After the snowiest March I can recall, I’m kind of pinching myself. It’s April, right? Many years the forsythia and daffodils and cherry blossoms have disappeared already. But this season, the asparagus, the chives, the kale and spinach in my garden are just getting going. I know I’m not alone…
In-Season Veggie Pasta Salad
When early spring begins to show her face and salads are again appealing, it’s time to throw together this dish. In summer, cherry tomatoes, banana peppers, cucumbers and green onions can easily be subbed for the veggies listed below. But just now, asparagus, kale and chives are all I’ve got growing, so…
Classic Chicken and Dumplings
I can only remember eating Chicken and Dumplings a few times as a child and my husband doesn’t think it was ever served at his table. But my kids love biscuits and this seemed a fun variation on Chicken Noodle Soup. We typically roast a whole local chicken when poultry…
Herby Orzo
I’ve made my share of risotto and herby pasta over the years, but this winter I fell in love with a new earth-y, broth-y, rice-like pasta dish that has the potential to taste even better as the first fresh herbs of spring shoot up and I’m looking for ways to eat them.…
Fermented Carrots, Three Ways
Fermented food is getting its due these days, with more and more research showing the health benefits of eating probiotic and lacto-fermented foods. What does that mean, exactly? Well, that all your parents’ worries about keeping the food in the fridge and making sure mold never made an appearance in…
Saying ‘No’ to Sugar
For the last three weeks — since Ash Wednesday, on February 14th — I have eaten almost no sugar. (And, man, have those three weeks felt like three years!) I gave up sugar for Lent because, for me, it’s a real sacrifice. While I’m not much of a candy girl,…
Stromboli Sandwiches
Mid-winter days are when a hearty bowl of soup or tray of comforting lasagna is what my body craves. While I’m trying to hit the Vitamin C and the leafy greens hard, I also think there’s something to be said for a filling meal to stave off the dark and…
8 New Ways to Love Local Food
As any gardener will tell you, the cold and dark of January and February have their place in the rhythms of the year. These are the months of dreams and plans, the time when ideas sparked during busy growing or harvest days can be tended and fanned and stoked…
Mini Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes
I’ve made plenty of cupcakes over the years, as well as my share of sheet cakes and cookie cakes. But mini cheesecakes just might take the cake as my favorite celebratory sweet. As Valentine’s Day and my birthday are just around the corner, seems like just the right moment to…
Asian Cucumber Salad
I have made some version of this salad for many years. Its cool cucumbers and cilantro mix perfectly with the heat of the pepper flakes, the sweet of the ginger and the crunch of the peanuts. There are lots of variations of this dish out there. This recipe is my take,…