Occasionally, as a personal chef I encounter folks who don’t care for pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. Pumpkin spice as a flavor, yes, but no to pumpkin custard in a pie crust. Continue reading
One of my favorite fall events is the appearance of autumn’s first local apples at roadside stands. Typically, these are tender and not good travelers. You won’t see these varieties at the grocery store later in the season. They are here, and then they are not here. Continue reading
Think of summer stone fruit and your first thought will be peaches. Why stop there? Continue reading
July is National Ice Cream Month. I am a little late to this party, unfortunately, but here is my contribution. Know that I enjoyed ice cream all month long. The recipe took a couple tries to get it right, so I enjoyed several servings, as did my Official Tasters. Continue reading
Lucky gardeners have an abundance of summer mint. Crush some leaves in your fingers to release an invigorating aroma. Make desserts . Add to savory dishes. Have some refreshing mint iced tea – this is my favorite way to keep the plants trimmed. Allowing them to flower cuts down on leaf production and, therefore, you have less mint to enjoy. Continue reading
Summer is picnics, backyard barbecues and cookouts. Whether you’re hosting or invited, you’ll want to bring a unique dish. Herbed Potato Corn Salad combines classic outdoor summer favorites : potato salad and corn on the cob. Continue reading
Lemon and blueberries are a match made in heaven. River City Good Eats has several recipes featuring this couple to pique your interest. This parfait is an ode to their marriage. I offer a completely homemade version and a second quick version, both of which will tickle your palates. Continue reading
Eat a sweet muffin and feel like you’ve just had a mini piece of cake. Invariably, muffins are designated as breakfast. I can’t start my day with sweet treats and prefer to enjoy them as a dessert or snack. At breakfast, give me protein and fruit and send me on my way to a productive day. These Strawberry Chocolate Chip Muffins were tested as dessert and that is where they will dwell. Continue reading
Tomato Apple Soup is so much more than just tomato and apple. The soup base is a load of mirepoix vegetables which lends a savory vibe. This is not a sweet soup. Continue reading
You expected me to write about green potatoes in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. And I almost did. Potatoes most definitely are the archetypical Irish food. Today I honor luscious and creamy Irish white cheddar, made from the milk of grass fed cows. Continue reading