Chicken Pot Pie

  Here’s how it goes at my house: I bring up a whole, frozen local chicken from my freezer, thaw it in the fridge for a few days, roast and carve it for dinner one night, then gather all the extras onto my cutting board and shred or dice them for a second meal. DependingContinue reading “Chicken Pot Pie”

Inspiration

What inspires you? People? Places? Experiences? Lately, I’ve sensed inspiration all around. Spring will do that to a girl. But also I’ve lately encountered wisdom-filled conversations and travel to thrumming cities. Like I said, inspiration everywhere. So … time for a little sharing. First, my profile of a man who has been inspiring gardeners forContinue reading “Inspiration”

Fruit Smoothies

I LOVE smoothies. My kids LOVE smoothies. I mean, really, who doesn’t love smoothies? I once kept a whole cookbook devoted to smoothies on my shelf. But I quickly realized that the beauty of a smoothie is that you don’t need a recipe. Just a few guidelines, maybe, and a willingness to taste and adjust asContinue reading “Fruit Smoothies”

Horseradish Cream Sauce

  We’ve grown horseradish in our garden for a couple of years now and I’ve come to really love it. I typically harvest it after a few killing frosts in the fall, then grate it and mix it with vinegar to keep in the fridge for the year. (Read more of what I’ve written aboutContinue reading “Horseradish Cream Sauce”

Bulgur Citrus Salad

  No, we’re not quite in the salad days yet. But my body is craving fresh and the spring sun is shining its welcome warmth, so plenty of salads are on the menu. I am fond of bulgur, a grain made from the wheat kernel that has been parboiled, dried and cracked. Its starring roleContinue reading “Bulgur Citrus Salad”

Strawberry Balsamic Jam

I make and can strawberry jam most years. It’s a great way to preserve berries that all ripen at once. We eat the jam on peanut butter sandwiches, in jam bar cookies and sometimes just straight from the jar. We also give it as gifts. This year, for my first batch, I used my friend Laura Latham’sContinue reading “Strawberry Balsamic Jam”

Creamed Spinach

When you’re looking for something green but not necessarily a salad, this dish fits the bill. Serve it with cornbread and pork, or eggs and toast. Perhaps the biggest endorsement of this dish is my 15-year-old, vegetable-averse son who recently said: “You know that spinach you made? At first I didn’t think I would like it, butContinue reading “Creamed Spinach”

Mint Pesto

  Mint grows like a weed, so finding a tasty use for all that herb feels satisfying. Try this twist on traditional pesto alongside lamb kebobs or steak. Slather it on your baked potato or thin it with extra lemon juice and olive oil for a simple salad dressing. I brought my three favorite pestosContinue reading “Mint Pesto”

Carrot Top Pesto

Did you know you could make pesto out of just about anything? Like the tops of carrots or kale leaves or even a weed called purslane? I tried making three kinds of pesto this summer and this was my favorite. I liked it even more than basil pesto. It tastes bright and crisp and lemon-y. The perfectContinue reading “Carrot Top Pesto”

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”