I like to operate from a menu plan, but during the summer my menu plan is written in pencil and subject to change after visiting the garden. On today's tour I discovered that some of  my kohlrabi and broccoli plants were beginning to flower. I immediately began harvesting...and creating a new dinner plan. My daughter describes kohlrabi as a B list vegetable - not cool … [Read more...]
Berry Quinoa Parfait
Boy did summer come ablazin' in this year. It rained, and rained, and rained. Then boom...it was hot. Stifling hot. It's on these stifling hot days that I have no intention of turning on the oven...or letting something cook for an hour on the stove top. It's on these stifling hot days that I'm really not all the hungry. I just need something cool and light for … [Read more...]
Grilled “Greens” Pizza
I was out to dinner with some girlfriends the other night, as one of my dearest friends is headed to California now. :( We were chatting at dinner and Jackie casually mentioned that she had way too many greens in her "happy box" and I casually mentioned that I would gladly take them off her hands. She said I was welcome to them. I was half way serious. But she was … [Read more...]
Bread Machine Cheesy Herb Bread
Fifteen years ago when I bought my bread machine all I knew how to do with it was a buy a boxed mix, dump it in and press start. The problem with that is that prepared mixes are pretty expensive and they're just not that easy to find anymore. These days we use it for all sorts of things like making pizza dough and cinnamon rolls, and for experimenting with different varieties … [Read more...]
How to Keep an Avocado from Browning – Kitchen Tip
Avocados. I love them. A lot. And by alot, I mean they could be my favorite food. I often only use half of an avocado for my salad...or for the kids. But I don't want the other half to brown, while I wait to use the rest up the next day. 3 Tips to Keep Avocados from Browning 1. Run them under cold, cold water (or plunge them into an ice … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Make Fruit Salad
I love me some fruit salad. It's rich in flavor. And good for you. There's no need to add artificial sugars, as the fruit is sweet enough. But there are still some fun ways to dress up a simple fruit salad. I love adding different toppings and spices to fruit salad. Plus, how about this easy, "no juice" storage idea! 5 Ways - The Fruit Salad Edition Crushed Pistachios … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Cube Steak
A Simple, Flavorful Sunday Supper or Weeknight Dinner Meal - Slow Cooker Cube Steak Seven pile out of the family van. All with hungry tummies. Four more family members are arriving in ten minutes. What do I do? We need to eat SOON! Everyone's getting cranky, including me! It's Sunday after church. But as I come in the door, a wonderful smell greets me. Thank … [Read more...]
Lemon Pasta with Ham and Peas
When I think of pasta and peas together, I think of blue box macaroni with a can of tuna and a can or bag of frozen peas. Well, that's what I thought about pasta and peas before I really learned how to cook. The fun of cooking comes with exploring with flavors, textures and tossing together new ingredients. I'm always on the hunt for new favorite recipes, especially for … [Read more...]
Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal
Now that it's rhubarb season...and the start of berry season, I thought a strawberry rhubarb baked oatmeal was in order. I took the baked oatmeal recipe from my Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook and gave it a few twists. And this is what I got... 3 stalks rhubarb. plus about 3 cups diced strawberries (that I froze recently.) Toss the strawberries and rhubarb … [Read more...]
Greek Gyro
We love Greek food. I don't make it nearly as often as I'd like because it usually takes a little more effort than time allots for a regular dinner. Not to mention I usually don't have a couple of the ingredients in the pantry. This recipe however, is much faster than a normal meal and great to make when you're herding children on those busy summer evenings. I like that it's … [Read more...]