“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” ~ William Shakespeare Even though there has been a chill in the morning air, I witnessed subtle shades of green appearing in nature on my morning commute. I will never take the promise of spring for granted. After a long winter it feels like my responsibility to … More Strawberry Mango Salsa and Black Bean Jar Salads
“I love the dark hours of my being. My mind deepens into them. There I can find, as in old letters, the days of my life, already lived, and held like a legend, and understood.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke As an English teacher, I always tell my students that when we write we make … More Top Ten Recipes of 2014
“It is, in my view, the duty of an apple to be crisp and crunchable, but a pear should have such a texture as leads to silent consumption.” – Edward Bunyard, ‘The Anatomy of Dessert’ I have a confession to make – I tend to be obsessed with analyzing my blog statistics. On a daily … More Fall Fusion Jar Salads with Brussels Sprouts, Apple, Walnuts, & Pear Dressing
“We need space to be productive, we need places to go to be free.” ― Laure Lacornette My promise to you, and myself, is that this post will be short and to the point. My weekend to-do list is lengthy and I have many new and healthy recipes to share. Since I started posting Mason … More Broccoli & Zucchini Jar Salads with Creamy Cucumber Dill Dressing
“I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.” ― Oprah Winfrey It has been a challenging summer on many levels. Not only has the weather been cool in the U.P. of Michigan, but I have been facing many personal stresses. Unfortunately, I have allowed myself to make excuses and … More Vegetable Herbed Pasta Salad with Homemade Dressing – Fresh and Versatile
“There was something rather blousy about roses in full bloom, something shallow and raucous, like women with untidy hair.” – Daphne du Maurier (Rebecca) It has been a cool summer in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and my garden has not been doing well. I kept things simple this year and have six tomato plants, … More Cherry BBQ Salad with Nectarine, Avocado, Sweet Potato, Basil, & Tempeh
“Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? no. Just as one can never learn how to paint.” ― Pablo Picasso Summer salads are here – but to be fair – salads are my favorite year round. It is not that I think that you have to … More Spectrum Salad with Chili Lime Dressing
“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby Maybe I am in denial. Yet, a little denial cannot hurt, right? A blissful week off for spring break stretches before me and I am enjoying every moment … More Paradise in a Jar Salad with Blueberry Lemon Dressing
“In matters of healing the body or the mind, vacation is a true genius!” ― Mehmet Murat Ildan The glory of spring break stretches before me in the beauty of a week with few obligations. Even my normal weekend marathon of food prep has come to a delicate halt. I made a loaf of bread … More Tangy Jarred Salads with Sauerkraut, Hot Peppers, Pickles, & Mustard Dressing
“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” ― Percy Bysshe Shelley Even though I try to be the kind of person who views the glass as half full and presses my heart full of optimism, believe me when I say that I am giving winter the evil eye. Yes, I live in the Upper … More Summon Spring Jarred Salads with Asparagus, Strawberries, and Pineapple Vinaigrette
Produce with Amy 