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”

Zucchini Feta Pancakes

I cannot tell you how many times we have made these. Typically we make ahead, then reheat for dinner, but I can’t keep myself from snitching throughout the day. Especially in the crazy zucchini days of summer, but also in winter as we reach into the freezer to feed us, this recipe is a definite go-to. My frozen, shreddedContinue reading “Zucchini Feta Pancakes”

Okra Gumbo

On a cold winter day, nothing warms quite like gumbo. And in the heat of summer, gumbo is a great way to stir together so many flavors at their peak of ripeness — tomatoes, peppers, and of course, okra. We had such a bumper crop of okra last summer that I blanched and froze some forContinue reading “Okra Gumbo”

Bulldog Tofu

This recipe, like so many of my favorites, is really a framework to support a meal of creativity and whim. It’s different each time I make it, depending on what’s growing in the garden or what I can pull from the freezer. It was passed along to me by a friend who got it from aContinue reading “Bulldog Tofu”

Creamy Coleslaw

Every time I set out to make coleslaw, I end up reinventing my recipe. Not because I want to so much as that I don’t have a recipe I love, so I am forever pulling one offline or out of a cookbook, making it mine for the night and then not writing it down. There is, ofContinue reading “Creamy Coleslaw”

Minestrone

  When it’s cold out, there’s nothing that feeds the body and soul so well as a good hearty soup. And I’m not sure any soup fits the bill so well as Minestrone, an ancient Italian soup that includes pasta and beans, onions and tomatoes and whatever you’ve managed to put up from your summerContinue reading “Minestrone”

Cornmeal Blueberry Scones

Scones are not as popular as muffins in my kitchen, but they’re a close second. Straight from the oven, these biscuit-like drop scones make a tasty, hearty breakfast — with just a touch of sweet. Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Garden Makes 12 scones. Ingredients 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 2/3 cup cornmealContinue reading “Cornmeal Blueberry Scones”

Tangy Tomatillos

We pulled out the tomatillo plants a few weeks ago. I’m missing them already. For years we had talked of growing these delightful cousins to the tomato but had never found the plants when we needed them. So we’d move on, regretfully. Next year, we’d sigh, we’ll try those tomatillos. Then this spring, it allContinue reading “Tangy Tomatillos”

Salsa Verde

We planted tomatillos in our garden for the first time this year and I loved them so much I hope we never have a garden again without them. The crisp, bright taste of fresh salsa verde has a lot to do with this love. This recipe earned me raves at the two potlucks where I shared it,Continue reading “Salsa Verde”

An Okra Adventure

My husband is the magic behind our garden. It was his idea to begin growing our food the first summer we owned a home, all those years ago. He is the planner and planter. I’m the second-wave worker, on maintenance and harvest. But every now and then, I pipe up with a suggestion. What aboutContinue reading “An Okra Adventure”