It is never too early to consider how you will deal with storing garden vegetables that you have at the end of the season. The growing season still has time to go and many of us are in the middle of the vegetable gardening season. Very few homes have the perfect storage conditions for fresh produce. …
We had visitors from the UK recently and spent a day at the North Carolina Zoo, in Ashville, NC. The zoo is divided into two parts – North America and African animals. We spent our time at the African animal exhibits since we all wanted to see the large wild animals not on our continent. …
It didn’t take long before I changed my mind about one of my favorite critters because of the squirrel damage in my vegetable garden – all caused in a couple of days. To make matters worse they started digging up and eating all my tulips last year! I am an animal lover. I don’t like …
Readers of my blog will know that my project for this year (and the next two) is my test garden. I have a model that I am emulating from Garden Gate and will grow shade, semi shade and full sun plants in it to write articles about for my blog. Read about the beginning here. …
Dieffenbachia is one of those stately looking indoor plants with very large leaves that are variegated. It is fairly easy to grow, and makes a great addition to your collection of indoor plants. Most people grow dieffenbachia for their eye catching leaves. The plant has a tropical look and various varieties can be striped, spotted …
This recipe for garlic chicken is great for those days when you just don’t want to spend time in the kitchen. The chicken bakes with a sweet glaze that is tinged with just a touch of thyme and a hint of licorice flavor that comes from using fresh tarragon. I used fresh herbs for this recipe. I …
This focaccia chicken sandwich reminds me a little bit of Italy. It combines fresh mozzarella cheese with roasted red peppers, avocado, and a creamy basil pesto. Avocado and tomato slices add more nutritious goodness to the sandwich. Serve with a side of sweet potato fries and a fresh dill pickle and you will think you …
One of my favorite meal choices when we go to our favorite Mexican restaurant is Chori Pollo. The delicious dish has layers of cooked chicken with chorizo sausage and caramelized onions, all topped with cheese for one tasty meal. This is the prefect dish to serve for Cinco de Mayo! Chorizo is a Spanish pork …
The Raleigh Rose Garden is a place that you should visit if you are ever in Raleigh, North Carolina. Raleigh’s little Theater has a wonderful rose garden behind it. I discovered it year’s ago when my daughter performed in a play there as a middle schooler. It has a splendid array of roses of all …
This Greek omelette makes a great breakfast or brunch recipe. This is a Greek style country omelet, which means that it’s a hearty omelet, just packed with vegetables and cheese, and makes a filling main dish or big start to your day. Artichokes and feta cheese are popular choices for recipes used in Greek cooking. …
This recipe for Easy Eggplant Parmesan is a classic Italian recipe. It is rich and creamy and full of homegrown freshness from the eggplants that are ready in my garden. My garden is producing like mad at the moment, so I had fresh tomatoes coming out of my ears. (the squirrels decided that I had …
Oozing the cheesy goodness, these stuffed chicken rolls are easy enough for a busy week night, but have a look that makes them perfect for a special dinner. The recipe uses reduced fat Monterrey Jack cheese, spinach, and cilantro. These remind me of one of my favorite restaurant offerings – chicken cordon bleu (except they …
If you love the taste of coffee desserts, you will love these mocha cream puffs. Their mocha flavor is lovely and the texture takes this dessert to a new level. The cream puffs have a crisp top and bottom puff just brimming with delicious mocha cream that has been lightened up a bit. These delicious …
These roasted rosemary carrots have a lovely sweet flavor. They will be a nice addition to your Thanksgiving menu. They make a great side dish for your favorite protein and I also love to add roasted carrots to salads for a warm autumn lunch choice. Roasting any vegetable brings out its lovely sweetness and these …
Two of my favorite recipes in one dish – orange rosemary chicken and garlic mashed potatoes – what more could one ask for? Well, making it a skinny recipe might help too, and I have done just that! The chicken breasts are beautifully flavored with oranges and rosemary, and the potatoes are smooth and creamy …
These delicious stuffed mushrooms would make a great side vegetable or a party appetizer. Use white button mushrooms that hold up well to fillings. Mushrooms are one of my favorite vegetables to use for small bites to start a party. The cap of a mushroom is the perfect place to add all sorts of ingredients …
Roasted Pork loin is so delicious when combined with any type of fruit. This recipe, which uses plums, also adds a mint sauce for extra taste and flavor. Pork loin is very low in fat and perfect for those on an eating plan to lose weight. Some even call pork loin the other white meat. …
These grilled pork chops are sure to become one of your favorite barbecue recipes. They are moist and delicious and the garlic rub gives them a very savory taste. Bone in pork chops gives this recipe an extra burst of flavor. And when you add a herb garlic rub to the mix, you have a …
This chicken pizza recipe is full of flavor and goodness. It has a nice mix of garden fresh veggies to up the nutritional content and keep the calories down when compared to heavier toppings. No need to get take away pizza. Pizzas are very easy to make at home and you can use ingredients that …
This mushroom and caramelized onion omelette makes a great breakfast or brunch treat. The tender omelette is stuffed with mushrooms and caramelized onions as well as cream and Havarti cheese. An omelette (or omelet) is a type of egg dish often served at brunch or breakfast. Omelettes are made with beaten eggs which are cooked …
This recipe for Tilapia piccata is very versatile. Just substitute any white fish such as flounder or sole. The recipe is easy and elegant. The wine and capers add a lovely piquant sauce to the dish and makes the meal perfect for a fancy dinner. Piccata is an Italian word (sometimes spelled pichotta) which means …
Who can resist them? Cakey on the outside and fudgy in the middle, these brownie recipes really are the best! Brownies are popular good reason. There are few other desserts that appeal widely across the spectrum of tastes when compared to brownies! Fortunately, they are very easy to make, too! Most of these recipes can …
Aluminum disposable pie plates are recycled all the time to use as trays for left overs. But they are also very useful in the garden, as well. I love to find neat garden uses for common household items. There are so many things that we throw away that can be put to good use around …
The middle of summer is the peak time for vegetable gardening. This type of garden gives us loads of fresh vegetables to use in healthy recipes. But an amazing garden doesn’t just happen by planting seeds. It’s easy to make vegetable garden mistakes, even for a seasoned gardener. These 19 easy vegetable gardening tips will …
This recipe for home made giardiniera mix is sure to become a favorite. The recipe features crisp, zesty pickled vegetables with garlic and chili peppers in cider vinegar. Giardiniera makes a lovely side dish to accompany sandwiches and wraps. It’s great to add to tacos and works beautifully on an antipasto platter. Home made Giardiniera …
I admit it. I am a chocoholic. I love any kind of chocolate desserts. (and if you team it with peanut butter, I’m a goner for good.) My favorite desserts always seem to have chocolate in them. Even though chocolate has been touted as being a no-no when it comes to healthy eating, that opinion …