Gorges Camping

I have a lot to catch up from the month of May, like the trip to the Caribbean, but first let me tell you about my weekend. It was such a welcome and refreshing experience last summer when I reunited with my high school friends from our respective homes scattered around the state for a bachelorette weekend that I decided we should make it an annual occasion, irregardless of weddings. This time we stayed at a camping cabin near Ithaca, which is a...

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Garden Update: Adding Color

Phase two of the container garden was adding some flowers for color. I picked zinnias and marigolds for their brightness. They like full sun, so we'll see if the yard gets enough rays to keep them alive.And impatiens, which like shade and did well here last summer.Also, bee balm! It's a favorite from the wildflower gardens of my childhood, so when I saw this plant at the farmers market I had to get it. It won't bloom till July or August, but it's...

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Mini Rhubarb and Apple Galettes

Remember when I made mini apple pies in muffin tins? Those were a b*tch to roll out, cut out, and arrange in the tins. Plus you still needed a fork to eat them. So I didn't want to go that route again, but I did want to make some kind of hand pies for my party, featuring rhubarb while it's in season. Lily's love for this rhubarb galette recipe convinced me that I should make mini galettes with adorable free form folds and jewel-toned fruit peeking...

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Vegan Party Salads

I didn't expect to be hosting any vegans at my party, but you never know, and I thought it would be nice to have a couple healthy salads as a complement to the big cheese plate. I have never understood why potato salad with mayo is such a popular dish for outdoor gatherings, anyway, considering the health risks, so I made a mustard-shallot vinaigrette. Whenever celery is not in season, colorful swiss chard stems are the pefect crunchy stand-in. I...

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Going Glamping

You may recall me agonizing over where to vacation this spring. I finally settled on the St Thomas area. It seems a litle silly to be heading to a tropical location just as the weather is brightening up in New York, but it's what made sense for me. In just a short while, I'll be "glamping" it up at an eco-friendly tent-cottage at the Virgin Islands Campground on Water Island. Scuba diving (I'm nervous but forcing myself to try something new and fun),...

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Superfood Gluten-Free Beet Walnut Brownies

I'm not gluten-intolerant myself (not sure I could live without pizza and bagels and bread), but I was inspired to think about incorporating more variety and gluten-free dishes in my diet by Andrea of Tea & Cookies. A couple months ago I read her new book, The Butcher and the Vegetarian, which is promoted as a book about a vegetarian discovering the world of meat but is really about one woman's search for the right foods for her own health, trying...

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Party Time and Spinach Goat Cheese Dip

I've been away from this blog because I've been busy, first with a wretched weekend, and then a week that involved saying farewell to my boss of four years as she moves on to become a caterer chef (so excited for her!), and prepping like mad for my own barbeque soiree in our backyard this past Saturday.As usual, I went a little overboard with self-catering and took on more than was probably reasonable. But honestly it works out because as stressed...

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April Farmers Market Hauls

I haven't been posting as many recipes lately because I've been cooking super simple meals. Things like roasted vegetables mixed with beans; sauteed spinach and roast potatoes as a side to grilled pork chops; eggs scrambled with ramps and other spring vegetables. Simple is often the best way to prepare high quality farm fresh ingredients, and it certainly makes my life easier to prepare tried and true recipes. Rather than bore you with the same meals...

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