“I hate you, weeds!” I yelled, while furiously digging my pick into the ground. I have learned I can be a messy gardener. Somehow dirt finds a way across my forehead and twigs get trapped in my hair, but in my determination I am enjoying the workout.
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Happiness is all in the Soil
April 4, 2011
Chicken-Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe, a Dinner Party–Worthy Dish
March 31, 2011
Sometimes it’s hard to pick just one dish from The Garden-Fresh Cookbook! To solve this dilemma, I chose to pair my Spring Risotto with Chicken-Stuffed Tomatoes from page 181 of The Garden-Fresh Cookbook. This dish can make anyone look like a fancy cook!
read moreTime for Food Is Time for Family
March 29, 2011
I spent this past week in Minnesota with family and friends, mourning the passing of my grandfather, a man our family considered rich, with a beautiful, loving wife; a family who would do anything for one another; a job he was passionate about; and who, as my uncle put it while speaking at his memorial, defined integrity. I even gathered the courage to walk up and speak.
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Turn Old Potatoes into New Potatoes
March 23, 2011
My herbs in a bag, which I talked about planting in a previous post, are now placed in a wheelbarrow that I wheel in and out of the sun and rain … well, mostly out of the rain. For elsewhere in the garden, it’s time to begin churning the soil for new fruit and vegetables! With that in mind, I have a basket of Irish Cobbler potatoes perfect to help me start an early spring garden.
read moreBreakfast and Dinner Crepes!
March 21, 2011
This simple dish was perfect for a sweet dinner, then breakfast the following morning! I topped my crepes with fresh strawberries and my own freshly whipped cream. I found the Basic Crepes recipe on page 16 in the Garden-Fresh Cookbook. This recipe gave me freedom to create a personalized crepe while satisfying my craving for something sweet!
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I eat a lot of fish, usually steamed (salmon) or baked (flounder, cod, or scrod). So the opportunity to dress it up appealed to me.
For this Applejeack Fish Bake recipe, I bought scrod fillets. Tilapia, available now in a lot of fish markets, would be an economical option.
read moreVermont Butternut Squash Soup for a Snowy Winter Hike
March 11, 2011
My alarm buzzed 6:15 a.m.; I rubbed my eyes and avoided the tempting snooze button . . . time to start the day. The city was already up and bustling, so I quickly got dressed, wrapped a scarf around my neck, pulled on my boots, grabbed my market totes, and headed for the grocery store. Today, from The Garden-Fresh Cookbook, I’m making Vermont Butternut Squash Soup (page 47). To complement the soup, I decided on Corn Bread With Pine Nuts and Rosemary, on page 256. I was on a bit of a time crunch: Everything had to be done before my close friend arrived for a day of hiking Mt. Si, starting at a trailhead just 30 minutes from where I live.
read moreThe Easiest Garden Ever: Herbs in a Bag
March 10, 2011
Start an herb garden in less than 10 minutes? Yes, that’s right! While thumbing through The Garden-Fresh Cookbook — wedged alongside Chicken With Rice and Poached Chicken With Niçoise Sauce — I discovered The Easiest Garden Ever: Herbs in a Bag on page 178.
read moreSkillet Sea Scallops and Kitchen Habits From My Grandpa
March 8, 2011
I decided to enjoy my first dish from The Garden-Fresh Cookbook with a close friend. “You buy the wine, I got the rest!” I was eager to us the fresh produce and sea scallops I had picked up at Pike Place Market. This was the perfect opportunity—great food and a great friend!
The Garden-Fresh recipe I chose was the Skillet Sea Scallops recipe on page 214. After discovering the health benefits of scallops, I was eager to try this recipe. I love the flavors they can absorb during cooking while remaining tender and juicy.
read moreMarket-Fresh Produce and the Famous Flying Fish
March 3, 2011
Hello, Garden-Fresh readers! This week I ventured into Pike Place Market in Seattle in search of fresh veggies and seafood for cooking. Pike Place is known for its fish throwing, spring tulips, and a variety of vendors selling everything from chocolate pasta to sea scallops to fresh fruits and vegetables.
read moreA Cook, Gardener, and Writer With a Dash of Humor
March 1, 2011
“When you see the bubbles form in the batter, you flip!” my dad said, and with my face smeared with pancake batter, I gripped my spatula and waited for the bubbles. “I see ’em, I see ’em!” my 5-year-old self yelled. “OK! Flip that pancake, honey!” Delicately, I wedged my spatula between the buttered skillet and my pancake shaped in a “J”. I slid the greased spatula to the right, then over a bit—I wanted it to be perfect.
read moreMexican Quiche Recipe: Turn Dinner Into A Spicy (not hot) Fiesta
February 24, 2011
Recently, I made the Mexican Quiche recipe for dinner and I admit, it was the first quiche I ever made! I love making pies, so I figured this would be an easy transition.
read moreLight and Healthy: Apple and Beet Salad
February 11, 2011
This colorful apple and beet salad recipe is very easy to make. Use fresh beets if you can find them.
read moreVegetable Hash: Fresh Flavors Warm Up Any Winter's Night
February 9, 2011
Every harvest-time, I always seem to have more root vegetables than I know what to do with. This recipe for Vegetable Hash was a winner!
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