Category Archives: gluten free

pot of smoked turkey split pea soup

Smoked Turkey Split Pea Soup

january 12, 2021

pot of smoked turkey split pea soup

Chilly days are all in a row and that can only mean one thing : soup weather. This Smoked Turkey Split Pea Soup is hearty enough for both lunch and dinner. Today’s chunky soup has vegetables and bits of smoked turkey, easily found in any grocery deli and sliced for cubing.  One pound of split peas makes a decent amount of soup, especially since it thickens so much on standing and takes to dilution well for those with a yen for broth. Continue reading

pear whiskey sour

Pear Whiskey Sour

december 28, 2020

pear whiskey sour

Pear Whiskey Sour is what I’m making this holiday season to make my spirits bright. I am toasting the upcoming year. We have just endured a year that cannot be repeated, right? I am hopeful and wanting the world to recover all that has been lost. Some things may not come back to full speed, like raucous bar behavior. Restaurant patrons, those who enjoy  conversation that does not need to be shouted, will likely agree. Homemade cocktails suit me just fine for now, unless takeout is an option.  Continue reading

shrimp and pomegranate spread

Shrimp and Pomegranate Spread

december 16, 2020

shrimp and pomegranate spread

You read the phrase self care quite a bit these days. Get good quality sleep and plenty of it, be sure to exercise mind and body, read thought provoking books and don’t skimp on the aromatherapy. The idea of eating well and thoughtfully so doesn’t always make the list. Let’s change that. Continue reading

Sausage Broccolini Sheet Pan Dinner

december 3, 2020

Sausage Broccolini Sheet Pan Dinner

The end of year holiday rush has begun. It may look a bit different, with less store browsing, but even still there is the looming year end rush to get everything done so we can relax. Hopefully we will remember the relax part. Continue reading

skillet apple cobbler with ice cream

Skillet Apple Cobbler

november 17, 2020

skillet apple cobbler with ice cream

Perhaps your Thanksgiving celebration will look a little different this year, with fewer faces around the table, less hustle and bustle and fewer dishes. Or perhaps you’ve been so aggravated with 2020 you’ll skip the turkey and sides and focus only on desserts like the sweet-a-holic we all know you are. Am I pointing the finger at myself? Yes, why, yes I am. Continue reading

platter of red cabbage and delicata squash

Red Cabbage and Delicata Squash

october 28, 2020

platter of red cabbage and delicata squash

When it’s time to plant fall pansies, my eye is drawn to the color combination of orange and purple. Although if taken individually, they are not part of my favored home color scheme of natural browns and greens. But there is homage to the memory of my wardrobe preferences in early adolescence of orange and purple everything. And I do mean everything. Shirts, shorts, dresses, culottes, coats, scarves and all manner of accessories simply had to be either orange, or purple, and preferably both. Continue reading

smoked salmon apple salad

Smoked Salmon Apple Salad

october 7, 2020

smoked salmon apple salad

A little smoked salmon goes a long way. Especially if the salmon is high quality in-house smoked salmon from your local fishmonger, like the burnished slabs found at Tuckahoe Seafood here in Richmond. In this Smoked Salmon Apple Salad  the rich smoke taste is offset by the crisp of Virginia apple, earthy baby arugula and a sweet-tart lemon maple mustard vinaigrette. Continue reading

cannelloni rolls

Butternut Pecan Cannelloni

september 24, 2020

cannelloni rolls

The enjoyment of pasta for me has always been about either the sauce on top or the cheesy goodness stuffed inside the pasta. Those of you who can relate will like this Butternut Pecan Cannelloni, flat pasta sheets stuffed with creamy cheese, toasted pecans and roasted butternut squash, topped with a tart caper tomato sauce which marries well with the slightly sweet filling. Continue reading

dish of apple cheesecake ice cream

Apple Cheesecake Ice Cream

september 9, 2020

dish of apple cheesecake ice cream

 

Technically, it is still summer but when the Virginia apples are stacked at the roadside stands, colorful and fragrant, I’m thinking fall. Fall means apples in everything, from the savory to the sweet. Continue reading

closeup of black bean goat cheese tostadas

Black Bean Goat Cheese Tostadas

august 26, 2020

Black Bean Goat Cheese Tostadas

Here’s what I love about tostadas and tacos. One or two makes a fine snack or appetizer and several make a filling meal. Given a wide variety of tastes at the table, they can be made vegan, vegetarian or carnivore style with all types of meats and seafood. Spiciness can be customized with homemade or store bought salsas with varying levels of heat. In short, these are ideal for crowds. Continue reading