My mother was an elementary school teacher – back in the days when the ABC’s were more important than teaching political correctness. Her mother was also a teacher – before college degrees were required for educators.
Gluten Free
Golden Borscht
While in Ukraine, we ate soup every day. Temperature over 90 degrees: soup for lunch. Humidity at the tropical level: soup for supper. Long days of teaching, playing, and chasing kids: soup for lunch AND supper. In fact, my Ukrainian interpreter (and friend) was stunned to learn that our family doesn’t eat soup for 4 or 5 months out of the year. But now I am converted to being a Summer Soup Supporter.
Sage and Lemon Chicken Thighs
This was NOT the summer to garden — from a hot and dry beginning, to insane amounts of rain, to traveling out of the country for nearly 3 weeks. But I have to say, my sage plants are happy, happy, HAPPY!
Lazy Day Cabbage Rolls – Kåldolmar
So, I’m totally NOT into labour-intensive food these days. Summertime is for playing, spending time outdoors, hanging out with friends, and traveling.
Spicy Sausage Skillet Spaghetti
I am rather proud to announce that I haven’t turned the oven on in more than one week. With hot weather, busy schedules, and lack of motivation, I’ve been relying on my pressure cooker and trusty skillet to make good meals.
Skillet Steak Enchiladas
For many years it seems I have cooked for a small army – our kids, their friends, exchange students, and the people we lovingly refer to as “strays”. Now that we are a smaller family, leftovers have become part of our lives.
Spicy Chicken and Zucchini Stir Fry
I have a difficult time completing tasks: Laundry gets folded, but not put away. Mail is looked at but not filed or thrown away. Bathrooms get cleaned except for the floor. Am I just too busy? Do I have ADD? Do I need help??? (don’t answer that one out loud, please!)
Chicken with Butternut Squash and Bok Choy
A line by Shakespeare in The Tempest, and distorted with time, comes to mind with this dish: “misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows”. While he meant the phrase quite literally, modern English has changed it to a phrase tossed out when things just don’t logically seem to fit together. It is the more recent usage of Shakespeare’s phrase that describes this dish.
Beef, Bacon & Kale Stuffed Acorn Squash
Even though my mind is arguing with me, some dishes don’t actually need to be topped with bubbly cheese in order to be delicious. Every moment that I was planning this recipe, chopping, browning, and assembling, I was trying to think of which wonderful cheese should be the crowning glory. Nothing. Nada. Zippo. NOT NECESSARY. This is amazing on its own.
Red Hot Turkey Chili
Have you ever noticed that the nearer a country is to the Equator, the spicier the food is? It seems like hot food in hot weather makes people cooler and more comfortable. That’s logical, I guess!
