When I grew up, it seemed like we only used paprika to add a little color to deviled eggs or potato salad. . . That paprika, in just about everyone’s spice rack, is made from dried, sweet pepper pods. Varieties differ, some hotter or sweeter than others, but the beautiful, red color is constant. It’s…
Nourishing Soups: Carrot
When temps get below 80 in Florida, I like to fire up the stove for soup. And with this month’s theme of ’Nourishing Soups,’ I’m starting with carrot. From September to January in Florida we get beautiful carrots from local farms. But you can find them just about anywhere – just look for firm, smallish, slender carrots, not…
Meat Alternatives: Olive Pasta
I recently watched a Jim Gaffigan special and he talked about his appendix surgeon, Dr. Muffuletta. Apparently, once he learned the name (being the foodie he is) Jim fondly recalled all those delicious muffuletta sandwiches he enjoyed in New Orleans. . . Then I started thinking about that infamous sandwich of cured meats, cheeses, crusty…
Meat Alternatives: Polenta & Mushrooms
A man goes to the doctor with a carrot in one ear, a stick of celery in the other and a mushroom up his nose. “Doctor,” he says, “I’m in terrible shape. What can I do?” And the doctor says, “You need to start eating more sensibly.” (Not sure of the source, but it’s one of…
Meat Alternatives: Veggie Galette
While it’s not officially Fall (September 22 is the big day), nor are we having temperatures anywhere close to cool in southwest Florida, today’s post is Fall-ish AND it’s meatless. I like meatless dishes that are satisfying, full of flavor and relatively easy to pull together, and today’s recipe hits on all three. You might…
Breakfast Treats: Stone Ground Grits
On my recent trip to North Carolina, I bought stone-ground grits at a farm in Old Fort (see: Field Trip Friday). Stone-ground grits are made from whole corn kernels (including the germ) that are coarsely ground. When cooked, they’re creamy, but not silky like other grains, and they’re deliciously corn-y. They need more liquid and…
Breakfast Treats: Overnight Waffles
Waffles. Just writing the word makes me happy. I read somewhere that waffles date back to ca. 6000 BC, when grains were made into pulp and cooked on hot stones. But it was the Greeks, ca. 1100 BC, who cooked little cakes between two hot metal plates. The first ‘waffle iron’?!? After many iterations of…
Field Trip Friday – Asheville, NC
(Field Trip Fridays are interesting, fun, food-related and/or fishing adventures I like to share with you!) My husband and I recently spent a few days in Asheville, North Carolina. . .a much-needed escape from Florida. Summer in western NC is beautiful, with its abundance of farmers markets, scenery and outdoor events. We stayed in downtown Asheville, a…
Trout with Lemon, Basil & Almond Crust
Update July 23, 2021. I’m heading out for a much-needed vacation after being cooped up in my house too long (stay tuned for a new ‘Field Trip Friday’ highlighting my adventure). So I’m giving this vintage post a little bit of love today in order to highlight this yummy topping, which would be great on…
Bowls of Happiness: Creamy Corn
Summer corn – the golden creation of Mother Nature, designed for pure joy. There’s nothing like picnic-table dinners designed for nibbling ears of corn, biting into grilled hotdogs, or scooping up forkfuls of creamy potato salad. I miss the Butter & Sugar corn I used to find at roadside stands in New England, but sometimes, here…
Bowls of Happiness: Coconut Farro
We’ve lived through tumultuous days over the last year. Thankfully, life seems to be slowly coming up to speed. That said, I’m still not feeling myself, struggling to find my ‘new normal.’ Add in many gray days filled with much-needed rain, and that means I’m craving comfort food. Comfort food is the stuff we shouldn’t eat…
Magic of Miso: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Miso in cookies? What?!? I never heard of it until I saw a recipe on the Bon Appetit site. Experts have weighed in (here’s just one at WSJ) that miso adds complex flavor/saltiness to sweets, making it a perfect addition. We all have our favorite chocolate chip cookie style, which typically falls into one of these…