Plants Posts
Sweet Cherry Jam
I love jam. On toast. In marinades for ribs and glazes for chicken. Warmed up and drizzled over vanilla ice cream. This sweet cherry jam is a fabulous way to enjoy cherries as they come into season. Because this jam has a lot of sugar, I never bother canning it. It will keep just fine in the fridge for a few weeks—if it lasts that long.
Strawberry Brunch Tart with Thyme and Black Pepper
This is not a fancy tart. It’s not one of those gorgeous, fresh-fruit-and-custard puff pastry things that looks like a piece of art. I’ll make you one of those one of these days. Don’t get me wrong: Those are lovely, too. But, this…this is messy and delicious and is the kind of thing that you [...]
Basic Cooking: Perfect Mashed Potatoes
I could eat bowls of buttery mashed potatoes for dinner—which is probably why I don’t make them too often. (Hello, carb coma!) There are a zillion recipes out there for making mashed potatoes. Here’s how I make mine. They’re simple and creamy—and just a wee bit tangy from the addition of a little sour cream. [...]
Spicy Mango Lime Salsa with Asian Pear
Mmm, mmm, mmmm. The combination of fresh mango, lime, and cilantro just screams summer. Food like this makes me want to kick off my shoes and go run through the sprinkler a few times. (I can’t tell you how glad I am…finally!…for the warmer weather.) This salsa has a really good balance of flavors and [...]
Fennel & Jicama Slaw
Summer’s coming. This means a lot of things for The Mouse House, not the least of which is a lot more barbecue. Now, I like my barbecue more on the melt-your-face-off-hot side of things. This slaw is cool, crisp, and oh-so-refreshing—making it a great counterpoint to any kind of spicy food. (Looking for another easy [...]
Classic Cucumber Salad
I remember versions of this from summer picnics when I was a little mouse. It’s one of the first things I love to make when the winter weather starts to break. This salad is a cool and classic combination of sour cream and dill. To prepare it, you soak the cuke slices in a little [...]
Open-Faced Avocado Sandwich
If butter were a vegetable, it’d be an avocado. (It’s no wonder I love these little green guys so much.) This sandwich is one of my guilty pleasures. It’s a great, no-hassle lunch or dinner in a pinch. I mean, let’s face it: Sometimes, you just don’t feel like cooking.
Strawberries & Cream Cake
Spring is coming. Bring on the strawberries! This cake has all the flavors of a classic strawberry shortcake—all in one cake. It’s great by itself, or served with a big dollop of creme chantilly, or scoop or two of good vanilla ice cream. This cake is good with regular, ole supermarket strawberries. For outstanding berry [...]
Warm & Smokey Asparagus Salad
Fresh asparagus is one of my favorite signs of spring. This salad is a fabulous, no fuss way to enjoy it. Whip it up when you start cooking dinner, then let the flavors happily meld together while you finish preparing the rest of your meal. Asparagus and bacon are a match made in heaven. For [...]
Eggplant Fries
Be still my heart. Those aren’t french fries. They’re eggplant fries! As in, eggplant in french-fry form. Are they healthier for you? Probably not. Do they make up for it by being super delicious? Oh, hell yeah. Now, I have to admit that I’m conflicted about eggplant. It’s definitely not one of my favorite veggies. [...]
