making life delicious blog
Potato salad is synonymous with summer and one of our favorite things to eat with grilled meats. Our boys haven’t really been fond of potato salad or anything potato until the last six months. Hockey Guy has suddenly become Mr. Potato and Top Gun isn’t far behind, and part of the reason is this baked [...]
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.
We planted our first blueberries bushes four years ago, and they’ve grown from just a few sticks producing a handful of berries to full bushes with loads of berries. I spent time in the garden last night picking blueberries and brought in about four quarts worth and left many, many more still ripening. Monkey Boy [...]
When traveling around in South America, I remember stopping at roadside stands to buy the local grilled corn, maize, with large meaty kernels. The texture is different from the sweet corn I grew up with and I became enamored with it. Now imagine those meaty kernels made into popcorn. When the maize kernels pop, that [...]
The end of strawberry season is always a bit sad for us. During the season we eat strawberries almost every day and the boys can’t get enough of those brilliant red berries, often sneaking some that I’ve set aside for desserts. I’ll find leafy green tops scattered around the kitchen counters and table like evidence [...]
There’s nothing like the first fresh strawberries of the season. That gorgeous bright red color is so inviting, promising a sweet and juicy delight. When I brought home a bucket of fresh-picked strawberries from Wegmeyer Farms, my boys could hardly keep their hands out of it, and after letting them snack on a few, I [...]
The weather has been strange this year. Winter didn’t feel like winter at all and the official start of spring passed by without much notice because I was already wearing sandals before the big day. However, having an early spring means that our garden popped a little early this year. The chard (above) is going [...]
Last spring we planted an asparagus bed, and it has really taken off. At first we only saw small tips peeping up from the soil, then they shot up to tall spears almost overnight. Now the wispy fern sways in the breeze on long thin stems and will stay around for the summer. Asparagus needs [...]
We’ve been growing chard for a couple years now, and fortunately our chard comes back each spring. The baby leaves are as tender as any salad bowl lettuce and full of flavor, and it’s so satisfying to see the chard sprout, then pick the small, tender leaves and have them on the table in just [...]
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.
