Florida strawberries are in season, so I’m getting my fill of them. I love these tasty, fragrant little berries in salads, smoothies, pie, muffins and, of course, classic shortcake. Somehow, though, “National Strawberry Day” on February 27 got away from me. Ironically, that was the day I picked up a bunch of berries at the…
Field Trip Friday – Kumquat Growers Festival
(Field Trip Fridays capture interesting, fun, food-related and/or fishing adventures that I like to share with you!) The late comedian George Carlin did a stand up routine in the early ’80s called “Fussy Eater” and if you’ve never seen it, you should (you can find it on YouTube). Apparently he was a picky eater as…
Greek-Style Roasted Fish
I love Greek food for its simplicity and deliciousness, and using fresh, whole ingredients like lemon, garlic, oregano and olive oil, makes all the difference. Yesterday I was craving a Greek salad, so I bought the ingredients to make it for dinner. Personally, I would have been satisfied with just a big salad, but hubby…
Fish Tacos with Kumquat, Jalapeño & Napa Slaw
Fish + Taco = Delicious. In our circle of fishing friends, fish tacos are one of our go-to recipes because they’re easy and fast, you can get creative with them, and they’re always tasty and satisfying. When I make them, I usually dust the fish with blackening seasoning then saute or grill it — two…
Citrus Shrimp & Avocado Crostini
Until I was about thirty years old I absolutely HATED avocados. There, I said it. It feels good to get that off my chest! Now, some of you may be thinking “How could she possibly hate avocados?!? Is there something wrong with her?” Others might be like “Yeah, me too. They’re slimy, have the consistency…
Valentine’s Day Heart-Healthy Chocolate Bark
When Valentine’s Day rolls around, I always think of my dad because, on that special day, he always gave me a sweet card, flowers, and a little heart-shaped box of chocolates. He made me feel so special, and that feeling carried into adulthood, especially during the years when I didn’t have a boyfriend on the…
Calamondin, Lemon & Rosemary Salt
According to Jay Rayner, British food critic, “Salt is the difference between eating in Technicolor and eating in black and white.” How true! Unless you’re on a low-sodium diet, salt is a basic flavor enhancer in your kitchen. It’s a key ingredient in cooking and baking because it rounds out the flavors of food. And…
Vintage Calamondin Cake
I must admit, I don’t use boxed cake mixes, but I thought I’d put aside my baking morals after finding this recipe for a vintage-era cake that seems to have been extremely popular in the 1940s-50s (gosh, it even got published in several newspapers!). I’m not sure where it originated, so if you happen to…
Fresh Starfruit, Ginger & Lemon Juice
Carambola (aka starfruit) is a beautiful, star-shaped tropical fruit. Depending on the variety, it can be sweet or sour (the general rule is that the sweet one has thicker flesh and a golden skin color) and it’s lovely when cut cross-wise, especially in salads and garnishes. The flavor is sort of a cross between green…
Almond, Date & Orange Granola Bars
Today’s post is all about adaptability, or, making ‘do’ with a recipe when you just don’t have the exact ingredients on hand. Surely, this has happened to you, right? I’ve been making this recipe for “Healthy 5-Ingredient Granola Bars” for many months — it’s from my friends at Minimalist Baker and it’s a great, no-bake recipe…
Rosemary-Garlic Potato Encrusted Grouper
There are lots of recipes for ‘potato encrusted’ fish that use either instant potato flakes, mashed potatoes, a layer of “shingle-looking” thinly sliced potatoes (a beautiful presentation, by the way), or grated potato (like hash browns). I’ve tried several methods with varying degrees of success. . .and don’t even get me started on my experience…
Warm Barley, Kale & Date Salad
I was working furiously at my desk this morning, only to realize that my tummy was growling because it was almost 1:00 and I had nothing prepared for lunch! Plus, I anticipated my artist hubby coming out of his studio any minute, eagerly asking “what’s for lunch?”, so I had to get something in gear…