We invited friends over last weekend to celebrate Cinco de Mayo a bit early. Anytime we can share margaritas and Mexican food, then laugh and giggle is a good time in our book.

When I was planning the menu, I really did not want to serve traditional refried beans and rice with our fajitas. So many attending are watching their carb intake and I wanted everyone to have room for dessert. Banana Cream Pie seemed like a perfect ending to the spicy food. Kathy came to the rescue and suggested I serve a Black Bean salad. Great idea! So much better to offer fresh options then cheesy high carb fillers. [Read more…]

Grilled Vegetables

Studies show that we should eat 4 to 5 cups of fruits and vegetables each day. Are you on track? Some days are better than others in our busy lives but one thing is for sure, Grilled Vegetables are always a winner with my family. They rank as high as roasted vegetables on our vegetable likeness scale.

Select your favorite veggies and follow these suggestions from Better Homes & Gardens. The next step to guarantee no vegetable leftovers is to serve the grilled goodies with a favorite sauce such as the Miso Dressing that was featured in my recent article on the Kansas City Chow Town Blog or an ever popular standby round our dinner table, pesto. [Read more…]

It happens every year around this time. It seems I have just gotten my groove on when it comes to visiting local farmer’s markets and enjoying the bountiful produce. When I have finally gotten my routine down to an art, the calendar days slip away and I soon realize my farmer’s market days are numbered.  And, I do the exact same thing every year. I go to the market, per my routine, but all of a sudden, as I feel the hands of time ticking away, I begin to purchase gargantuan amounts of produce. [Read more…]