One of the positive things to come out of our current confinement is that creativity in the kitchen has made a resurgence for a lot of people. I have flexed some creative muscles that I have not been accessing for quite some time, this ceviche recipe being one of those creative workouts. Another Take on […]
Looking for an easy side dish for a quick summer meal? Using easy pantry items allows you to whip up this Black Bean Salad with little preparation or shopping. It won’t take much effort to add it to your dinner tonight. Looking for dinner ideas too? How about making our TexMex Shrimp Skewers with Peach […]
As far as I’m concerned, one of the unsung culinary combinations in the world is the marriage of pumpkin and peanut butter. (and I probably just lost half of you) Peanut butter spread on toasted pumpkin bread in the morning is a thing of wonder. Something tells me I might lose the rest of you […]
Who doesn’t love a holiday? All the family. All the friends. And the food is good too. This one won’t win any awards for creativity or originality, but it totally scores where it counts – it tastes great, feeds a crowd, and is pretty easy to pull off. And besides, other than my picky nieces, […]
Stuffing or dressing? Which do you prefer? I’m strictly a dressing guy myself. Either way you choose, this one has been my go-to recipe forever. It’s a riff on my mother’s and grandmother’s traditional Thanksgiving stuffing, and (if I do say so myself) it’s pretty darned good. Make no mistake, this is not diet food. […]
It’s fall and that means it is tailgating time again! It’s not that I’m an enthusiastic football fan, but anytime food is involved, sports are better. Whether it’s Friday nights at the high school, Saturday afternoon college games, or hovering at the TV on Sunday afternoons for the pro teams, you gotta have the right […]
Late summer always means one thing: an abundance of everything you grow in the garden… or so I’ve been told. I wouldn’t know firsthand because I can’t grow dirt. I’ve tried many times over the years, but it’s no use. To give you an example: a friend who is also a Florida Master Gardener took […]
I hate coffee (I know, it’s me and three other people over the age of 12 in the United States). Actually, I don’t have anything against coffee; I just don’t care for it. I also don’t like licorice or bell peppers. I’ve learned to work around all three when I am eating someone else’s cooking. […]
OK, I will be the first one to admit that this recipe is not going to win any awards for originality or creativity, but it’s good. Really good. And simple. AND healthy. How often do you get to say all of that about one dish? I must have some addiction to carotene because I love […]
It pays to plan ahead. I get mocked for it all the time, but I don’t care. Last weekend I spent the afternoon making pesto out of the abundance of basil that is all over the place this time of year. It’s quick, simple, fragrant, and delicious. Just 5 ingredients: basil, garlic, toasted nuts, parmesan […]
I always enjoy salmon, but I can get into kind of a rut with it. I seem to prepare it the same 2 or 3 ways, time after time. Recently I decided to shake it up – just a little bit. Over the years I have come to realize that some of my most creative […]
I find that inspiration for new dishes comes from a multitude of sources: childhood memories, fantastic restaurant meals, conversation with friends, bizarre dreams (yes, it’s true – I do dream about cooking from time to time), etc. But I think the most often used source of inspiration comes from the plethora of cooking and travel […]
Few things taste like springtime more than sweet baby peas and mint. In fact, that is one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations. The winter months have felt exceptionally long for some reason, and this dish just tastes like Spring on a fork to me. I know not everyone is going to take the time […]
It happens every year. Eggs coming out of your ears because of that silly rabbit and his penchant for multi-colored mystery. What do you do with them all? There are only so many deviled eggs that one person can eat, and egg salad really loses its appeal after 2 or 3 days. Here’s a quick […]
Isn’t it funny how the most mortifying moments of your life are some of the most vivid images your memory conjures? I haven’t been able to pick up Easter candy for the last 40 years without recalling one of the earliest times I embarrassed the heck out of myself (I wish I could say it […]
I don’t understand how Easter is upon us already. I am still working on the To-Do List I made over the Christmas holiday (OK, I haven’t even started it). I use to roll my eyes when my father said, “The older you get, the faster time goes.” I totally get it now. Of course, […]
There are days when I drag myself home and have absolutely no desire to cook at all. Most of those nights, the pizza guy comes to our house. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed lately that my waistband is a little more snug than normal (must have shrunk in the wash). So instead of inviting Carl to come […]
Do you have one of those pieces of kitchen equipment that you only use when you have to? For me, it’s a mandolin. It’s difficult to clean, it’s awkward to use, and every time I touch it, I think I’m going to end up with one less finger by the time I’m finished. Of course, […]
I did not grow up eating beets. My parents were not adventurous eaters, and beets just looked too odd, what with that startling crimson color and all. I was probably in my 30’s before I had ever voluntarily tasted beet roots, and I was hooked from the beginning. I was watching TV the other day […]
I’ve always been one to choose seasonal ingredients when I cook. For one, seasonal ingredients are usually cheaper – but most importantly, seasonal ingredients are picked at the peak of their freshness so they taste great. The one season I wait on all year is fall. There is something about squash, sweet potatoes, hearty greens, […]
