Aren’t we ALL ‘dining in’ more these days?! The pandemic reminded me how much I love just being HOME for dinner. I’m proud to work as a #stongspartner for Stong’s Market to inspire YOUR cooking at home! Don’t miss the Recipes inspired by Stong’s Market!! Directly download the Recipes here, or click the button above!Read…
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What’s in a Sauerkraut? I confess that I’ve not had a lot of experience with Sauerkraut, even with a European background (from a few generations ago…). It was my Czech friend who started talking about it in her favorite dishes, and I was immediately intrigued! Other than cabbage, I didn’t know much else, and relied…
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Welcome to the BASICS!Today we’re going to talk Knife Skills. Got ’em? Want ’em?! the KNIFE While most people who have been cooking for some time probably already know how to hold a knife, a refresher is never a bad idea. Especially since a good knife grip will earn you efficiency in your work, and…
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Visiting 20 Countries in 4 Months Sounds like a Contiki tour LOL but NO – even tied to the house for 2020-2021, we WENT PLACES!! Who says you can’t GO anywhere during a hard year or a quarantine?! With memories in hand of previously traveled places – and dreams of places I still hope to…
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While I’m not necessarily trying to fill all this ‘free’ time during Quarantine, pressuring myself to use every moment, it has been a great time to do some quality learning in the Kitchen – especially with all the guinea pigs – I mean kids – stuck here having to try everything I make! Pretty much…
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Are you afraid of FAILURE? Personally, I’m friends with it. Whether in the Kitchen or just in life, it’s inevitable, but it also means you’re LEARNING, you’re T R Y I N G , you’re getting out of the box – and isn’t that what counts?! If you play life safe, you MAY never fail…
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I’m already asking myself WHY oh WHY did I sign up for this?! The kit arrives tomorrow, and ‘2 days prior’ to starting – so, NOW – I’m supposed to give up red meat (on Steak night?!), luscious mounds of Burrata cheese, coffee and alcohol… THERE IS ALCOHOL IN WINE! Oh, the horrors… But, I’ve…
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It’s another quarantine-induced quandry… How to feed a larger household 3 squares a day without killing myself – or someone else – but also to recognize and be grateful that food does bring us together… To treat it all in a way that the work of food and eating won’t turn us into tired, hungry,…
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What’s your typical Mother’s Day about? Do you have kids at home? A Mom – or even Grandma – nearby? Friends and sisters who are Mom’s you support? Do you have traditions or do you keep it simple? We don’t have a specific tradition, but the day has traditionally been kept simple. This year marks…
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With just a few easy tips and tricks introduced into your everyday cooking habits, you can reduce ACTUAL food waste by a LOT! I’ve been shocked to see how much of my ‘garbage’ during cooking can actually be re-purposed or used later. Most of the steps (15 ++!) below have become part of my everyday…
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This past Saturday began innocently enough, but then SO MUCH FOOD ensued LOL. To be fair, though, I had planned SOME of it ahead. I’m trying my best to focus on MINDFUL COOKING as much as possible, especially as we stare down another month of quarantine – using leftovers, saving bits for a whole other…
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I’m always looking for new side dish recipes – or new ways to amp up old ones. Usually green beans get a bit of butter, topped with some parm and done – quick and easy. But I had a few extra bits laying around last time, and the tasted so good we I N H…
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Last year, I was given a lovely coil calendar notebook I didn’t really need (I’d just bought one in my usual favorite style) that turned out to be EXACTLY what I didn’t know I needed! Don’t you L O V E when that happens?! LOL It’s no secret that I love a good dinner party,…
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No doubt it’s an interesting time around the world right now. With everyone in quarantine, we’re having to focus sharper inward while still standing strong with the city / country / world we love. If there’s a silver lining, for me, it’s an opportunity to genuinely celebrate HOME. We are lucky. VERY lucky. We more…
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Better late than never! This was last weeks ‘Quarantine Eating’. I’ve been so busy cooking, I’m behind! I’m as stubbornly determined as ever to make my way through at least one of our freezers and the pantry. I feel like it’s a losing battle, trying to eat our way through this COVID-19 quarantine. Yesterday I…
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It’s not surprising at all that Cooking can relieve stress. The therapeutic actions of cutting, chopping and stirring combined with the bright colors and interesting textures have long benefited my own mental health. What could be a better way to relax and breathe during the current pandemic quarantine, especially when time currently isn’t as big…
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That is the strangest title I’ve honestly ever written! But – so relevant. Not just for the current Coronavirus, but really any kind of local or global happening that could have a similar effect on our human way of life, bringing us to some sort of quarantine. Good thing I’ve got some tips for you…
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Needing some food ideas / tips for this crazy, quarantine time-out? It just feels strange writing that… But this is our world as of March 2020, I suppose. I’m very fortunate in general – I have a warm house to seclude in, work I do from home, and 3 freezers worth of food to get…
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Learning how to adapt your favorite proteins into every seasons fresh fruit and veg is a HECKYEAH! If you’ve been reading (and I SEE YOU all clicking that ‘follow’ button!! Heeeeey!!), you know I love cooking with Duck Breast. I love the taste, I love that ducks are infinitely more sustainable than cows as far…
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It’s that happy and dreaded time of year when all the little seedlings take over 75% of my Kitchen counter for a few MONTHS – LOL! Coincidentally, it’s also that time of year when Hubby asks me almost hourly “how much longer will these THINGS be on the counter?!”… Over the past 15 years here…
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