My (almost!) three-year-old daughter, Alba really loves doing kitchen projects with me. We do a baking or cooking project a couple times a week and we usually use it as an opportunity to learn something else – like the time we made Fairy Tea Cookies using edible flowers. This time it was all about pretending to be squirrels and storing food for the winter. Every time I am in the kitchen, she ...
Chicken with Tomato and Pepper Paste Cooked in a Tagine for Rachel
If you were one of my faithful readers over at the Leftover Queen, then you probably remember me waxing poetic about my tagine at one point or another and all the things (other than tagines) that I cooked in it - it was a whole series of sorts over the years I wrote that blog, a passion you could say. The tagine is still one of my favorite cooking vessels. However, if you don’t have one, a Dutch ...
Creamy Coconut Pudding with Pomegranate Arils
I wasn’t sure about sharing this recipe, because it is against my ideals of cooking from scratch… I made this with boxed pudding…but don’t worry, it is ORGANIC! I made this quick dessert last weekend, when we were invited to our friends’ house for dinner. She was making Thai green curry and I thought a nice coconut dessert would go well to finish off a lovely meal. Well, the ...
Radicchio Salad with Dried Montmorency Cherries and Marcona Almonds
Sometimes in the dead of winter, a salad is just what you need. Not a green salad really, but a winter salad. I admit that in winter, I tend to substitute my love of salads for veggie-laden soups and stews. But there are salads that are very appropriate for the winter months, especially if you are craving that fresh crunch! There are so many blog and social media posts a buzz this week about ...
Fresh Thanksgiving Cranberries Two-Ways
Do you want to add a little pizazz to your cranberry sauce? Hoping to get a head start on Thanksgiving prep, but don’t have a lot of time? Making these quick, easy and tasty cranberry recipes ahead of time will save you time on the big day and will impress your guests! The best part is they only take 20 minutes to make. I got started on Thanksgiving prep this weekend. We are having dinner for ...
Preserving the Harvest: Herbal Vinegars, Not Just for Salads Anymore
Herbal vinegars are a delightful way to preserve the harvest and to add vibrant flavor to all your favorite dishes! Harvest season is in full swing right now. Nights are getting cold and it is time to pull everything from the garden that could be damaged by frost. There are many herbs that are somewhat cold hardy. Even here in northern Vermont, I can still see the green of winter savory, thyme ...
Witch’s Brew: Summer Solstice Sunset Cocktail
Do you all like my new Witch's Brew logo? Thanks to my awesome husband Roberto for making it. This series feels so official now! I created this cocktail on the afternoon of the summer solstice and we enjoyed these drinks as a way to toast the beginning of summer as well as the two fathers in our house on Father’s Day (which fell on the same day this year), my husband and my father in law, the ...
Simple Potato Salad with Pickled Chive Blossoms
Potato salad is a no-brainer when it comes to the summer table. I often like the traditional mayonnaise version, but others prefer something a bit lighter and vinaigrette salads are becoming more popular, especially with the addition of healthy raw apple cider vinegar. This salad is simple to put together, but adds a special zing because of its unique garnish, pickled chive blossoms. Chives ...
Red Lentil Pasta with Wilted Arugula, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
This combination of sun-dried tomatoes, chèvre, pine nuts and baby greens, mixed with pasta is something I created long ago and it is still my favorite. This dish is quick, easy, healthy and full of taste popping ingredients that you are sure to love! I should just call this Pasta alla Jenn, because for the past 20 odd years I have been making a version of this dish using these key ...
Pickle Lover’s Salad with Hard-Boiled Eggs and Farmer’s Cheese
This salad is a fun and delicious way to use up last year’s pickles, or maybe you are just a pickle junkie like me and have lots of varieties around at all times. Either way, this salad will wake up your taste buds! Pickles remind me of spring. Perhaps it is because you can find a lot of spring produce pickled, like beets, ramps, fiddleheads, etc. As someone who enjoys canning and preserving, I ...
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