As a kid, it was a magical thing to watch my mom make this Boston Brown Bread. It was steamed in a coffee can or an old B&M Beans can (apparently, this is the ideal size, according to my mother). Sure, she could have bought an already-cooked bread in a can at the grocery store,…
Yellowtail Snapper with Orange & Pineapple Salsa
Recently some friends went offshore and brought back enough beautiful Yellowtail Snapper to share with those of us who couldn’t fish that day. When I get access to Yellowtail Snapper, I like to prepare it very simply, in order to savor the delicious, light and delicate texture. My go-to preparation is a saute with a light…
Crunchy Scamp with Basil Cream Sauce
Scamp is like the best Grouper you’ve ever had. It is beautiful, white, light and flaky. It’s also versatile, in that you can prepare it in a variety of ways. Its flavor profile is mild – similar to that of Halibut or Snapper. My hubby and I recently fished offshore with friends Jim and Wendy…
Silky Scalloped Potatoes
Want something delicious to go with seared fish, pot roast, grilled chicken, or just about ANYTHING else?!? While rummaging through my grandmother’s recipe box recently, I came across this one for “Scalloped Potatoes with Onions” and my aunt told me this was one of my grandmother’s go-to recipes. I remember her making yummy potatoes, so…
African Pompano in Parchment
What do you do when your husband calls from the boat and says “We caught African Pompano today! Can you come up with an interesting way of cooking it tonight?!?” Hmmm. . .lately we’ve been sauteing our fish a lot and, like he said, he wanted something “interesting.” I decided to go with the “en…
Golden Beets with Romaine & Celery Leaves
Celery leaves can have a strong “celery” flavor and can even be slightly bitter, but they’re packed with good stuff, including vitamin A (good for healthy skin and night vision), antioxidants, vitamin K (for helping to increase bone mass), fiber and calcium. So, when I found myself with a HUGE bunch of celery from a local…
Host A Florida Dinner Party!
I think it was Judith Jones (you know, the famous editor of Julia Child’s groundbreaking book “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”) who said: “The goal of a dinner – any dinner for that matter — is to give pleasure.” Hosting friends gives me an opportunity to be creative – to think about what they…
Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes
I love breakfast – especially pancakes. But not just any pancakes will do. They have to be tasty, not-too-thick, not dough-y, and slightly crispy on the edges. THESE pancakes hit all those cylinders. My family has been making this recipe for as long as I can remember and I’ve made them so many times I…
Whoopie Pies
In New England, Whoopie Pies are a favorite treat and, as a kid, my brother and I got very excited when my mom made a batch. Who wouldn’t love moist, chocolate cake with a sweet, creamy filling? I’d take one of these over a plain old Devil Dog any day. Whoopie Pies originated from the Amish. Lore…
Amberjack Fish Tacos
Amberjack is a plentiful fish in the Gulf – a beautiful, brutish fish that typically hangs around wrecks and reefs in deeper water (60 feet+). They’re really strong fighters, so they’ll give you a run for your money! The fish has a semi-dense flesh, so it holds up well in a variety of cooking methods…
Quinoa & Kale Cakes
During a recent “let’s eat kale every day” kick at our house, I tried several ways of preparing kale. Some recipes were winners (like this one); others were, well, not winners. I have a pretty easy gauge for determining if a recipe is good or not. Whenever my hubby says “this is interesting. . .but…
Easy Leek & Potato Soup
I was at the St. Petersburg Farmer’s Market recently and got my hands on some beautiful leeks — big, fat, fresh, bright white and green. I couldn’t wait to get home to cook up a batch of this soup — it’s one of my favorites. This soup always reminds me of my grandmother, and one…