Grilled Fruit
This is a different take on fruit salad, but instead of raw fruit in a bowl, it is grilled fruit on a stick. This is a nice light dessert or side dish for a BBQ or backyard party. It is... Continue reading →
vegetables and salads
Grilled Marinated Eggplant & Bell Peppers
Summer has a way of making me crave more vegetables and fruit. I thought what better excuse to eat healthier than to eat my five-a-day in more delicious ways than just steamed or baked. And with grilling season firming in... Continue reading →
Grilled Peaches & Vanilla Ice Cream
You can keep the kitchen cool and the dinner hot with an endless combination of foods to marinate, skewer, and grill. But all too often, delicious side dishes and grilled desserts (yes, desserts) are forgotten in favor of the traditional fare of burgers and hot dogs. If you feel like adding something sweet or savory to your next backyard gathering (or any dinner for that matter), consider trying one of this week’s recipes. Continue reading →
6 Tuna Salad Recipes You Need
For those who observe Lent, fish is now a Friday habit, but it doesn't have to be all fish sticks in this recession climate - canned tuna is a versatile food that can become a favorite ingredient with the right flavorful partners. With this basic Tuna Salad recipe, you can make several different meals, including but not limited to: Open-Faced Tuna Melt Sandwiches, Tuna Sandwiches, Tuna Over Green Salad, Tuna Pockets, and Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes. First, I have included the basic recipe (adapt to your tastes) then I have included instructions on how to use it in each of the aforementioned dishes. Continue reading →
Beet-dyed Pasta with Grilled Brussels Sprouts
We’ve established my love of crafting and creativity, but I also adore Brussels sprouts and beetroot (aka beets), so it should come as no surprise that I wanted to try them together. One day, I decided to make a pink and green dish... Continue reading →
Mom’s Garden Fresh Vegan Potato Salad
For me, a summer tradition growing up was my Mom’s potato salad. To this day, I’ve never seen her have a strong relationship with mayonnaise. It may not seem important to some but I’ve seen the woman use just about... Continue reading →
Vegan Chickpea & Olive Salad with Fresh Lemon Dressing
Spring is all about fresh ingredients and for meat-free options for Friday meals in Lent, so this recipe is a perfect mix of the two with fresh flavours to boot! It works equally well as a side dish. But as... Continue reading →
Brussels Sprouts with Dill Butter
For Christmas dinner, my friend Sue made her usual Brussels sprouts and I remembered why it’s my favourite vegetable. So, I wanted to share a link to the recipe she uses and post a few photos I took on Christmas... Continue reading →
Dijon Brussels Sprouts
Back in 1994, my Dad surprised me by cooking the entire Thanksgiving dinner from scratch by himself. Armed with just a Julia Child cookbook and fortified with hours of watching the Food Network, my engineer-minded Dad made magic happen in the... Continue reading →
Sweet Potato & Pecan Bake
This recipe was introduced to my family years and years ago. It was the year we got the Food Network at my parents’ house and my Dad took to watching the programs. He also was watching Julia Child on PBS.... Continue reading →
Pretending it is Springtime with Garlicky Asparagus
There is nothing more quintessentially spring than asparagus (or Crocus buds or Daffodils) so when Winter is looming on my doorstep I retreat to Spring foods to make me feel warm from the inside out. Roast Asparagus Spears can be a pleasant... Continue reading →
My Favorite Home Grown Tomato Recipes
Home grown tomatoes or even those grown at your local farm have a succulent and sweet quality that make any dish feel like something steeped in the flavors of summer - even when it's nearly autumn. Two relatively quick and fairly easy recipes are my favorite soup that my mom makes, Julia's Gazpacho, and Angel's Broiled Tomatoes. Both are lovely side dishes or starters or can be a light lunch when paired with fresh mozzarella and a baguette. Continue reading →
Pascale’s Couscous Salad
While visiting friends in Normandy, our taste buds were delighted by a refreshing salad that truly was from the garden. My favorite thing about it is that you can prepare it ahead of time and serve it fresh from the... Continue reading →
Guilt-free Pink Food: Chilled Beetroot Soup
Last weekend, I made steak and sea samphire for Sunday dinner, but this week we went simple and vegetarian with our favourite Chilled Beetroot Soup. I posted my recipe HERE in February 2012 after I ate this soup throughout my second... Continue reading →
Spicy Pickled Old Bay String Beans for Tangy Tomato Juice Cocktails
Sometimes I like to add a kick to a classic, a change-up, an unexpected something. So, I was playing around in the kitchen with string beans fresh from the English Market and thought, why not do a quick pickling to make... Continue reading →
Chicken Corn Chowder
I’ve never been able to eat just one ear of corn. The summer before my orthodontist gave me braces, I ate corn on the cob like a girl on a mission. My Aunt Ruth made an amazing dinner one night... Continue reading →
Faux-jito Mocktail and Mojito-inspired Fruit Salad
A sure sign that summer has arrived is the beauty of fresh fruit and berries in the market or grocery store. Road-side farm stand produce is a palette of bold colors that make me salivate. With truly excellent ingredients, less... Continue reading →
Explore Las Vegas & Fresh Guacamole
Years ago, I was working in a great little office in Northern California. My colleagues were fabulous and one day our fearless leader called me to her office. It was recommended that I attend an upcoming conference…in Las Vegas. Turns... Continue reading →
Creamy Cheddar & Broccoli Soup
Autumn has brought with it a chill in the air at night in some parts of the world, particularly here in Ireland. I like to balance out the chilly outdoors with extra warmth inside my belly and make my Creamy Cheddar... Continue reading →
Lazy Weeknight Gazpacho
It’s hot out. I live in Ireland and it’s hot and sunny. It’s like a parallel universe. Especially since most everyone outside is walking around in sundresses and shorts as if they always do. It’s eerie. When I lived in... Continue reading →