Remember years ago when granola was the stuff eaten only by Birkenstock-wearing, long-haired, herbal tea-drinking folks, or those uber-healthy mountain climbers? They all seemed to really like the stuff that looked like bird food to the rest of us. But, in reality, those healthy specimens were onto something back then, and granola has now (rightly)…
Appetizers & Snacks
Roasted Radishes with Butter & Chives
Buying veggies directly from a farm is just plain fun. Many farms even utilize a Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA) model in which you purchase a membership, and the farm, in turn, supplies you with a box of veggies each week (and sometimes it’s a surprise what’s in there). It’s a great partnership because you support…
My Favorite Hummus
Many years ago my husband and I owned a marina store on the Intercoastal Waterway, where boats pulled in for fuel, bait, beer and snacks. Here’s a rendering he created of that sweet, little place: I never imagined owning a business like this, but an opportunity presented itself, and we thought it would be a…
A Picnic in the Sky
If you’ve traveled by plane recently, you’ve surely experienced the limited array of snacks offered by some airlines. . . In spite of these limited options, why do we still look forward to seeing that beverage cart? Maybe it’s because we’re bored and the anticipated visit from a friendly flight attendant is welcome. Maybe the…
Pumpkin Spice Granola
Yes, it’s time to think about Fall dishes like warm soups, cocoa, roasted root veggies and, of course, all-things-pumpkin! If you love pumpkin, there are endless opportunities to enjoy the Fall-inspired squash and its signature pumpkin spice flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves. You’ll find that magical stuff in bars, pies, cookies, lattes, cold…
A Classic Mussel Dish
You might remember the recent Field Trip Friday I wrote about my visit to Westport, Massachusetts, in which I referenced an awesome day searching for quahogs, clams and mussels. A great way to spend the day, digging in the muddy banks of a beautiful body of water and pulling out something awesome, like these mussels:…
The Best Smoked Mullet Spread
This week I hosted a workshop called “The Amazing Mullet” at Historic Spanish Point in Osprey, Florida. The folks at HSP are all about preserving and celebrating Florida’s past, and this was part of a new series called the Frances Newton Culinary Institute. Its mission is to highlight dishes using seasonal fish and produce, and…
Apple & Butternut Crostini
Once Labor Day hits, I go into “Fall mode,” despite the fact I live in Florida, where 90 degree temps are still a daily occurrence. It’s the wonderful time of year for hard squashes, apples, pumpkins, cinnamon sticks and other good stuff piled high at markets. And it all gets us thinking about cooler weather…
Summer Tomato Bruschetta
It’s Summer! But for those of you who live in Florida, you know what I mean when I say I’m actually looking forward to Winter. . . Yes, there are so many great things about living in Florida, but let’s be honest, we are having exceptionally hot and humid weather, day after day of torrential…
Summer Crab Salad
Summer is in full swing — a great time to make a dish that’s not only tasty, but also, easy to transport to beach, pool, or picnic. So when the folks at Edible Sarasota asked me to create a crab recipe for their Summer issue, I decided on a salad, but one that’s a little different…
Mussels with Miso, Ginger and Lime
This week I decided to highlight a post from 2017 – a tasty (and healthy) recipe made with farm raised mussels, miso, ginger, and zippy lime. It’s easy to prepare and oh-so-delicious with crusty bread. The reason I’m posting it? A few, actually: June 1 marks the start of hurricane season, a time when those…
Kale & Broccoli Bruschetta
In Sarasota this week, Sunshine Community Compost is hosting a “Compost-A-Thon,” a special event for folks to try composting. It’s a cool concept – pay a small fee, get a bucket, save your kitchen scraps all week, then bring the bucket to the event, weigh it and transfer to a bin to start the composting…