Chilled Cucumber Soup

Summer is upon us.  Just as we switch out our clothes from winter to summer, so too can we change our recipe repertoires to augment the changes in the season. Move over slow-cooked stews, hearty chillis, and dense casseroles, and say hello to lighter dishes evoking fresh, tangy flavors to compliment the summer breeze! When most people think of a "summer" dish, soup probably doesn’t immediately come to mind. Summer warrants cool and refreshing, not hot and comforting. That's why I adore experimenting with chilled soups. They’re the most … [Read more...]

Asparagus Egg and Bacon Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

It's spring and asparagus is in season!  Asparagus has been on my vegetable hit list for quite some time. Both of my kids detest the vegetable so I've been desperately searching for one recipe that might, just might, make their eyebrows perk and their taste buds surrender. Admittedly, I grew up eating very little asparagus--- mainly steamed.  And, I didn't like it either. So, the hunt was not only for my kids but, myself as well. I finally hit the jackpot … [Read more...]

Fried Cauliflower Rice

If you go online and search for rice-based recipes, there are myriad options. It’s totally overwhelming. Did you know there are more than 40,000 different rice varieties? However, in my research online, I kept finding different variations of one recipe that totally peaked my interest: Cauliflower Fried Rice. At first I mistakenly thought the recipe was a rice dish with bits of roasted cauliflower—a vegetable that is totally underrated in my household. However, Cauliflower Rice doesn’t contain rice at all. The “rice” part of the dish is … [Read more...]

Ricotta-Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms

My garden is THRIVING right now and I have barely been around to take pleasure in the day to day progress. While it’s only an 8×6 plot of land, managing the veggies has been quite an adventure over the past three years. While my thumb is definitely getting greener, the zucchini plant never ceases to overwhelm me. Have you watched a zucchini plant grow in a garden? The tiny little leafed plant turned into a monster overnight; something resembling a plant from the Little Shop of Horrors.   Every summer I'm overwhelmed and fearful.  Last … [Read more...]