Sweet & Tangy Cucumbers

If I see yet another flake of snow this year, I’m going to scream. Pittsburgh was hit pretty hard with several major snow storms and it has been months since I’ve seen something other than white in my front yard. Even Sophie is over it.
With the official day of spring just around the corner, I’m [...]

Roasted Maple Dijon Brussel Sprouts

My favorite way to cook brussel sprouts is by roasting them. I love how the edges get crispy from the intense heat and they seem to take on a hint of sweetness. Many sprout recipes usually incorporate some sort of meat like bacon or prosciutto. While they are tasty, I wanted to do something a [...]

Mango, Papaya & Strawberry Salad

For my Cooking for a Cause party, I wanted to serve a fresh salad to help balance what seemed like a bread heavy menu. The host indicated he really enjoyed eating mangoes and asked me to include them in some way. I toyed with the idea of serving a lettuce or spinach based salad with [...]

Fried Green Tomato BLT

Droplets of water began to collect on my glasses as the clouds above released cold rain over the tiny farmers market. Shoppers began to scurry past the vibrant freshly picked produce in search of shelter. I wanted to linger a bit longer and interact with a few farmers, but I was a man on a [...]

Marinated Artichokes

This recipe was a classic example of having to improvise to ensure I stick to the plan. I was originally intending to make roasted artichokes for my Party on the Porch. But, what seemed like a simple visit to the store, turned into an adventure around Pittsburgh to find them. The only place that had [...]

Grilled Summer Vegetable & Chicken Kabobs

I could hear my dress shoes tap along the pavement as I bounced between the booths piled high with fresh picked vegetables. Every Monday, I stop by my local farmers market after work to take advantage of the season’s best flavors for my week of meals. The market was full of all of its bounty [...]

Rustic Blackberry Pie

My friend Jimmy has begged me to make him a blackberry pie for years.  Instead of giving into his wishes, he has received recipe variations that contained blackberries, but never a full pie.  My most classic example was when he begged and begged for a blackberry pie, and I decided Goat Cheese, Blackberry and Pear [...]

BLT with Pesto Goat Cheese

This sandwich is, by far, one of my all time favorite lunches.  The picture says it all.  It’s so easy to make.  It’s packed full of fresh flavors.  It’s just darn good.  Enough said!
BLT with Pesto Goat Cheese
1 loaf herbed focaccia bread, about 8″ square
2 – 3 oz. Pesto Goat Cheese, plain also works well
1 [...]

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast with Maple Mix Berry Sauce

Since I work in a windowless office, my IPhone has become a digital portal to the world beyond my four boring beige walls.  A quick check of the phone showed a staggering 66 degrees with not a single cloud in the sky.  It was a perfect excuse to go out for lunch.
I decided to check [...]