When my daughter was much younger, I used to wait anxiously for the month when the Girl Scout cookies were ready to be sold.  I bought boxes of Samoas cookies and Thin Mints and froze them so we could enjoy them during the year.  This Samoas Bars recipe takes me right back to those days.  …

This Strawberry Chocolate Chip Mousse could not be easier to make.  It combines just a few ingredients, all layered in a large wine glass and served with a dollop of whip cream. Best of all, this chocolate mousse is low in calories but still elegant. Strawberry Chocolate Chip Mousse is a Refreshing Delight It is …

These backyard retreat ideas are perfect for a lazy day.  From a simple stone chair to a lavishly planted shady nook, these are all my idea of a great backyard retreat. We spend a lot of time in our backyards. They are a place for relaxation and getting a recharge from the day. Why not …

Whenever I go to Ruby Tuesday or The Red Lobster restaurant, I always look forward to their cheesy herb biscuits.  I decided to try and make an approximation of them that would not break my calorie bank. These biscuits are savory and slightly rich but have far less calories than the restaurant version. Cheesy Herb …

These outdoor kitchens show that there is no need to be cooped up inside when the weather is warm just because it is meal time. I spend a great deal of time in the kitchen. Sadly my little kitchen is a narrow galley design with not much counter space.  So I find myself drooling over …

Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry with Chickpeas is a perfect vegetarian recipe for a busy week night. It is warm, comforting and packed with nutrients. The recipe will work with just about any vegetables you have on hand. I make this dish all the time and rarely make it with the same ingredients twice for that …

This easy diced garlic is a great cooking tip that will help with that task.  It can take quite a bit of time, too, when you need to mince a lot of garlic at once. Garlic…ahhhh, who doesn’t love its flavor. If a recipe call for some of it, I usually double it. But the cloves …

These peanut butter chocolate oatmeal cookies will not last long in your kitchen! What is not to like about peanut butter and chocolate?  Oh yes…the calories.  Well, I can’t do too much about the calories,  but I can at least adapt the recipe so that it is suitable for vegans as well as vegetarians and …

Growing garlic is very easy to do. All you will need is a single clove to grown an entire head of garlic.  But you can’t just buy garlic from the store and think that it will grow into garlic heads. Most of the garlic sold in the supermarket has been treated so that it will …

This recipe for crock pot vegetable curry is a remake of one that recently tried our on my meat eating husband and he loves it.  I love the smell in my house when a curry has been cooking all day long.  The aromas are fragrant and so inviting.  The recipe is vegan, vegetarian, gluten free …

This Ginger Soy Sauce Marinade gives all the flavor (and more!) of a bottled sauce and is easy to make and better for your health. Most bottled marinades are full of chemicals that do your body no good at all.  The marinade is a cinch to make.  Just combine all the ingredients and whisk away.  …

My husband loves cod.  He is English and fish and chips are a favorite take away food in the UK.  I also love fried fish too.  The texture is so crispy but the fish underneath is moist and delicious. But the calories can break any diet.  This recipe for baked cod has all the flavor …

I’ve always loved garden nasturtiums in my flower beds. But there are many other ways that these fairly common plants can be a great addition to your vegetable garden. Companion planting is a method of planting plants together so that they benefit each other in some ways.  Some enrich the soil and others attract beneficial …

This recipe for savory baked island chicken is tangy and flavorsome and is so easy to make.  Just prepare the marinade the day before (or up to three hours before cooking) and bake in the oven right before dinner.  It has a nice combination of lovely Caribbean flavors. Savory Baked Island Chicken Make you Feel …

Each year I think about my grandmother with nostalgia when I plant seeds from her heirloom beans. My family comes from a long line of vegetable gardeners.  I can still remember when my great grandmother had her vegetable garden, I used to wander through it when I was about 6. My grandfather on my mother’s …

The traditional BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich) is taken to a new level in this delightful lunchtime recipe which adds Haas avocados for an extra bit of creaminess.  Traditional BLT Taken to a New Level. I love BLTs. Always have, always will. They are hearty and full of fresh goodness (from the garden today!)  …

I live in zone 7b, so I am able to start vegetable gardening fairly early.  I did not get a crop of Brussels sprouts last year, but I am hopeful that my plants will be full of sprouts this year. Brussels sprouts are a healthy cold-weather vegetable that even has its own National Day. January …

If you loved creamsicles as a child, (and still do!), this delicious cocktail recipe is perfect for you. This orange cream martini is an adult version of the flavored frozen treats you enjoyed as a kid.   What is a dessert cocktail? When you combine spirits with sweet ingredients that can double up as a …

It is perfect for a busy week night. This Ahi Tuna recipe (also known as yellow fin tuna) can be served quite rare, so it only takes a few minutes per side and the sauce is fast to make. Ahi Tuna Recipe with White Wine Butter Sauce – gourmet style personified. This recipe for ahi …

This pretty hydrangea wreath uses the beautiful big blooms of a mop head hydrangea bush for a door decoration. My hydrangea bush flowered late this year and gave some lovely color to an otherwise fairly bare garden bed.  Did you know that you can make a holiday hydrangea wreath from hydrangea flowers that are done …

This recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie is a traditional favorite of mine and makes a great addition to my growing list of crock pot recipes. When the days start getting a bit cooler, I love to make more comfort food type recipes.  It used to be that when the days get colder, my …

This venison stir fry is made with venison for a gamey taste that is great with the fresh vegetables. My garden is producing really well right now, and I love to come up withe new ways to use all my veggies. As luck would have it, my husband came home with some fresh venison which …

Want to get new tomato plants for free? Try propagation! Propagating tomatoes will give you new plants in just a few weeks, which is much faster than growing them from seed. Propagation is the process of growing new plants from a single parent plant by using parts of it. This can be done by using …

I have several butterfly bushes, also known as buddleija, in my garden beds. I love them because they attract butterflies and bees like no other plant in my garden.  My main butterfly bush was put in a large island bed early this spring, when it was about 12″ tall.  It is now at least 5 …

I first discovered hasselback potatoes 30 years ago in Australia. They were all the rage.  For some reason, it took a while for them to start appearing here but they have been a popular way of cooking potatoes for a while now. This recipe for bacon cheddar hasselback potatoes is fully loaded and takes my …

Salmon is, hands down, my favorite fish.  I love the richness of it.  (I’m not normally a white fish person)  It is full of omega 3 fatty acids and a staple of a Mediterranean Diet. This recipe for grilled salmon with a Dijon herb mustard paste is to die for. Literally. As in super good.  …