Category: Eating Locally, Homecooking, Gardening
Lunching with Tourism Australia
Confession: Australia has never been on my must-visit list. It seemed like an awfully far distance to travel to visit a country that wasn’t that different per se. I mean, sure, they have kangaroos and the Great Barrier Reef and all. But that didn’t seem like enough to travel so far for. Good thing I [...]
How to Bake Bacon: A Less Mess Method
When my power went out on Sunday and I couldn’t work on Monday and Tuesday, it wasn’t a restful few days vacation. There was the stress of having no power and no running water, the worry about the kids safety and health and the extreme concern over my job and freelance writing. It was unsettling, [...]
Penne with Swiss Chard and Kielbasa
Since our first glimpse of spring this year, I have been waiting, yearning, planning. For months, I have been imaging what it would be like when I got to start bringing home my overflowing veggie basket from my CSA. If you aren’t familiar with CSAs, it’s an abbreviation for Community Supported Agriculture programs. Basically, you [...]
How to Roast Red Peppers on the Grill
When I came home from work the other day and set up to, well, work, I discovered that my home internet wasn’t working. And to make matters worse, tech support was closed. So, I worked offline for a bit (getting a ton done!) before going to bed early. The next morning I woke up early [...]
Braised Dinosaur Kale with Shallots, Lemon and Romano
Do you ever just want to cheer from the rooftops? Maybe let out a loud whoop? Or perhaps jump on Oprah’s couch … oh wait, that’s just Tom Cruise. Anyway, even if you aren’t couch jumping, everyone feels like this sometimes … where something thrills you so much that you just want to tell everyone. [...]
Weekend Outing: The Making of Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is a staple in our house. We eat it on pancakes (like these delish Pumpkin Chocolate Chip ones) and use it to glaze veggies and meats. And it always has to be the real thing. No imitations, or else I just won’t eat it. The kids know that we only use real maple [...]
Sweet and Sour Baby Bok Choy
Last week, Rivki encouraged me to be adventurous with veggies in the winter, since it’s better to enjoy what you are eating then to stick to what’s inexpensive. It makes a lot of sense. I rarely eat beef, instead opting for chicken or turkey or fish, so I spend less on proteins these days. So, [...]
Searching for the Perfect Homemade Pasta Recipe: Part 1
If there was just one carb to darken my doorway for the rest of eternity, it would be pasta. My kids request it nightly. I like it. My husband likes it. And there are endless ways to flavor and dress it. As far as versatile ingredients go, pasta is right up there. Typically, we eat [...]
Apple Picking 2010: Now, With Less Stress!
Every year, the kids and I (and often our friends) head to local farms for pick-you-own fun. This past weekend, that meant apple picking. The apple picking season generally starts in September and goes through early November here in Connecticut, so we are more than half-way through the season (and late by our standards). Fortunately, [...]
On Carrot Greens, Radish Greens and Other Edible Wastes
A few years ago, I fell deeply in love with beet greens. They have a similar taste to beets, though far milder — like a beet-tinged spinach. And they are lovely served raw in salad, sauteed and more. Until learning that they were edible, I had always been in the cut-and-toss camp, though. A similar [...]
