Decadence!

byerly’s wild rice chicken salad

~Byerly’s wild rice chicken salad~ The deli counter at Byerly’s grocery store is a favorite lunch spot for a lot of people I know.  This salad is what they return for. It’s creamy, sweet, crunchy, and filling. It’s full of  wonderful flavors: earthy wild rice, fragrant tarragon, crunchy cashews, and green grapes. What can I…

six senses saturday

~tasting~ creamsicle shakes 1 bottle Stewart’s orange cream soda 1 cup orange sherbet 2 cups vanilla ice cream 1/2 cup whole milk Mix all in blender until smooth serves 2 ~hearing~ the lawnmower ~smelling~ rosemary, lavender and lemon that I just used to make this scented water ~seeing~ nectarines ripening on the counter to top…

grilled balsamic chicken with strawberry salsa

~strawberry balsamic chicken~ I’ve been playing with jam in my kitchen. My friend Maria makes awesome jams, preserves and marmalades and generously shares them with me. I’ll go out to the mailbox and there will be a brown paper package all filled with jars of her new creations just waiting for me! One of the…

mango caprese with basil vinaigrette

~mango caprese~ “One way can be learned by starting to see the magic in everything. Sometimes it seems to be hiding, but it’s always there. The more we can see the magic in one thing, a tiny flower, a mango, someone we love, then the more we are able to see the magic in everything…

summer salad with parmesan crusted chicken

~summer salad with parmesan crusted chicken~ 4 entree salads or 6 appetizer salads I made this yummy, summery salad for dinner last night and we loved it. It’s perfect for a hot summer day when you really don’t feel like cooking, and when you want something light and healthy. You could grill or bake the…

authentic italian stuffed pasta shells

~stuffed pasta shells~ There are few recipes in my repertoire that are requested more often than my recipe for stuffed shells. I’ve made this dish a LOT and over the years I’d have to say it’s become darn near perfect. My grandma Darling’s birthday is coming up here in a few weeks and I’m sure…

easy no-bake blueberries & cream pie

~easy no-bake blueberries & cream pie~ I’ve made this yummy, no-bake pie lots and lots of times. I’ve used raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, peaches, star fruit, mango and lemon pie filling. Yesterday I made it with blueberries and Hafi’s Swedish “Queen’s Blend Preserves.” It’s easy to get creative with this little recipe. Have fun! you’ll need:…

oven roasted cherry tomatoes

~oven roasted cherry tomatoes~ “A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins.” – Laurie Colwin 4 pints cherry tomatoes in various colors extra virgin olive oil coarse sea salt freshly ground black pepper a handful of fresh basil leaves, coarse chopped Coat tomtoes with olive oil and spread evenly on a jellyroll…

waldorf wrap

~waldorf wrap~ Mr. Hamilton: “I want a Waldorf Salad.” Basil Fawlty: [Waldorf Salad is not on the menu] “I beg your pardon?” Mr. Hamilton: “Get me a Waldorf Salad.” Basil Fawlty: “Well, I think we just ran out of Waldorfs!” ~John Cleese, Fawlty Towers, 1979 We were in the mood for this crunchy-sweet salad yesterday,…