Black Bean Salad

Beans. They’ve been around since time immemorial and while there are thousands of varieties, only a tiny fraction are mass-produced for our enjoyment. The only beans I knew growing up was my mom’s baked beans usually made from navy beans and sometimes she’d throw in kidney beans, much to my chagrin.  I really had no…

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Blackberry Sorbet

It’s the subtle changes in the weather when I start to notice a shift as we slowly drift out of summer and into autumn. I know, shhh! not so loud but it’s true. The sunlight looks different as it lands in areas of the house and the air smells different. As I was rinsing the…

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Baked Fontina Dip

I was on the train into the city and caught a glimpse into my future.  I spotted an elderly couple who were deep in conversation.  They looked so cute together; her silver hair was a bit disheveled and his white mane slicked back.  Both were in great shape.  He pulled out two books from his…

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Easy To Make Cinnamon Rolls

As much as I enjoy making things from scratch, the truth be told there are times when I just can’t be asked! I was craving something sweet the other day and cinnamon rolls popped into my head. My mom used to make them and I have too, all from scratch. To satisfy this craving I…

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Lemon Rosemary Sorbet

Want to make an easy, delicious-tasting dessert or pallet cleanser? Sorbet is simple to make and because it contains no dairy, it’s perfect for anyone who is lactose intolerant or vegan. This frozen treat knows no boundaries so use your favorite fruit or chocolate and satisfy your cravings for a frozen treat. Lemon and rosemary…

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Gazpacho

gazpacho

It’s funny how conversations get replayed in your head.  I was just thinking now about one I had a couple of months ago with my daughter, Laura.  She asked me if I liked her at this age (20) or when she was younger.  I paused, thought about what she asked, and said that I enjoy…

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Peppers Stuffed with Couscous, Halloumi and Currants

stuffed peppers with couscous, halloumi & currants

There is no such thing for me as a casual glance at a cookbook. And, when I see one that is esthetically pleasing to the eye with beautifully illustrated drawings, tactile, and delicious-looking recipes I am hooked!   Mr. Wilkson’s Vegetables truly is ‘A Cookbook To Celebrate The Garden‘.  For every vegetable he writes snippets of…

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Thai Larb

The other night John and I were watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Guy Fieri was visiting a diner in Hawaii called Opal’s. It’s owned by a Thai family and as we watched the larb come together, our mouths started to water. It has been far too long since we had this! Larb is the national…

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Strawberry Granita

Summer brings a host of welcomed changes…longer days, warmer sunshine, fresh fruits and vegetables, being outdoors more, freshly cut lawns, pretty flowers, outdoor social gatherings, and birds singing.  When the temperature soars, it’s time to cool down and a favorite of mine is homemade granita.  Originating in Sicily, granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from…

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Grilled Vegetable Stacks with a Feta Salsa

It’s been a scorcher the last two weeks but that hasn’t stopped us from being outdoors.  Summer for us automatically means using the barbeque more – and we grill anything! Of course we grill the usual suspects such as meat, chicken, fish and veggies.  But we also love grilled bread, pizza, artichokes, onions, romaine lettuce,…

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