The Importance of Buying Local {Guest Post at Kelapo Coconut – Strawberry Lemonade Fizz}

June 21, 2011

Strawberry Lemonade FizzToday, I am honored to be guest blogging about The Importance of Buying Local on Kelapo Coconut's blog, We're Coconuts!. Stop by to read about why I decided to join a CSA ("Community Supported Agriculture" group) this summer, and to get the recipe for this frothy homemade Strawberry Lemonade Fizz, the perfect drink for a hot summer day, using fresh strawberries that are currently in season. … [Continue Reading...]

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Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce – Pasta Al Pomodoro

June 20, 2011

Pasta Al Pomodoro Now that my boys are done with school, there will be days when I will be making an extra meal, namely lunch. Although it might be easier just to make a sandwich, pasta with a simple spaghetti sauce takes just a little bit more effort, and can turn lunch into a special meal. My oldest son is headed off to college in the fall, and I have been savoring the time he has left at home before we drop him off at the campus footsteps. I have been especially mindful of the meals … [Continue Reading...]

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CSA Box #2 and an Easy Korean Spinach Salad "Banchan" Recipe

June 17, 2011

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Summer Pesto – Garlic Scape Pesto and Swiss Chard Garlic Scape Pesto

June 15, 2011

Toasted Gluten-Free Baguette Slices Topped with Swiss Chard Garlic Scape Pesto and Fresh TomatoesAlthough I joined a CSA this summer, my first box was a bit light due to poor weather conditions this spring and contained mostly lettuce greens, and no swiss chard or other dark leafy greens. Swiss chard is one of my favorite vegetables, and since none were to be found in my CSA delivery, I made a stop at the farmer's market. Last week, I made Pasta with Sauteed Swiss Chard, which my boys … [Continue Reading...]

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Seven-Layer Dip {Secret Recipe Club}

June 13, 2011

Seven-Layer Dip, a Crowd-Pleaser This is my second month joining in on the fun with the Secret Recipe Club, created by Amanda of Amanda's Cookin. This month there are over 100 food bloggers participating in the Secret Recipe Club. The idea behind this club is to give bloggers the chance to try each other's recipes without the other bloggers knowing it until everyone posts their results. This month I was assigned Mary of Giving Up On Perfect, where Mary blogs about life - "sometimes … [Continue Reading...]

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Joining a CSA and Two Recipes for Arugula Salad

June 10, 2011

Fresh, local strawberries picked the same day were the jewel in this week's CSA box.This summer, I decided to join a Community Supported Agriculture group ("CSA"). A CSA allows consumers to buy local, seasonal produce directly from a farm. The way it works is simple: the farm offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Consumers buy a share and are then the recipient of a box of fresh seasonal produce every week throughout the farming season.So why did I join a CSA? Why not plant my own … [Continue Reading...]

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Warm Mushroom Spinach Salad with Fresh Arugula Flowers and Chives

June 9, 2011

Warm Mushroom Spinach Salad with Fresh Arugula Flower and ChivesRecently, I wandered into one of my favorite local restaurants, Farmer's Table, to see what local produce they had in stock. Not only does Farmer's Table serve a  farm-to-table menu, but they also carry fresh local produce from their own farm as well as other local farms.Recently, Farmer's Table was reviewed by the New York Times, and now a reservation is a must to get a seat. I had hoped to bring my kids there for dinner … [Continue Reading...]

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Roasted Corn, Avocado and Black Bean Salsa

June 6, 2011

Roasted Corn, Avocado and Black Bean Salsa Salsas are a favorite during the hot summer months. I always look forward to the first harvest of local corn at our farmer's market. Although I love corn on the cob, simply cooked in a bit of water and eaten right off the cob, I also saute fresh corn, make corn salad, and use it in fresh salsas. I've found that roasting corn adds a nice chewy texture while enhancing the sweetness of the corn. This salsa, similar to the Fireworks Black Bean … [Continue Reading...]

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Pasta with Sauteed Swiss Chard

June 3, 2011

Pasta with Sauteed Swiss ChardSwiss chard is one of my favorite leafy green vegetables that I buy at our local farmer's market. I especially like rainbow swiss chard, with its deep red and yellow hues.Usually, I simply saute swiss chard and eat it straight; but, today, I decided to toss the sauteed swiss chard with some pasta for a one dish meal. So simple, yet so good. In fact, I made this Pasta with Sauteed Swiss Chard for lunch today, and then made a gluten/dairy-free (vegan) version for … [Continue Reading...]

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Stewed Rhubarb with Star Anise and Ginger

June 1, 2011

Stewed Rhubarb with Star Anise and GingerThis past weekend, I picked up some fresh rhubarb from our local farmer's market. I have never cooked rhubarb before, but have been meaning to try it for a while. The rhubarb I usually see in the supermarket is red, but the ones at the farmer's market were light green speckled with pink. As I stood in line, there were several woman talking about the rhubarb "sticks." I joined in on the conversation to find out how these ladies cooked their rhubarb. Both … [Continue Reading...]

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Farmer’s Market Sandwich – Pesto, Mozzarella, and Tomato Sandwich

May 30, 2011

The local farmer's market offers fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, specialty goods and more.This weekend, I finally got the chance to visit our local farmer's market. I missed last weekend as I was at the annual BlogHer Food conference in Atlanta, meeting up with fellow food bloggers.I have been eagerly waiting for the farmer's market to open after such a long winter. I always like to take a quick scan around the market first to see what all the farmers are offering that day before deciding … [Continue Reading...]

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