FAST FINDS
Striking Gold in a Desert Farmer’s Market
Wait a minute. A farmer’s market in the desert? I couldn’t believe it myself. The idea itself is an oxymoron. I was in Phoenix over the weekend, not exactly hunting down farmer’s markets, but to celebrate the wedding of one of my dearest cousins. Amid…
Read MoreA Prime Celebration
As I pondered this year’s Easter menu, the usual suspects crossed my mind. Ham? Lamb? Brunch? Something with eggs? For some reason, I was struggling with ideas for a suitable Easter meal. My husband’s solution was simple. Prime Rib. I don’t know about you, but…
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Out of a Rut and Into a Nest
98% of the time, I enjoy food shopping. It’s always fun to see what might be new to the markets, or what fruits, veggies, or seafood is in season. But there’s always THE RUT. It’s something I fall into, every so often. I catch myself…
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Appreciating Asparagus
Long before I appreciated asparagus as a vegetable, I had a fondness for the asparagus plant. Have you ever seen one? My mom grew asparagus in her garden (among many things – she had such a green thumb!), and I loved the delicate, feathery fronds…
Read MoreCoconut, Meet Toffee: A Cupcake Story
In case you have the misfortune of not having any Girl Scouts where you live, you may not know that it’s the end of Girl Scout Cookie season. And while I have a special place in my heart for Girl Scout cookies (you’re talking to…
Read MoreTuna Noodle Casserole | The Way Casseroles Were Meant to Be
I’ve mentioned before that my mom was more of a baker than a cook. To her credit, when she did cook, she was adventurous in the kitchen. That meant her tastes would lead us to more exotic foods. Norms for us were dishes like Hungarian…
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Chicken Angst
pail·lard (pī yär′; Fr pȧ yȧr′) noun a slice of meat, esp. veal or chicken, pounded until it is very thin and grilled quickly at high heat. Chicken can get a bad rap sometimes. I know that once in a while, chicken can get boring,…
Read MoreThe Taste of Time
I am a big believer in fate. Sometimes, there is no other explanation. A few weeks ago, I drafted a post on one of my favorite wines. Not just a favorite, but perhaps most favorite. I held back from posting for rather selfish reasons. Please…
Read MoreWalking on Sunshine
It’s those little things that can make a person’s day. And today, a fellow blogger totally surprised me! I was given the Sunshine Award by Denise from Quickies on the Dinner Table. I am extremely flattered that she passed on this honor, and am even…
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You Say Smoothie, We Say Soosmie
There are some things you can count on in our house. There will always be: 1. French Roast coffee, freshly ground and brewed, once in the morning, and once in the afternoon. 2. Sunday Morning Pancakes. 3. Daily Soosmies Soosmies? You probably call them Smoothies, but…
Read MoreHappy California Cows Also Make…Yogurt
Ever see the Happy Cows commercials? We laugh so hard when we see them, probably because we really identify with them. We see our past selves when they depict the miserable Midwestern cows in the even more miserable snow, and our present selves in the…
Read MoreTaking Time to Smell the Curry
Life has a sneaky habit of going by too quickly. There’s always the phone call I should have placed, the email I needed to return, the quality time I should have spent. Even when it comes to friends and neighbors, weeks…even months…can go by before…
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Costa Rican Gallo Pinto (Rice & Beans)
Most travelers who come home from a vacation to Costa Rica bring back memories of rain forests, howler monkeys, dips in natural hot springs, and some of the world’s best coffee. For me, there was one other thing that made an impression. I fell in love with…
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Sunday Morning Pancakes
We have a tradition at our house. Every weekend, we have pancakes. Every Sunday, to be exact. Our pancake of choice: Buttermilk Pancakes. We always have Buttermilk Pancakes. Then our individual flair sets in. My husband is generally partial to dusting his pancakes with powdered…
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Ode to Foghorn
Good things come in twos. When I think of brownies, I think of ice cream. And when I think of chocolate, I can’t help but think of raspberry. Chocolate and raspberry – it’s a classic pair, isn’t it? There’s something about combining the rich dark…
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