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 [...]
Summer is always a busy time of year for us. The kids are out of school but involved in activities, so Chauffeur Mom is still on duty. The garden requires daily work harvesting, watering, and weeding, and then there’s all those tomatoes, about 50 pounds so far, that need to be eaten and preserved. Put [...]
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 [...]
Out of all the muffins we’ve ever made, these morning glory muffins are hands down the family favorite. They are so moist and full of good things—whole wheat flour, wheat germ, zucchini, carrots, raisins, walnuts, unsweetened coconut—and the flavor is excellent. Michael and the boys can’t wait to get their hands on them, and I [...]
It took a while, but I finally brainwashed my boys. When I make grilled pork chops, instead of grousing they now cheer, “Yay! We’re having chicken!” In my defense, I have never ever fibbed and said that we were eating one thing when it was actually another, but I’m pretty sure they got the idea [...]
My two favorite things for summer parties are pitchers of sangria and margaritas. They are hard to beat for a cold, refreshing drink to share with friends. This sangria is perfect for summer parties and adds a pitcher of deliciousness to your Fourth of July cookout, and it’s easy to make. Just put all the [...]
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 [...]
Pie is Michael’s favorite dessert for Father’s Day, and usually I make blueberry pie since that is one of his favorite pies. This year I decided to change it up a bit and surprise him with something different. I had peaches from South Carolina in the freezer, blueberries from our garden, and a recipe for [...]
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 [...]
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.
