— but the real disguise is inside. Camouflaged in the bright yellow shell is a squash that shreds like strands of spaghetti. That’s where the resemblance ends! The first time I had spaghetti squash it had an Italian pasta sauce on it! Disaster. My mind couldn’t get over the visual— and it tasted like sweet … Continue reading
Broccoli is a super food, packed with nutrition and very few calories. Cauliflower it’s country cousin seems to “pale” by comparison. More subtle in flavor— but full of it’s own virtues. Healthy? Add a garlic mist to the cousins kiss and I’m talking Super foods. With or without cranberries this Wreath of Health is easy … Continue reading
Last night I had zucchini dreams. The beautiful zucchini blossoms have produced a bumper crop of squash and I was given 2 giant zucchini from Kristin’s Kitchen Garden. They haunted me. The day before, I read in the Chicago Tribune about the new USDA food pyramid rules. People are starting to talk about all the … Continue reading
Radish, one of my first loves. My first crop as a six year old urban farmer. How hard it was to choose the seeds, looking at the abundant array of choices displayed at the hardware store. Each envelope held a tablespoon of seeds, with the promise of magic. Radish seeds are small, skinny, smaller than … Continue reading
Spring is the time to pick dandelion greens. An Italian favorite, with it’s bitter bite…you know it has to be good for you! Chicago is bursting with Spring. Flowering Plum, Crabapple, Horse Chestnut, Lilac, Choke Cherry, and we even have the Maggie Daley Tulipa. Some blooms are already gone, preparing for the next stage, the … Continue reading
Ryan and his friends, Jeff and Nick, visited last week over Spring break and Jeff wanted something stuffed for lunch—the way Chicago is known for overstuffing…pizza, hot dogs, Italian beef, corned beef. After the River Architectural Tour we headed for Gino’s East Home of the Stuffed Pizza and they were overstuffed! Stuffed was still on … Continue reading
The Easter Bunny might need earmuffs. The air is chill. Think daffodil. I think of Shattone. Do I make it alone? Or edit my book in progress, keep the recipe for the book and make an Italian Roasted Veggie Stew… So good for me and you. Italian Roasted Veggie Stew 1 large red bell pepper, … Continue reading
Saint Patrick’s Day is this week, in Chicago that means a celebration with an Irish party and parade!!! St Joseph’s Day is this week, in Chicago that means another celebration with a procession and an Italian St. Joseph’s Table, a table of abundance to be shared. The Story Week Festival of Writers on Genre Bending … Continue reading
Human beings cannot manufacture Vitamin C in our bodies–— and we need constant replenishment of this vitamin from dietary sources. With this photo I’m thinking of Lestat and constant replenishment….but not to digress, it doesn’t have to be a blood orange, the flesh of a single naval orange will do, with only 64 calories, it … Continue reading
It’s kisses one misses. You can get a lei —any day. But sweet kisses one misses. Want to keep your honey heart-healthy and fit? “Super Foods” kale and cranberries transmit… a heart-healthy treat. Need I repeat? “We are what we eat!” Kale & Kisses (tomato and cranberry) 3 cups of chopped kale, remove stems, chop … Continue reading
Italian Handful 