Homemade Vanilla Extract

I had been meaning to stop by the historic farmers’ market. I told my husband that I wanted to go there for a specific reason but when I arrived that reason escaped me until I spotted a table across the way decked out in spices. Yes! Now it’s coming back to me. Costas Halavrezos, former…

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Spaghetti Squash with Sausage and Kale

For the love of kale!  I can’t seem to get enough of this green veggie.  This queen of greens is super nutrient rich with an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K.  Keep in mind, though, that flash cooking helps kale to preserve its nutrients.  Spaghetti squash has been around for years. I’ve used…

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Pepperoni Pesto

When I think of pesto my mind immediately sees plump basil leaves, pine nuts, a mound of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and smashed garlic bound together with olive oil.  But when we think ‘outside the box’, a funny thing happens…we tend to experiment.  There are oodles of options out there when rethinking the term pesto. …

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Oven Roasted Rutabaga Fries

rutabaga fries

Confession time. I always thought the word rutabaga was a fancy term for a turnip. So for clarity, here’s the scoop on both – I know you want to get to the bottom of this.  While surfing the web I found out that a rutabaga (aka swede or yellow turnip) is the cross between a…

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Persimmon Apple Radicchio Stacks

I intimidate people.  I remember the first time I was told this and was floored! It wasn’t said in a negative way nor aimed at my personality.   It happened to pertain to my style of cooking.   We love to entertain and our friends enjoy coming to our house for dinner.  The issue tends to…

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Brussels Sprout Salad with Garlic & Goji Berry Dressing

I was first introduced to goji berries when we lived in Asia. The berries come from a shrub native to China and the Chinese have been eating them for generations (they believe it’ll help in living longer). I’ve never eaten fresh goji berries only the dried version. This orange-red berry is rich in antioxidants, helps…

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Spanish Baked Chicken

We’ve been in our new home now for nine days and it feels as though we never left Nova Scotia! I love how easily we slipped back into our routine…and for me part of that means entertaining. I made this Spanish baked chicken while we were still in NY and knew this would be a…

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Broccoli and Bacon Salad

Broccoli is a veggie I cannot get enough of and when I see a recipe that includes bacon, it has to be a winning combo. Broccoli is so nutrient-rich I can’t imagine not having it in my diet.  This is a light dish as it doesn’t have a heavy sauce nor does it call for…

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Tzatziki

Tzatziki is a thick Greek sauce where it is served with gyros, souvlaki or in a mezze.  But you can use it with just about anything! Try it as an accompaniment to fish, grilled chicken, lamb, pita bread, falafel, grilled vegetables, as a dip – you get the idea. Tzatziki is easy to make and is…

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