Blender ice creams are one of my favorite ways to eat fruits. They feel indulgent while actually providing a lot of nutrition. I had a disappointment recently when the peaches I’d bought at the grocery store ripened to a mealy texture. Biting into them was not the treat I had expected. Then I remembered that my blender doesn’t care if … Read more
Martha Stewart Living had a recipe for one-pot turkey curry in this month’s print issue. I adapted it to include different vegetables — beans have been a bountiful crop this year, so someone’s got to eat them — and whole grain rice instead of white. I changed the spices, too. Hmmm … When does recipe experimentation cross the line from “adapting a recipe” … Read more
Mindy Celeste made an awesome pesto pasta salad when I was visiting her in Oregon last month. I asked her for the recipe and planned to make it this week. But as often happens with me, I neglected to buy half the ingredients when I was at the grocery store. So I changed the recipe to suit what I had on … Read more
It’s that time of year when summer squashes become almost perverse in the profligacy of their fruit production. Those who are usually glad to benefit from summer’s bounty mysteriously disappear when they see a gardening neighbor come down the walk with a box full of zucchini. Farmers can barely give the things away – really. Each week when we go to pick up … Read more
Today was hot, humid and horrible – the perfect weather to forgo cooking of any kind and eat healthified ice cream instead. With a lot of fruit, a little yogurt, and a dash of cream, it’s the nutritional equivalent of fruit salad. But it’s the taste equivalent of a creamy fruit gelato, and it takes just two minutes to make – which is … Read more
This recipe includes several solanaceous vegetables that are just coming into season where I live: eggplant, sweet pepper, and tomatoes. My beloved fennel also plays a starring role, along with fresh basil and onions. And it took me under 30 minutes to prepare. There’s so many vegetables in this dish you could skip the salad. But if you have as many veggies as I do … Read more
A hint of pistachios makes this sugar-free ice cream feel positively decadent. And since it’s made in a blender, all that goodness can be yours in just a couple of minutes from now. Ingredients 10 salted pistachios, shells remove 1½ cups frozen strawberries ½ cup frozen peaches 1 tablespoon heavy cream 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt 1 packet Truvia or … Read more
With just five ingredients and one-skillet prep, this is a truly simple recipe that’s perfect for a lazy summer day. I could keep going on about uncomplicated this recipe is, and how the combination of two sweet vegetables with the sour bite of lemon appeals to our most basic, primordial tastes — but that verbal frippery would be totally incongruous with … Read more
I was walking by the river near my house today and was delighted to see one of my favorite prairie plants blooming along the banks: Monarda fistulosa, also known as bee balm or wild bergamot. This charming flower is native to most of North America — and if you don’t have it in your neck of the woods, you might have one … Read more
It’s hot here – the perfect weather for something sweet but light. When I was a kid I liked sucking on Flavor-Ice pops. Now I prefer something a little more elegant. Ingredients For 1 or 2 servings: 1 1/2 cup frozen pitted cherries 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/8 teaspoon allspice 1 packet Truvia (optional) Instructions Put everything in a blender or food processor (see … Read more