Year: 2015

Smashed Sweet Pototoes with Ginger and Honey on an autumn cloth served in a white bowl .

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Ginger and Honey

Roasted sweet potatoes are easily taken from basic to special when smashed with a few simple additions from the spice drawer. A drizzle of honey also adds an interesting dimension. With these spare embellishments Smashed Sweet Potatoes become completely irresistible.

Pear Ginger Shrub in a glass with straw and spoon on a vintage apron.

Pear Ginger Shrub

Pear Ginger Shrub incorporates seasonal flavors in an interesting drink mix without getting too complicated. The ginger gives this beverage a nice bite while the flavor of ripe pear adds soft sophistication. Try it with club soda over ice or experiment with a cocktail recipe of your own.

Peach Cobbler for Two on a window sill beside a ripe peach.

Peach Cobbler for Two

Spiced with nutmeg and bourbon this small cobbler has just enough of a sweet biscuit crust to add a pleasing texture. With a flavor that is sweet yet tangy, lusciously silky and very slightly complicated, Peach Cobbler for Two is a delicious way to end a summer meal. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a cool creamy contrast to this golden dessert.

White Chocolate Almond Brownies (Blondies) drizzled with dark chocolate and stacked on a square plate

White Chocolate Almond Brownies (Blondies)

I once had a recipe for the perfect summer dessert bar: White Chocolate Brownies. The photo was luscious 80’s elegance, a stack of pale squarely sliced bars drizzled with a grid of dark chocolate and arranged on a red plate. They looked picnic ready and utterly delectable. I swooned and clipped the page…

Pineapple Sweet Potato Salsa in Wonton Cup on small Japanese Plate

Pineapple Sweet Potato Salsa

It feels like summer has arrived in Georgia and spring is already all but forgotten. It happened fast. While I was distracted the rains ended and the temperature rose. Air conditioners came to life and mosquitoes began to challenge my comfort on the front porch…and still, I haven’t posted the […]

Wonton Cups arranged on a white platter

Wonton Cups

Spring can be a little confusing. One day the air is languid and warm, the sun is shining and I slip into sandals and shorts. The next day the mercury plummets, the sky is deep in cloud cover and I am reaching for a cozy sweater and my favorite boots. […]

Parsnips and carrots are honey roasted and served in an oval ceramic dish.

Honey Roasted Parsnips

At the heart of a parsnip there is a hint of citrus. It complements subtle notes of green grass and fresh herbs. Roasting further develops the appealing flavor attributes lending a caramel-sweet nuttiness. A touch of honey deepens the complexity and adds a glossy finish to Honey Roasted Parsnips. Add a few carrots, if you like, to add a bit of visual contrast to this simple side dish.

Lentil Soup

Seasonal Humility Life has its ways of keeping us humble. Just as the sun begins to shine and the horizon looks level, just when we begin to think we’ve got it made, the road takes an unexpected turn and: That groundhog sees his shadow. Hopes of an early spring in […]

Aunt Hen's Chocolate Bar Pie topped with chocolate curls beside vintage apron.

Aunt Hen’s Chocolate Bar Pie

Chocolate Bar Pie is a simple recipe. All you need to make it is two basic ingredients along with water, a pinch of salt and the pie shell of your choice. Still it is a crowd pleaser. Aunt Hen recognized the value of such a recipe. Classically light and sweet, it was easy to make, easy to enjoy and still made her guests feel special.

Cast-Iron Salsa in a white bowl with tortilla chips on a wooden tray

In the Pink – Cast Iron Salsa

The Phone Call Sometimes life takes a radical turn. Sometimes you see it coming. Other times you don’t. Last year, in February, I went for a routine mammogram. Then I went about my business. I attended a women’s retreat. I posted to my blog. In the midst of living, I […]

Herb Spiced Olives with, rosemary, coriander and fennel seeds, served in a small red dish with breadsticks on the side.

Warm Spiced Olives

Simple and delicious, Warm Spiced Olives are completely delightful as a party snack or pre-dinner nibble. Wonderfully fragrant and meltingly tender these olives are infused with the lingering flavor of warm chiles and sweet fennel.

Black Rice with Gingered Sweet Potatoes served in an asymmetrical white bowl.

Black Rice with Gingered Sweet Potatoes

Interesting and easy to prepare, Black Rice with Gingered Sweet Potatoes is an appealing side dish. Sweet potatoes provide a colorful contrast to the nutty black rice. Ginger brings a touch of sass to the flavor profile. With rich flavor and good nutrition, this recipe is a happy discovery and one that I am eager to share.