishes. They are an important part of the iconic jerk spice mix, which we rub all over grilled meats, and they are a perfect addition [...]
Last week we quickly harvested the last of our summer garden just before the night temperatures plunged into the 30s. We had baskets full of fresh basil to process and share with friends. I chopped and froze a bunch of tomatoes, threw several in this dish, and our kitchen counters are still completely covered with [...]
Autumn is here. The nights are cooler, the days shorter, the summer garden is starting to wither, and autumn fruits and vegetables are filling produce stands. I’ve gone from craving tomatoes, berries, and zucchini to craving grapes, apples, pears, and butternut squash.
“Mommy, you know me so well!” That’s what I hear from Top Gun every time I tell him that we are having Chinese food for dinner. Seeing the excitement on his face always make me smile and feel happy that I’m making his favorite dishes, and that he has an adventurous palate and likes a [...]
I can’t believe it’s already Labor Day weekend. The summer seemed to fly by and suddenly September is here. We’ve been super busy with the garden this year and have hit that time when we know there’s only a month or so left for the summer crops. The tomatoes and peppers are slowing down, the [...]
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.
