Did you know that basil is considered one of the seven lucky plants for 2021 according to Feng Shui? I wondered if combining a lucky plant like basil, with the leaves of the lucky fava bean if you could double your luck…. A Recipe for Fava Greens Pesto served over couscous with carrots, spring peas,…
A Recipe for a Spicy Fig Reduction served over Fregola, Crispy Cauliflower, Shiitake, Mizuna, and topped with roasted hazelnuts. Figs. Scientists and historians have found evidence of fig cultivation dating back over 11,000 years ago in Jericho on the West Bank. Figs are really a fascinating fruit with a long and significant history! Since figs…
Bandits Bounty… A Bit of History: Throughout history, spices have been valued for cooking, medicinal uses, and religious ceremonies. The word spice has Latin origins, meaning an item of special value. Since many spices only grew in certain regions, their rarity further increased value. People have been trading spices since 2000 BC! (Read more here…
Roasted Radishes, Rainbow Carrots, Murasaki Sweet Potatoes, Peas, and Scallions with a Cashew Wasabi Miso-Soy Sauce An Unlikely Doppelganger… Introduction: I love picking up a CSA box! Sometimes, the ingredients are a complete surprise and other times I know a day or two in advance what to expect. Either way, I like to imagine I…
A Recipe for Fregola Sarda with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto, Celery Root, Carrots, Rutabaga, and Crispy Rosemary Olives & Baguette Croutons Fregola sarda is a minuscule handmade pasta crafted from semolina and water and looks very similar to Israeli couscous. It is typically available dried and pre-toasted to enhance its nutty flavor. Fregola comes from the…
—A Recipe for Minestrone with Farro and a Calabrian Kick Besides cooking and athletics, my other hobby is reading, especially historical topics. I love researching and discovering new places and cultures. When we travel, my family and I always try to avoid the tourist areas and seek out restaurants and activities that attract the local…
An Oven for Him: Pizza for Us A Bit of History: Wood Fired Pizzas My daughters and I gave my husband, Rob, an Ooni wood fired portable pizza oven for Christmas. Ok, it was just as much a gift for us as for him. In our defense, he is a master at tossing and crafting…
–For my mom A Recipe for Pomegranate Molasses Vinaigrette, Roasted Winter Vegetables, Arugula, and Wild Rice Bowl I loved hearing the stories from Greek mythology as a child and continue to enjoy reading them with my daughters. I have many favorites, but whenever winter rolls around and I see pomegranates in the market, I think…
Farro, Brussel Sprouts, & Black Truffle Oh My… –For Jana and Tom A Bit of History: One of the things I miss during this pandemic is eating at my favorite Charleston area restaurant, the Obstinate Daughter. Their menu is wonderful and it is always my first recommendation for out of town guests and family alike….
My girls love the story Nanette’s Baguette by Mo Willems. In the story, the little girl accepts the task to travel to the bakery by herself for the first time to buy a baguette. However, the baguette is so delicious that she eats it all on the way home. We have the same delectable dilemma…