Can you believe this GORGEOUS dessert was made at our campground out of a cooler and in a campfire?  I know, sometimes I amaze even myself!  Cooking the strawberries and nectarines directly in the campfire gives a smoky earthy quality to a dessert that somehow makes you feel as though you’re one with nature.  But before I tell you all the tasty details, let me share some of our week long camping trip with you. Read more

Lemonade is a drink with endless possibilities.  After the great success of my strawberry lemonade, I’ve been daydreaming about different medleys like blueberries, or cherries, or even pineapple.  Unfortunately I don’t have any of those growing in my own backyard but I do have plenty of herbs, and lavender seemed the perfect choice to start with. Read more

I hesitate to even call this a steak taco recipe because it’s SO simple.  But readers are always asking me for tips on using up leftovers, and this is one of my favorite ways.  We don’t usually have leftover steak since Eric and I typically split a steak between to make it more affordable.  But when I go to my dad’s for a barbecue we almost always get sent home with a bag of steak to play with.  I love using the leftovers in tacos because the result is so fresh that no one would guess your meat is a few days old. Read more

After a week of camping and living like mountaineers, Eric and I are back to civilization.  A few days ago was our third anniversary and we went to my favorite spot on earth, Mt. Rainier.  I have tons of photos from the trip, including some campfire recipes, but will save those for next week.  Today I want to share a favorite new recipe of mine that’s great to use one of summer’s best treats…tomatoes. Read more

For those of us who love really good pizza, those delivery joints just don’t cut it when a craving hits .  But making a fresh batch of dough and taking the time for rising and kneading (all good things!) isn’t always an option.  This is my go-to recipe when the need for pizza hits at the last minute, it even makes enough for two thin crust pizzas so you can freeze some for next time. Read more