• Food

    Caprese Pasta Salad

    featured photo for the caprese salad

    Welcome to summer! The season where the basil is full and needs deadheading to prevent bolting. Then there are tomatoes, glorious tomatoes. I don’t know about you but a caprese salad is always on my menu during the summer months. And then a recipe to inspire me with pasta found it’s way into my kitchen. Caprese pasta salad was tweaked, changed, made and remade…delivered to friends…and shared with neighbors. What could be better, right? This recipe is one that I shared in this month’s VUE magazine…but, many who don’t live here may have missed grabbing a copy or reading online.…

  • Herbed butter
    Food

    Compound Herb Butters

    Tis the season for herbs…and hence, compound herb butters. I don’t know about you, but as soon as I can after potential frosts, I plant herbs. Lots of them. Basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary and sage are always added to the…

  • close up of chili made with homemade canned tomato juice
    Food

    Canning Chili Beans

    If you have been here long, you know how dearly I LOVE to can. When a friend mentioned canning chili beans? Oh, yeah, my ears perked up. Have you ever canned chili beans? Starting in June and ending in the…

  • Red, white and blueberry pie
    Food,  Life

    Favorite July 4th Recipes

    It’s hard to believe that the fourth of July is this weekend! I’m not sure how much outdoors we will do with the extreme heat now and forecast, but I’ll be prepared with our favorite July 4th recipes. For sure!…

  • serving bowl of Mama's Yellow Summer Squash
    Food

    Mama’s Yellow Summer Squash

    Growing up, during the summer months, we ate yellow squash. Lots of it and cooked only one way. There was never breading or casserole versions. Only Mama’s summer squash. How did Mama make her yellow squash? Well, first of all,…

  • basil salt
    Food

    Basil Salt

    It’s the season for basil here…and when I found a recipe for basil salt? Oh, my goodness, I was all in! Have you ever made basil salt? Each year I buy a small 3″ pot of basil in the produce…

  • Summer Sheet Pan Nachos
    Food

    Summer Sheet Pan Nachos

    I don’t know about you, but with summer vegetables abundant already, summer sheet pan nachos are my new best friend. Fast, easy and delicious, it makes great use of fresh tomatoes, avocado, red onion, corn, pepper, cilantro, jalapenos, green onions,…

  • roasted beets in bowl with fresh kale
    Food

    Roasted Beets- A Favorite Side

    Are you a beet lover? I know you are either a lover or hater of beets. It’s one of those vegetables. I love them any way they are prepared. Canned, pickled, cold, warm…and then I made roasted beets. OH, MY!…

  • back centered AI inspired garden area
    Projects

    How to Use AI for Garden Planning

    I don’t know if you’ve gone down the bunny hole with AI yet…but I truly needed inspiration for a backyard garden planning update. If you’ve followed along you’ve seen my 8′ tall zinnia bed that sometimes I plant and other…

  • overhead taco ring
    Food

    Cinco de Mayo Favorite Recipes

    Happy Cinco de Mayo! Are you like me and love to have favorite Cinco de Mayo recipes? We love Mexican recipes any time of year…so what better time to celebrate, right? If you have followed me long, you know that…