This week I had some leftover pesto from a day I spent at Jacob’s Cove farm. It wasn’t from the actual farm day, but from the batch I made the day before, the ‘test batch’. We have been putting it to good use, eating it with fresh vegetables, on all our sandwiches, even straight from the bowl; but I think my favorite was this pizza. The dough was thick and earthy, the robust pesto a perfect match with the creamy and unmistakable goat’s mozzarella, and the greens were cool, crisp and seasoned perfectly to accent pure, clean flavor.

It was a good pizza. (more…)

I love Jim Lahey’s pizza dough recipe, but then I love pretty much any of his bread recipes. His pizza dough is simple, so delicious, and turns out perfect every time I make it. It’s my go to pizza dough recipe for pizza night. But lately I have been craving, and therefore playing with, a nuttier more earthy version made with whole wheat flour instead of the standard all-purpose. It is quite a bit denser than it’s original, but it still only uses four simple ingredients and takes the same “short” amount of time to make. If you are counting actual working time, you do very little, but altogether it’s at least a four hour process. A four hour process that is well worth planning for. (more…)

We just spent a week in California and on my list of things to do was to visit my favorite strawberry stand and get a flat of the best berries this side of the Rockies (I’m sure that may be arguable). If you have never had a strawberry freshly picked, you’ve never had a strawberry at it’s best. They are juicy, so sweet and a deep red the entire way through. I have written about strawberry season before, but here are a few facts you mightn’t have known about the lovely deep red fruit that just about everyone adores. (more…)

We love making lemonade when the weather gets warmer. This version is a sweeter alternative to the classic version I shared with you last year. It’s a bit fancier, and the sort of drink I serve at parties and showers or a summer lunch on the patio (if I only had a patio). It would be perfect for sipping on the back porch with the sun beaming down or at your next barbeque.

cheers. (more…)

We love sweet potatoes. Instead of making regular oven baked fries, we have always made them with sweet potatoes instead of yukon gold or russet. We love the taste and don’t mind the softer texture. There was once a week when we ate sweet potato fries with every meal, we couldn’t get enough! Make these for your next bar-b-que to pair with that hamburger, or maybe portabello burger?

happy bbq-ing! (more…)

Before you head out the door for your (hopefully) sunny holiday weekend, don’t forget dessert. We love whipping up this cake for gatherings and potlucks. It’s easy to make, and the perfect throw together dessert when you want something simple and delicious. Serve it with fresh fruit and cream. It can be whipped, frozen, or in liquid form. I would love to try it with this crema catalina foam; doesn’t it sound posh?

Bring on summer. (more…)

Chinese Five Spice Powder is a combination of five spices; star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel. It is a spice combination you can use in many dishes, including baked goods and desserts.  My father makes a really delicious ginger chicken dish, a favorite in our home, and I love using it in soups, cookies, and desserts.

Although the name describes the number of spices used, it actually represents the five elements (wu hsing) that are believed in chinese philosophy to create harmony in all of nature, specifically the human body. Because each element is represented in the powder, balance is created.

norecipes.com says of the spice mix:

“…these elements [wood, fire, water, earth, metal, and water] manifest themselves in various parts of the human anatomy and imbalances in these elements are said to be the cause of disease. Various herbs and spices have been used for thousands of years to restore balance to these elements which is how 5 spice powder came into being.”

It is easy to make yourself, and it should also be easy to find at your local asian market. Keep reading for the recipe to make it yourself, and some recipes that highlight five spice powder. (more…)

Steaming rice is simple and takes very little time. It’s easy enough that you really don’t need to buy a rice cooker, although they are convenient as all you really do after washing the rice is press a button. If you’ve ever been afraid to cook rice on your own before, now is the time. And I mean real rice, not parboiled or instant, but the kind that comes in burlap or paper sacks at your nearest asian store. When you make your own rice, you have even more options than those available in small printed boxes mixed with seasonings and spices. Do you have a favorite rice dish? (more…)

I love recipes that are adaptable and good with just about anything you throw in. Today I am sharing one of those types of recipes with you. This pasta salad is one of our go to dinners because of the ease of preparation, I can add whatever is readily available in our refrigerator, and the fact that I always have the ingredients on hand so I can throw it together in a short amount of time. It’s great after a long days work (or play) outside, and best eaten on a patio or at a park with friends. Are you excited for (consistently) warm weather yet? (more…)

Eating a vegan diet isn’t just about eliminating animal products. Although that’s an obvious part of it, it is more about choosing foods that are not only good for your body, but good for the earth. They are inherently eco-friendly eaters and so everyday is earth day to a vegan. Over the last few years, our family has been using more and more earth friendly products and using more and more vegan friendly recipes. I especially love when those recipes are quick, easy foods that have great health benefits and are equally tasty. These banana oat bars are an example of such a recipe. They are simple to make, have a soft texture (but can easily be made crunchy) and are naturally sweet. (more…)