Spring Stir Fry (with Scapes)

  In early summer, our garlic bulbs send up flowers that must be picked if the plants are to grow into fat, tasty bulbs. The best part is the flowers (scapes) are edible  — and delicious at that. I experimented and found I liked the stem of the scapes best. They have a starring role in this simple, yummyContinue reading “Spring Stir Fry (with Scapes)”

Strawberry Season

Strawberry season is nearly over at our house. We’re just about done with those three weeks or so in May when our two berry patches draw us in and don’t let go.  Sleep? Dinner? Travel? Forget it. We have berries to pick! In the cool of nearly every evening, we search and snap the redContinue reading “Strawberry Season”

Eating My Way Through Virginia’s Wine Country

  For four days I lived someone else’s life.      I drove along country lanes connecting horse farms and wineries and estates, and ate multi-course breakfasts, lunches and dinners cooked by celebrated chefs often working just a few feet away from where I dined.      I stayed at resorts and in manor housesContinue reading “Eating My Way Through Virginia’s Wine Country”

Why I Cook Dinner

True confession: Sometimes I hate making dinner. I know, I know. You do too. It takes too much time and you don’t have everything the recipe calls for and you get distracted by your dryer beeping then you burn something. Or maybe you put a beautiful, healthy dinner on your table and someone says inContinue reading “Why I Cook Dinner”