kitchen gadgets & recipes: the potato ricer and baked potato salad with pancetta

Over the holidays I received a few gift cards. I tend to stash these gift cards away until mid February, when I’ve got the winter blues. The best cure for the winter blues is a trip to a lush tropical paradise. If I am unable to lounge under a palm tree on the sandy beach of a tropical island while sipping on a delightful frozen beverage that is accessorized with little umbrellas and sculpted fruit then the next best thing is shopping therapy. Amen. I usually adhere to my rule about waiting until February for good reason, other than curing the winter blues. I have found that when I’ve used my gift cards sooner rather than later I am more inclined to make impulse purchases. Today, a day that is sunny and 60 degrees, I broke my rule. I used one of my gift cards. My brother gave me a... Read the Rest →

 

kitchen gadgets & recipes: the potato ricer and baked potato salad with pancetta

Over the holidays I received a few gift cards. I tend to stash these gift cards away until mid February, when I’ve got the winter blues. The best cure for the winter blues is a trip to a lush tropical paradise. If I am unable to lounge under a palm tree on the sandy beach of a tropical island while sipping on a delightful frozen beverage that is accessorized with little umbrellas and sculpted fruit then the next best thing is shopping therapy. Amen. I usually adhere to my rule about waiting until February for good reason, other than curing the winter blues. I have found that when I’ve used my gift cards sooner rather than later I am more inclined to make impulse purchases. Today, a day that is sunny and 60 degrees, I broke my rule. I used one of my gift cards. My brother gave me a... Read the Rest →

 

salads: slat avocado ve pri hada

Avocado citrus salad otherwise known as “slat avocado ve pri hada” is a Middle Eastern delight that will brighten any table on a hot summer day. My husband and I love this salad. But, before I give testament to how much we the love avocado citrus salad let me back up a few days. When I went to the farmers market on Saturday morning I found these wonderful little gems called physalis pruinosa otherwise known as husk tomatoes or, as the farmer called them, ground cherries. When I asked, “What do I do with these?” His reply was quite simple. “Eat them.” Ask a dumb question, get a dumb answer. The smart a– farmer’s wife heard our exchange and came over to assist. Unfortunately, I heard a great deal about how time consuming it was to pick ground cherries, which I don’t doubt and no culinary suggestions. I bought them... Read the Rest →