Rescuing a few throw away vegetable parts in this way makes something out of nothing and although I do not have a lot of ways to do that, here is one really good way. Actually going into the compost pile or bin to retrieve scraps is not the idea here but I would not shame anyone who does that. The first time I put this together I was not expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised, this coleslaw preparation is really good. Read more…
At the beginning of each month I clear the family dry-erase calendar and write in the next month’s dates, and then fill in the important activities. For the first time ever I awoke to the surreal realization that there was not a single activity on our calendar. I mean, I knew there was nothing going on but the visual for some reason brought it all home. Read more…
Vegetable stocks frequently come out dull and flavorless. This recipe attempts to remedy some of the missteps that prevent these veggies from reaching their full potential. Unlike a meat based stock that would be covered and cooked for hours, this recipe is cooked much quicker as the volume of liquid reduces to concentrate the flavor. The most important ingredient in a vegetable stock is anything from the onion (allium) family as this is where much of the flavor will come from. Read more…
Roasted cauliflower may not be one of those foods you have a craving for but it just might be once you try roasting it. I roast vegetables of all kinds but for some reason I did not figure to roast cauliflower for a long time. At this point countless heads of cauliflower have been consumed by my kids over the years thanks to this simple method. Read more…
This pesto is really tasty on a variety of foods. Just a dollop on salmon, pasta, vegetables, asparagus etc really adds a lot of fresh flavor. In the middle of winter this recipe was one of few ideas I could come up with and it really is a good way to make something out of nothing. Read more…
The time frame to enjoy your own garden or farmer’s market tomatoes is very short so there is no time to mess around. I think a tomato salad is just about the best way to properly dispose of large quantities of one of the all time best garden items. Read more…
I sense a bit of uncertainty for many folks that like to cook when it comes to making your own tortillas, but they really are quite quick and easy to make. And of course they are one of a kind. I have made them for a long time and have used numerous instructions. I can now throw them together like clockwork and have tried here to both combine all the tips and tricks necessary to make them easy for the first timer. There are only two ingredients but making tortillas is all about the method and the details. Read more…
I planted asparagus in my garden two years ago and this spring my patience paid off. I have gardened for my entire life but this is the first time I have eaten fresh asparagus from my own garden and it was well worthwhile. Asparagus has the distinction of being one of the few perennial vegetables grown on a regular basis, that is, those that can be harvested each year without replanting. Read more…
When you put just a few ingredients together in just the right way it is very satisfying and this is what I believe cooking is really all about. I also really get a kick out of shopping in my own yard for the ingredients. I have prepared dandelion greens many times and I prefer them smoothered in garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. It makes for a great side to just about anything. Read more…
Making tea out of your fresh garden herbs is so easy you will wonder why it took you so long to start doing it, I did at least. Any fresh herb can be dried and made into tea. You can make tea from just one herb variety or combine several to make a more complex tasting herbal tea.
This quick drying method is fast, simple and works the same for any fresh herb you have on hand. Rather than let the leaves slowly air dry (which does work) using the oven on low heat quickly achieves the same result. Read more…
by the handful 