Helpful Tips
-
Saving Summer Flavors Repost
Right now is the peak of sweet corn here in North Carolina. This week, my parents and I went through the process of parboiling sweet corn and freezing it to use in the Fall and Winter months. I thought I would repost my blog from 2018 on how to do this process in case the spirit moves you to do the same thing. It is a bit of work for a day, but yields months of corn to enjoy. Find the blog here. And happy freezing!
-
Fruit Salad – A Summer Staple
I’m not going to lie to you – it’s been a week. I have managed to make dinner every night, but something has gone amuck each evening and dinner has ended up very late. This is not my favorite scenario, but some weeks are like that. The one bright food spot in the week for me was a visit to our local fruit stand. It was one of those perfect golden moments when the last of the strawberries were in, along with the first watermelons and cantaloupes, and some elusive early season peaches – all the makings for a beautiful fruit salad. So, that’s just what I did. I made…
-
A Celebration of Strawberries
It is finally here! It is officially strawberry season in North Carolina. We had to wait a couple extra weeks due to a few cold snaps. But it was worth the wait. The berries are huge, sweet and oh so delicious. Our local fields officially opened last week, and we are on our second gallon bucket of berries already. They have been eaten straight out of the bucket, some have topped oatmeal, and others went on top of ice cream. But that still leaves lots of berries waiting for other yummy recipes. Last week, we took a shopping trip to Wegman’s and bought their delicious New York bagels and a…
-
Gifts Made with Love
Here we are again, at the doorstep of another holiday that will likely be very different than years before. Christmas for most of us will be more subdued. There will be no office holiday parties, and likely no cookie exchanges. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still show your love and appreciation for family, friends and neighbors with a little something. In fact, maybe this year more than any other, we should show a little extra love, even if it’s a simple gesture. I have always loved gifts handmade with love and have shared a few with you in the past. Some of my favorites to make and share include…
-
Seasonal Fries
Apples aren’t the only seasonal thing in at the farmers market. Root vegetables are also having their moment. Sweet potatoes in particular are in abundance. There are many ways to serve up sweet potatoes – bake them, roast them, stick ‘em in a stew. But sweet potato fries are always a crowd pleaser. We have been having a debate in our house since last year about whether or not to purchase an air fryer. I am generally all for the latest kitchen gadgets that make cooking easier. But it appears that most air fryers are large, countertop appliances and my counter space is already at a premium. Last week, many…
-
Speedy Weeknight Pizza
Last weekend, we were enjoying a lovely dinner out with friends. We have reached that sweet spot in parenthood where we can leave our teenagers at home to fend for themselves while we enjoy a date night. As our meal was wrapping up and we were contemplating dessert, I got a text from our oldest saying the oven was not heating as it should. As we were celebrating a birthday with friends, I didn’t think too much of it. In fact, I told myself it was probably nothing and she just did something wacky, as distracted teens do often. Sadly, it was not just operator error. Something was clearly wrong,…
-
Quick Bites
Here we are, mid-August and school is about to start. Well, school online, at home, but still, routines must be established again. We have gotten a bit lazy since March. The school day with be starting at 7:25 a.m. and I am not going to lie – this is going to hurt. It may be difficult to get a good breakfast in before the start of the day, but I hope to have some healthy easy lunch options for the girls to grab. I will be wearing the hat, or hair net, of the school lunch lady. My kids have out grown sandwiches, sadly, so I hope to keep some…
You May Also Like
Elevated Weeknight Sandwiches
Fish That’s not Fishy
Speedy Meals for Summer Nights
-
Fresh & Fast Frittatas
Last week, I found myself at 4 p.m. with no plans for dinner and a pop-in dinner guest. The guest was my oldest daughter’s boyfriend and not a complicated person to feed, but still, I had no dinner ideas. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Coincidentally, this same evening, my mother found herself with an abundance of produce, due to an online grocery order mishap. She knocked on my door with a head of broccoli and a package of zucchini. I had been to the farmers market earlier in the week, and had purchased some lovely new potatoes that also needed to be used. Now my brain started to kick in and I…
-
A Cuppa Cold Brew
It is still stupid hot. The day starts out warm, then comes to a boil and peaks with alarming thunderstorms in the evening. It is miserable and makes a person (me) dream of autumn breezes. While we cannot control the weather, a nice cup of cold brew coffee can bring a little bit of relief, especially if you need a coffee pick-me-up but cannot bear the thought of a hot drink. Cold brew is not to be confused with iced coffee. Iced coffee is usually just hot-brewed coffee served over ice. Cold brew, on the other hand, is processed with cold water, with no heat ever touching the coffee grounds.…
You May Also Like
Limoncello
-
The Need for Comfort
Last week, I shared with you some of the reality of this extended pandemic. Nerves have been frayed and patience tested. If you were to go by social media, we should all be enjoying one another’s company, braiding each other’s hair and generally having one great big Hallmark movie moment together. We have indeed had some fun, and at first it was a relief to have a small break from the daily grind and running hither and yon. But here we are, months in. Summer is almost over and now the struggle over what to do for school is looming large. Here in NC, our governor has said kids should…
