I believe in the transformative power of stories. I am a high school English teacher, serendipitous farm girl, LEO wife, step mom, and writer in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
I hope you enjoy this healthed up version of an egg roll. It is a great way to sneak some vegetables into your family’s meals and it’s low carb. … More Low Carb Egg Roll in a Bowl & So Much More
While these sprouts can be made ahead and warmed up they are best served right out of the oven. I also suggest that you use fresh Brussels sprouts, instead of frozen, to reach the right crispiness. While a couple frozen bags of Brussels sprouts are a staple in our freezer, I like to use fresh ones when I am able. … More CRISPY MAPLE GLAZED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON
This lush cream cheese spread would be a great addition to a holiday charcuterie board with crackers, served as a dip for fruit, or be fantastic on a bagel for brunch. It is simple to make and would keep for several days stored in the refrigerator. … More Candied Walnut Spread with Honey & Cinnamon
This year I have had a bumper crop of cucumbers, and after making several batches of dill pickles and selling an abundance at the Skandia Farmers Market, I have been coming up with different ways to eat cucumbers. One of my favorite ways to enjoy their refreshing flavor is in a homemade Mediterranean tzatziki sauce. While I enjoy using it as a dip for vegetables and in a sandwich wrap, I thought I would try my hand at a marinated beef gyro. When I posted a photo on my personal social media account of my food experiment, several friends asked me for the recipe. A couple mentioned that they loved the flavors of a gyro, but felt an aversion to eating lamb. If you do not eat beef, you could use chicken and if you do not eat meat you could substitute large portabella mushrooms or eggplant. If you are watching your intake of bread, you can leave off the pita and turn it into a gyro salad. … More BEEF GYROS WITH CUCUMBER TZATZIKI SAUCE
I love the combination of balsamic vinegar with fruit and berries. Even a small drizzle of aged balsamic brings out their juicy sweetness. Another combination that I am wild about is basil with peaches and/or nectarines. Thus, the inspiration for this recipe. … More Stone Fruit Salad with Basil, & Blistered Tomatoes
*Note – I wrote this post at the end of July Dear Summer,Please slow down. I love the scent of freshly mown grass and the rose bush I planted in June smells delightfully like cinnamon. I promise to immerse more than my toes into Lake Superior and eat copious amounts of watermelon and strawberries. I … More GARDEN SIMPLICITY: SEASONAL AWARENESS
This week a friend contacted me and asked for some advice. She had never grown beets, or cooked with them before, and her garden was producing a beautiful crop of plump beets. After directing her to the various recipes on my blog, I decided it may be a sound idea to curate some collections of recipes that feature various vegetables and herbs.
So today I offer the first in a serious of posts. This one featuring the glorious beet. … More Seven Beet Recipes: A Curated Collection
“As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.” ― Henry David Thoreau Rustic elegance is my current favorite term. It embraces both my design style and my philosophy about food and cooking. As my husband adds an addition onto … More ASPARAGUS, MUSHROOM, & GOAT CHEESE FRITTATA WITH LEMON ROASTED POTATOES: HOMESPUN CUISINE
refreshing and sweet treat when it is stifling hot outside. In addition, watermelon is high in lycopene (carotenoid phytonutrient that’s especially important for our cardiovascular and bone health). … More WATERMELON SPLASH COOLER
This salmon dip, or spread, is simple enough that you could make it while camping or traveling. It is wonderful as a dip for fresh vegetables, tortilla and pita chips, and is equally divine spread on crackers or a bagel. It is a fantastic dish to bring to a potluck or gathering and you will not have to worry about having leftovers. It serves as a great appetizer, midnight snack, or a luscious option for breakfast. … More Salmon Spread — Picnic Fare & Beyond
