Waste Not Want Not and Give Alms

It’s interesting that in observing Lent, those of us who are Catholic, remember that this is also the time to give alms – donate to our church community if we can. Here’s some fun recipes that you can make at home and are perfect for Lent. By using some leftovers you can create another, tasty meal, and hopefully give what you save. Check out the … Continue reading Waste Not Want Not and Give Alms

Spiced Chickpea Stew with Coconut Milk and Turmeric

Here on my little patch of heaven Mother Nature can be fickle, but she does allow some consistent harbingers of spring. Like wild yellow aconite blooming, blanketing the hill down to the East Fork river alongside our home. Many years ago the first few seeds were flung at the top by dear friend Ike Leaf, of blessed memory. “The flowers will spread down the hill“, … Continue reading Spiced Chickpea Stew with Coconut Milk and Turmeric

Creamy Cannellini Bean One Skillet Meal with Cashew Cream

Have you heard of cashew cream?  Interest in plant-based recipes is growing and that’s where cashew cream comes into play. In its simplest state, cashew cream consists of soaking, then blending, “raw” cashews with water for a creamy, vegan alternative to heavy cream. It can stand in for coconut milk, as well.  Cashew cream subs in for whipping cream in this recipe for creamy Italian … Continue reading Creamy Cannellini Bean One Skillet Meal with Cashew Cream

Sweet Potatoes & Pears: Perfect Soup Combo

  I like to save one sweet potato from the autumn garden and suspend it in a hanging planter with enough water and a little fertilizer touching the bottom. Eventually the tuber produces vines with edible leaves and makes for a fun climbing houseplant.  When harvesting the sweet potatoes, we usually find a fair number of nice sized, but weird shaped potatoes. These funky specimens … Continue reading Sweet Potatoes & Pears: Perfect Soup Combo

Spring Stir Fry: DIY Universal Stir Fry Sauce

“Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, pease porridge in the pot 9 days old.”  My garden peas have pushed through the soil, still tiny but looking strong. For some reason, that childhood rhyme came to mind, so indulge me!  Peas are really a lovely seasonal vegetable, so when they’re abundant, peas are in my meal rotation a lot.  These legumes are good for you, too. … Continue reading Spring Stir Fry: DIY Universal Stir Fry Sauce

Boone County Arboretum Annual Tea Recipes

Oh gosh, I had so much fun doing my first Zoom presentation for the Boone County Arboretum’s Annual Tea with Josh, Nicole, Stephanie, Donna, and Kris last night. Log onto to their site to see just how lovely and productive this community arboretum is. There may be time for you to bid at the silent auction, too. My talk was about the 4 seasons and … Continue reading Boone County Arboretum Annual Tea Recipes

Diner Style Salmon Patties Amid a Winter Storm

As I write this column, another winter storm is predicted. I took a photo of the outhouse when I went outside to feed the “girls”/chickens. All I can say is, I’m sure glad we’re living today and not years ago when all along our country road, outhouses were essential.  So were cook stoves that used wood as fuel.  I guess what I’m getting at is … Continue reading Diner Style Salmon Patties Amid a Winter Storm

Artichokes in Curry and Salad

Today on the Sonrise Morning Show Matt Swaim and I talked about artichokes. Artichokes:  Gen 3:18 “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.”The artichoke is a domesticated variety of the wild cardoon (I grow cardoon in my Bible section of the herb garden). It looks very similar to an artichoke plant. The cardoon … Continue reading Artichokes in Curry and Salad

German Potato Salad and Cucumber Salads for Oktoberfest

This weekend we celebrate Oktoberfest. My German mother-in-law, Clara, made the best German potato salad. I remember it warm, with a bit of a bite from the vinegar. Problem is, like so many heirloom recipes, Clara’s wasn’t written down. So after a few tries, I came up with something yummy and similar. I’ve shared this recipe in the past but tweaked it a bit again. Maybe … Continue reading German Potato Salad and Cucumber Salads for Oktoberfest

Comforting Food for Troubled Times

  What a difference a week makes. Last week we were concerned about corona virus but not overly so. Now we’re “sheltering in place,” a term you’ve heard many times since then.  I was at the grocery and not surprised to see lean or empty shelves. No doubt we’re all experiencing a scary time. It’s the unknown that’s so unsettling. So what do we do … Continue reading Comforting Food for Troubled Times