It’s not easy being green. When your garden gives you lots of ripe, green tomatoes….. Once upon a time I worked with a woman who wouldn’t eat green food. She confided this quirk to me in the middle of winter so my thoughts went to broccoli and Brussels sprouts and lime Jello and I thought: weird but not outrageous. Then summer came along and I realized that her food avoidance … Continue reading →
I have always had mint in my herb garden. Well, after having mint in my actual herb garden I now grow it along the fence where it can be controlled by the lawn mower. It does have a tendency to spread rapidly and take over everything. I digress…. I have always grown mint, but other than tea or minty summer drinks I have rarely used it. I decided it’s time … Continue reading →
The heavy mallet mon mari uses for pounding reluctant floorboards into place is back in my kitchen. It’s winter squash season again. My heavy cleaver is perfect for cutting the squashes in half but, sometimes, it needs a little help. Rather than damage my cleaver – or my hand, I use the rubber mallet. It was actually mon mari who first introduced me to winter squashes. His favorite was acorn … Continue reading →
We love doing these little chickens on the grill. Well, mon mari loves doing everything on the grill and why would I complain about that? I try to find hens that are small enough for single servings, although, sometimes, we have a bit leftover for lunch. Use any fresh herbs you like. Grilled Cornish Hens with Fresh Herbs Total time: 70 minutes Ingredients: 2 Cornish game hens or poussin (little … Continue reading →
I cook orzo the same way I do rice, in just enough stock. It gets very creamy and is a nice change…. Parmesan Orzo with Fresh Herbs Total time: 25 minutes Ingredients: 1 tsp butter 1/2 cup (4.5oz, 130gr) orzo 1 1/4 cups (10oz, 300ml) chicken stock 1/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, grated 1 tbs fresh parsley 1 tbs fresh basil Instructions: Melt butter over medium-high heat in small saucepan. … Continue reading →
I was meandering past Lucy’s Kitchen Notebook, the other day, and saw her fantastic-looking Mille Feuille de Bettrave. The recipe sounded delicious; I had the goat cheese and beetroot… and some spinach. Of course I couldn’t be bothered to actually follow the recipe. As was usual, it was late and I was in a hurry….. But my version was wonderful – not as pretty as hers, not as elegant, but … Continue reading →
Fresh Tomato Soup “….another onslaught of Heil Hitlering. You know, it actually makes me wonder if anyone ever lost an eye or injured a hand or wrist with all of that. You’d only need to be facing the wrong way at the wrong time, or stand marginally too close to another person.” Quote from “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak. This is the story of a young girl, Liesel, living … Continue reading →
