Friday’s Fresh Five! (8/29/14)
Some things can never be forgotten. The Lamaze breathing techniques that I learned more than 30 years ago came out of retirement today as I led my daughter-in-law through series after series of...
View ArticleKrasnapolski: Spinach and Cheese Casserole
Flipping through the pages of a cookbook from Hawaii, I spy recipes for classic Hawaiian dishes such Laulau and Pipikaula. Turning a couple more pages, a recipe called Krasnapolski catches my eye....
View ArticleFriday’s Fresh Five! (7/11/14)
Someone sometime ago said, “Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits.” That’s it. Nothing more. Try it, you might like it. #1 – Perfect Words Don’t you think that among all the languages...
View ArticleFriday’s Fresh Five! (7/4/14)
What does freedom mean to you? Here are a number of inspirational quotes to get you thinking about that. Recognize and be grateful for what you have. Go now and spread joy!
View ArticleTwo Sangrias for Summer: Cucumber-Mint-Melon and Pineapple-Orange
Ice cold pitchers of refreshing sangria tease me as I attempt to photograph them outdoors in 100-degree temperature. I know that the sooner I get the photos taken, the sooner I’ll be able to sit down...
View ArticleBrightening Beer Facial
After an exhausting weekend helping my daughter pack and clean her apartment and then relocating her hundreds of miles away, this old lady needed some TLC. Before leaving home, I’d read an article...
View ArticleCheddar and Poppy Seed Bread Sticks
“Dessert, Ma’am?” the waiter asked. “Oh, no thanks. I already had it,” I replied. Noticing his puzzled look, I explained how I used up my dessert calories by eating three of the most addicting bread...
View ArticleFriday’s Fresh Five! (6/13/14)
Dads come in all shapes and sizes, so here’s a Father’s Day wish I penned for all fathers that’s short on words, long in sentiment, and big in heart: Thanks for blowing air in our sails and anchoring...
View ArticleFresh Banana Cream Cheesecake
An early Father’s Day present for my husband came in the form of a cheesecake. Testing recipes is an occupational and personal hazard for me (think hips), so I gave this fresh-flavored and...
View ArticleFriday’s Fresh Five! (6/6/14)
They were everywhere, but nobody knew their name. Pretty trees covered with delicate rose-like blossoms decorated the streets of a town I recently visited. Fixated with their beauty and wanting to...
View ArticleGreek Salad With Orzo and Black-Eyed Peas
Better together? Sometimes marriages work and sometimes they don’t. But magic occurs when two entities come together and bring out the best in each other. That is exactly what happens in the case of...
View ArticlePistachio Shortbread Cookies
A package of pistachio shortbread cookies sits in a basket near a cash register in a New Mexico restaurant. I debate whether or not to buy them. On the con side of the debate, eating cookies goes...
View ArticleBarbecue Chicken: Thai Style
Think Thai. Think of some of the most aromatic and flavor-packed ingredients that go into Thai cooking – lemon grass, ginger, coriander, and fish sauce. Think about expanding your barbecue repertoire....
View ArticleCitrus Gazpacho
A trip to the American Southwest and blistering hot days prompt me to explore the world of chilled soups. After eating at Cafe Pasqual’s, a James Beard America’s Regional Cooking Classics award...
View ArticleFriday’s Fresh Five! (5/9/14)
Rolls of canvas fabric provide points of interest on an overcast day. Narrow, wide, bold and subdued bands of colors mingle with one another in joyful harmony. The fabric of our lives should be...
View ArticleThe Best Chocolate Cupcake
Make mine dark, sinful, rich and gooey. Make me want to lick my fingers. Make me the best chocolate cupcakes ever. But wait! Don’t use any sissy milk chocolate or not-really-chocolate white chocolate...
View ArticleFriday’s Fresh Five! (5/2/14)
What is it about sunflowers that make people feel happy? Is it their bright sunny color or their large happy faces? Is it their petals that resemble rays of sunshine? Or is it their unassuming and...
View ArticleHomemade Potpourri with Rose Petals and Lavender
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And if life gives you six dozen red roses, make potpourri. When the heads of my birthday roses started drooping, it was time to say goodbye to the lovely...
View ArticleFriday’s Fresh Five! (4/25/14)
Consider the proverb, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime,” and then consider how it might relate to someone who appreciates...
View ArticleJavanese Marinade for Lamb Shish Kebabs
To share or not to share? That was my dilemma. Should I reveal a family favorite recipe or should I keep it a family secret? Recognizing that life is infinitely better when shared and acknowledging...
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