It is finally consistently hot here in the concrete jungle so I wanted to try to replicate a dish of Mom’s that celebrates summertime: light and refreshing with some zest and crunch. Judy’s Chicken Salad with Mango Chutney immediately came to mind—actually finding that recipe was a different story. I have such bitter-sweet memories of this meal. The last time I remember eating the dish was at my baby shower for my first child, ten years ago. As per usual, Mom was the consummate hostess. She somehow pulled off a surprise shower for me with … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2011
FRIDAY-FOOD-FRENZY… QUICK SUMMER RECIPES
June 17, 2011 By 2 Comments
Everyone has summer on the brain. The weather is warm. Schools are letting out. Kids are headed to camps. This week's Friday-Food-Frenzy recipes celebrate summertime. They're quick-and-easy requiring very few ingredients and, they're light and refreshing to taste! The first recipe is more like a healthy snack. I always remember Mom placing green grapes in the freezer to later peel and eat as a nice frozen treat. This recipe, inspired by a good friend and cook, Claire Abenante, adds just a few unsuspected ingredients to the grapes that … [Read more...]
Creating a Homegrown Experience with Your Kids
June 15, 2011 By 6 Comments
"The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm." ~ Swedish Proverb At the beginning of every summer we have a ritual with my dad, the real green thumb of the family. We plant a garden. Surprisingly, this custom only started the summer after my mother died. We never had a garden at my house growing up. However, we did support the local farmers and traveled to random farm stands around town to seek out the freshest picked vegetables. Some of my fondest memories are the car drives with mom on late August afternoons. … [Read more...]
Judy’s Earthquake Cookies: They’ll Make You Tremble
June 13, 2011 By 34 Comments
Two months ago we learned that we had to travel to Baltimore for a funeral of a great-grandmother. Talking about death with my kids is like pulling the scabs off wounds--they immediately bring the conversation back to my mom’s death. They still can’t really understand why she had to die so young. However, that made it easier to then turn the conversation around and talk about their great grandmother's full life. Remarkably, she left a family legacy of 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. To brighten the mood and change the … [Read more...]
