Virgin Islands Campground

I sought out eco-lodging in the Virgin Islands because I think it is important for tourism dollars to support independent places with minimal impact on the natural environment, rather than corporate resorts. I also don't mind roughing it a bit, if it means I get to have an ocean view and a place to prepare my own food, all for less than I'd pay at most hotels. My other criteria were easy access to scuba diving and a relatively car-free vacation where...

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Rhubarb Lemon Almond Cupcakes

I know I still have to reveal our Caribbean location last month, but first I want to share this rhubarb recipe before the pink and green stalked vegetable sees the end of its season. I recently had the occasion to create rhubarb cupcakes in honor of two lovely ladies that I work with - one for a birthday and one for a bittersweet farewell. The first batch was too wet and flat (pictured), and the second batch rose light and fluffy, but was a little...

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Tropical Days

It's already been more than a month since the Caribbean excursion. It was a nice, but otherworldly, break from reality, with its own calm routine very different from the daily grind. I'm not a morning person, but as often happens when camping, I found myself following the routine dictated by natural light (and because scuba sessions are scheduled for early morning - why??) and it was refreshing to feel a day stretching luxuriously ahead.Mornings...

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Garlic Scape Pesto Pizza / Quinoa Salad

I've written about garlic scapes here before. Bright green stalks that shoot from the tops of young growing garlic in June-ish, scapes evoke a wild flavor similar to how you'd imagine summer grass to taste. To create a vivid and creamy garlic scape pesto: Collect a handful of scapes, a handful of parsley or basil, depending on what looks good in the garden, a handful of walnuts or pine nuts or almonds, many glugs of olive oil, a little bit of vinegar...

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Late Spring Farmers Market Hauls

I somehow lost photos of my mid-May Greenmarket shops and resultant dinners, but in summary this exercise has got me experimenting with new dishes, and I've learned that:* Quiches are not a quick and easy dinner, especially if you make the crust from scratch the same night. Your hungry boyfriend will get angry, even if the final sauteed greens quiche, nibbled at hours later, is tasty.* If you do not have a pie pan, quiche crust can be baked in a...

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