Hey friendsā£ļø Happy Sunday! Wow, itās the last Sunday in July. That was fast. August might technically be high summer, but it never quite feels that way. Once August 1st hits, life starts moving in a different direction, which is all the more reason to drink in these days while we can. Iām sharing a little personal summer nostalgia today. I got my love of hot butterscotch sundaes from my mom (who also introduced me to hot fudge). The memory of those warm sauces melting into a scoop of ice...
about 7 hours agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey friendsā£ļø I'm picky about tomatoes, and I feel like it takes well into the summer before they get that tomatoey goodness I expect. But the day has finally come and I'm ready! Do you have a few on your counter? Ok then, let's not waste any time ~ here's where you start. Iāve gathered up all kinds of tomato salads, from American favorites to recipes from Italy, Greece, Mexico, and the Middle East. Itās an especially beautiful collection, but these salads arenāt just pretty ~ theyāre quick,...
1 day agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey friendsā£ļø Baking goes on all summer, it just takes a slightly different, fruitier turn, especially for breakfast. And I'm all over it. My raspberry coffee cake, below, has been reinvented with black raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and even rhubarb, So good. Raspberry Coffee Cake "I have been using this recipe every year for the last 4 years!!! We have raspberry bushes where we canāt eat them all. So we freeze them, and this recipe is amazing all year round!!!" ~TRACY get the...
3 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hey friendsā£ļø Happy Sunday! Well. What a week. Insane heat. Smokey air. And scary produce. I'm actually looking forward to Monday! I've blacklisted lettuce for now, which is overkill, I'm sure, but it has opened up some fresh new dinner ideas for mid July. But first ~ if you didn't see yesterday's Spiced Peach Cobbler Bars, run, don't walk. I just had a leftover bar for breakfast and I can't rave enough. Likewise my new Lemon Herb Macaroni Salad. Really good stuff. And if you're a cherry...
7 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hey friendsā£ļø These spiced peach cobbler bars are extraordinary. I know it's a big claim but I can back it up. The combination of juicy summer peaches with the lightly spiced 'cobbler' dough is uniquely delicious ~ these aren't your same-old peach bars. And yes, I actually moaned. Spiced Peach Cobbler Bars get the recipe After you try the new peach bars, you can explore my other peach recipes, there are so many gems to discover. And remember you can always substitute apricots or nectarines in...
8 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey friendsā£ļø Thereās something about macaroni salad thatās more than the sum of its parts. The chewy little elbow noodles, the tangy mayo dressing, the crunchy bits of celery ~ it makes my mouth water, and Iām not even sure exactly why. Thereās no mystery with my new version, though. The lemon and herbs make everything I love about macaroni salad even more irresistible. Lemon Herb Macaroni Salad get the recipe Let's make it a picnic: Ham and Jam Sandwich Fried Green Tomato BLT French Potato...
10 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey friendsā£ļø It's that sticky time of year that cries out for Thai food. I've lived in very hot places, and very cold places, and I have to say it's the heat that's harder to deal with. During a long hot spell like this I always turn to my Thai recipe collection for relief. The flavors are refreshing and bold, with lots of acidity and fresh herbs~ from classic tom kha soup and Thai salad to a fun Americanized Thai spaghetti salad and lots more. Let's definitely do Thai tonight! Thai Inspired...
11 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey friendsā£ļø I love to cook in my cast iron skillet. It gives everything an instant grandma chic. Plus the pan holds heat so well ~ the edges of this cherry cake get a little extra crunch while the center stays soft and scoop-able. We're in high cherry season, so take advantage! Cherry Almond Skillet Cake get the recipe I bake everything from apple cake to cheesy meatballs in the same Lodge 10" cast iron skillet. Apple Skillet Cake Cheesy Skillet Meatballs with Garlic Toast Outrageous Almond...
13 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hey friendsā£ļø Happy Sunday! I hope you all had a nice week. Somehow, for the first time in my life, Iāve become a garden person! It started last fall, when we tore out all the grass in our front yard and turned it into a woodland garden with a winding flagstone path. This summer has been all about filling it in, although the deer and rabbits seem to think we planted the whole thing for them. Itās been a lot of trial and error. (Please hit reply with any advice!) My neighbor is leaving town...
14 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read