It’s berry time!  I’ve picked almost 20 pounds of strawberries and raspberries the past couple weeks and have been feverishly perfecting recipes that feature summer’s berry bounty.  Several the recipes are for preserved berries so we (and you) can enjoy them year round.  But this mixed berry salad recipe features fresh raspberries and strawberries in a mouthwatering and waistline friendly creamy strawberry dressing. Read more

Umami.  Say it with me…Oo-mom-ee.  That’s right, the oh so desirable savory taste that needed it’s own Umami International Symposium in Hawaii to ensure it’s recognition as one of the basic tastes.  Once the subject of controversy, it’s now widely accepted and is available in so many natural forms.   This Asian burger recipe uses 3 different umami ingredients, and I’ve actually been told more than once that this is the BEST burger recipe ever!  It’s the perfect way to celebrate summer holidays in your backyard. Read more

Chicken roulade never fails to impress.  When it was roasting in the oven, Eric wandered the house saying, “Wow, it smells so good!”  Once you slice it into little spiraled coins of chicken and serve it, everyone says “Ooooh!” and thinks you spent hours on dinner.  But I’ll let you in on a secret, it takes just about fifteen minutes of prep work to create this impressive main dish!  I wish all fancy chicken recipes were this easy! Read more

We’re big curry fans in our house.  While there are lots of different kinds of curry and different ways to make it, I keep curry as one of my, “I only have 15 minutes to get dinner on the table!!!” meals.  To keep it simple and recipe free, I stick with a big tub of Red Thai Curry Paste that I got for a sweet deal at Cash and Carry.   If you want to dress up your curry, give edible flowers a try, they make it look elegant and add some fun to what might otherwise be an everyday meal. Read more

Our CSA starts this Thursday, and I anticipate it being the high point of my week.  To give you an idea of what my last week has been like; my pastor from Hawaii passed away, my grandmother had to be rushed to the ER twice, my grandparents need to be forced into assisted living, we had to confront one of our students living with us and give him an ultimatum, and we found out our cat Cappucino has pancreatitis and FIP and will need to be put down today or tomorrow.  This is all in the midst of working and teaching cooking classes.  So picking up our CSA box and getting to see our dear friends who own the family farm will be a huge blessing of something positive in the midst of a difficult time. Read more