Yesterday would have been Mom’s 70th birthday. While I’ve tried so desperately to celebrate her life through her culinary legacy, it’s inevitable: her absence is always felt. Every day. For the past four years. This weekend, I kept myself busier than usual so I wouldn’t focus on this unwelcomed anniversary. I celebrated fall with my family. We pumpkin picked. We painted pumpkins. We carved pumpkins. We made pumpkin seeds. We apple picked. And now, I’m back in my city apartment, staring down 20 pounds of apples and two … [Read more...]
Chicken Tortilla Soup for the Soul
October 5, 2012 By 2 Comments
I have a sick kid home from school today, and it's only the third full week of school! While I wasn't planning to use my slow cooker until this weekend to make apple butter with our freshly-picked apples, my son's rising temperature and his pathetic putty-like demeanor prompted me to make a fresh batch of the soothing Chicken Tortilla Soup. In my book, any dish containing chicken broth means comfort and warmth and lots of flavor- the perfect remedy for any illness. Mom's Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe I used calls for shredded chicken. … [Read more...]
White Bean Chicken Chili
October 3, 2012 By 4 Comments
The crock pot is awaiting its fall unveiling. We’re planning to go apple picking over the long holiday weekend so the inaugural slow cooked dish will be Mom’s celebrated Apple Butter. But, I still found a way to make some warm, hearty comfort food to combat the cooler weather and my kids’ adjustment to the long draining school days. White Bean Chicken Chili is a welcomed alternative to its better-known sibling, Beef Chili. The biggest difference, it tastes much lighter and seems healthier. My family tends to err on the side … [Read more...]
Caesar Salad
October 1, 2012 By 1 Comment
I rarely ate salads as a child. That’s not to say my mother didn’t try in earnest. So, you can imagine my sheer delight when my 10-year old proclaimed she “LOVES Caesar Salad.” Apparently she tried it at school? I didn’t have the stomach to ask her if the school version actually had anchovy filets on top. But, that proclamation was all the encouragement needed for my attempt to make Caesar Salad at home for dinner. After all, my version had to taste better. As luck would have it, we had all the ingredients. Except, of course, the … [Read more...]
