Blue Cheese Ranch Dip with Fresh Vegetables

The keys to potluck success I’ve learned over the years are to keep the food simple for transportation purposes and serve familiar favorites with my own twist to add interest. I reviewed my calendar recently and realized I had 6 potluck parties to attend in December! That’s a lot of Crockpot fare in my very [...]

Steamed Mussels in White Wine Sauce

There will always be a special place in my heart for a steaming bowl of fresh mussels with crusty bread for dipping. While living in Chicago, mussels at HopLeaf became a perfect excuse for impromptu gatherings with friends. Even in my current city of Pittsburgh, there are times when my cravings for curry and coconut [...]

Baked Kale Chips

I had the opportunity to attend an interesting lecture by Chef Ann Cooper in a high school gymnasium filled with parents recently. Known as the “Renegade Lunch Lady,” Chef Cooper discussed the current state of school lunch programs and how we should improve them. The information outlined in her presentation was thought-provoking and insightful. In [...]

Homemade Fresh Farmer’s Cheese

I’ve always wanted to learn how to make farmer’s cheese. I turned to the book Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz for guidance and a recipe. After a few tries, I realized the process of making such a lovely dairy delight is quite easy and something will be made over and over. Yum! Homemade Fresh [...]

Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe with Blackberries

Summer is supposed to be a time for rest, relaxation and reflection. None of those items are in my deck of cards these days. Life has been busier than ever with interesting projects coming out of the woodwork in all directions. Whether it’s writing for class, leading walking tours, digging in my front yard or [...]

Roasted Herb Shrimp Skewers

There’s something wonderfully elegant about serving meat on a stick. In this case, plump and juicy shrimp are the stars of the show. My preferred method for perfectly cooked shrimp every time is by tossing them in a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper. A quick roast in the oven helps to bring out [...]

Homemade Mozzarella Pinwheels with Sundried Tomatoes & Fresh Basil

It was nearly a year ago when I was hovering over a stove with 10 other students. We all had one goal in mind…to learn the art of fresh mozzarella making. Ever since that faithful day, I’ve enjoyed serving the glorious white cheese for dinner parties. Explaining the preparation process is a wonderful conversation starter. [...]

Roasted Red Peppers with Goat Cheese & Fresh Basil

I’m notorious for walking into my kitchen with a recipe in mind and prepare something completely different. This was the case when I had the idea of making roasted red pepper bruschetta as an early evening snack. In the end, the cutting board of ingredients was so beautiful; I never reached the “bruschetta” part. I [...]

Cool Pesto Dipping Sauce with Toasted Pita

I long for the days when I can clip basil in my backyard. Thankfully the ground hog didn’t see his shadow this month. That means my desire for truly fresh herbs will be satisfied in the very near future. Until that time arrives, quality jarred pesto will have to serve as a suitable substitute. I [...]

Black Bean & Corn Salsa

It’s been really hard to break-away from the mountains of reading and writing that is required for my graduate classes. When I’m able to focus on an ounce of something different, I immediately start thinking about the number of chapters I could be finishing within that same time period. I mentioned this challenge to one [...]

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