Time For A Picnic!

It's Picnic Time photo

Outside is calling. It is time to dine outside and pack a picnic. Visit the Chow Town Blog, of the Kansas City Star, for our post on picnics, with lots of tips to make the packing simple. Now, what sounds good to eat? Glamorous picnics are captured in slick photos, but so many picnics are [...]

Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Mediterranean Smothered Beef Photo

We have a treat for our die-hard regular readers. First, a big thank you for your loyalty and support and second we are going to share recipes with you that we shared at a conference we spoke at this weekend. We were thrilled to present the workshop The Healthy Slow Cooker at the Church of [...]

Beef and Blue Sandwich Recipe

Been and Blue Sandwich photo

I cook with the seasons. I serve roasts, stews and chili in the winter and grilled chicken and salad on those warm summer days. Yet, too quickly, boredom sets in and I am tired of the seasonal fare. That happened to me recently and I was craving something different, but the snow covered grill seemed [...]

Chicken and Dumplings

DSC_1733

  Gathering around the table to enjoy a meal is the fiber of a good life. We all need to eat to live so why not make memories, create joy, show love and enjoy a good meal at the same time? I love to listen to the podcast each week of The Splendid Table with [...]

Fig Glazed Pork Chops Recipe

Fig Glazed Pork Chops

Do you like figs? That is a hard question for me, as my path toward fig lover has been more rocky than sweet. It is a funny story that takes me from avoiding figs at all costs to using them to make these fantastic and easy Fig Glazed Pork Chops. Midwestern gal here—and believe me, [...]

Broccoli Cheese Quiche

Quiche #2

  For the first time in almost two years, Kathy and I can pause, evaluate and take a breath in between projects. This is always a great feeling and precious time in our work flow. The aftermath of being swamped with work 24/7 is a pantry that is bulging at the seams. Last week, I [...]

Arugula Pasta

Arugula Pasta

    Our family is trying to embrace the concept of Meatless Mondays. Alas, most weeks it becomes Meatless Tuesday, or Wednesday or Thursday, but at least we are trying to trim the amount of meat in our diets. It seems the only success I have selling this concept to my family is to serve [...]

Asian Sesame Pork Tenderloin with Napa Cabbage Slaw

Asian Pork Photo

My taste buds are fickle and get bored easily. I love to cook with the seasons as the weather changes—a salad and fresh corn in the summer, a soup or stew when it snows. Yet, this time of year, I tire of winter fare and long for fresh—especially this winter with the weather so oddly [...]

Souvlaki Pork

Souvlaki pork

What’s for dinner? Such a simple question and yet, it strikes terror in our hearts almost daily. I have a confession to make—and that is sometimes I hate that question as much as you do. I know, I write about food and love to develop new recipes. But, when stuck between a rock and a [...]

Bourbon Barbecued Beef

Bourbon Barbecued Beef

Making a list—checking it twice. I make countless “to-do” lists every day. This time of year, the lists become way too long to get done 24 hours. Are you like me and race to handle what seems to be the most pressing—and then discover that some important things, like dinner, get cut off or get [...]