It’s not too often we cook mussels in our house. . for some reason, we seem to reserve enjoyment of those delicious mollusks for when we visit restaurants! But after experimenting with this recipe, hubby and I agreed to make them more often because they’re economical, easy to work with and mighty tasty. I had…
Snapper, Chile/Garlic Butter & Sauteed Purslane
In an upcoming Field Trip Friday I’ll be writing about my recent visit to Mote Marine Laboratory’s Aquaponics program in Sarasota. They’re doing amazing things by way of studying and growing sustainable foods, including a tasty vegetable called Sea Purslane. This edible succulent (also called Sea Samphire) has pretty, dark green and crispy leaves, along…
Cantaloupe, Cuke & Bacon Salad
I’ve been getting some really sweet and tasty cantaloupe recently at farmer’s markets and my local grocery store, so hubby and I have been enjoying the heck out of it. To me, cantaloupe’s beautiful sherbet color just screams of something refreshing and it’s especially good when chilled and enjoyed on a hot day in southwest…
The Best Smoked Mullet Spread
Gotta love a Mullet. . .the fish, not the hairdo! But if you’ve ever tried to catch one, you know that nabbing one with hook and line is nearly impossible, because they’re vegetarians. As a matter of fact, in the last ten years, I’ve caught only one and even that was a lucky break because…
Flounder with Mint-Lemon Gremolata
Gremolata might sound like a fancy word but it’s really just a mixture of a few ingredients and it brightens up just about anything it’s paired with, especially braised meats which tend to be heavy (eg. you usually see it served with osso buco). Traditional gremolata is a mixture of minced parsley, lemon rind and…
Rosemary-Vanilla Poached Peaches
Today’s the last day in August, but I didn’t want to miss a chance to still celebrate National Peach Month! I LOVE fresh peaches and my first inclination was to make a peach pie – my favorite flavor – but I certainly could not have been trusted with a whole pie in the house. Instead,…
Spicy Cilantro-Jalapeno Cobia
Several years ago my husband and I were fishing offshore and I nabbed my first Cobia! After hooking it I actually thought it was a shark because it looked surprisingly like one and was fighting pretty hard. Luckily, it wasn’t. When I finally pulled that big fish into the boat, things were just a little…
Golden & Chiogga Beet Salad with Miso
I love beets and am always looking for new ways to incorporate them into our menus. Fortunately, my better half likes them, so that makes life much more wonderful. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how good beets are for you but, as a reminder, they’re full of potassium, fiber and folic acid…
Baby Eggplants with Roasted Tomato & Red Pepper
It’s fun to try new things, which is why I was so excited to spot these beautiful baby eggplants at the farmer’s market! I’ve never cooked them, so I couldn’t wait to get into the kitchen. Unfortunately, inspiration didn’t hit me immediately, so I left them on the counter for a few days and simply…
Lemon Ginger Icebox Cake
Icebox cakes, also known as refrigerator cakes, are simply layers of cookies and whipped cream (or pudding) that, when chilled, transform into a cake-like dessert that’s just heavenly. Basically, the crunchy cookies absorb the moisture of the filling, making them soft and deliciously flavorful. Truth be told, it’s hard not to go back for a second helping….
Summer Corn Chowder
With all the rain we’ve been having in southwest Florida lately, I’ve been making lots of soup and this corn chowder was definitely a crowd pleaser (well, as much as you can call two people a crowd, because our two cats don’t count). The same day I made it, a re-run of The Devil Wears Prada was…
Kumquat Date Bread
I think kumquats are one of the prettiest and tastiest fruits — they’re sweet and sour, all in one. They’ve even been called the “little gold gems of the citrus family”! Kumquats are especially good in marmalades and jellies but they’re also great in salads, with roasted meats, in baked goods and alongside pretty desserts. The most…