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Making Tomato Sauce

This week I made tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes. It was a first for me. Despite my Italian heritage, most of the sauce we eat comes out of a jar or a can. I’ve always been intimidated by luscious homemade tomato sauce, also known in some families as gravy. But you know what? it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. The first step was the main ingredient: tomatoes. I had plenty of those, thanks to our local CSA. Actually, it was the tomatoes that inspired making the sauce. Next, I did a little research. I found that … Continue reading →

Tomato Abundance

Our local CSA delivered an abundance of tomatoes this past week. There are all sorts of varieties of great organic heirloom tomatoes. Of course, I had just happened to buy three or four tomatoes earlier in the week without thinking that I might get some, so my stash of tomatoes overfloweth. I have been using this opportunity to make some great new dishes using the tomatoes. The other day, I made a ratatouille (you don’t know how long it took me to learn to spell that one), which the kids loved because of the movie. My favorite tomato dish, though … Continue reading →

Making the Most of Summer’s Harvest: Tomato, Summer Squash and Cucumber Salad

You know that summer is winding down when the price for a pound of strawberries passes the $3 mark… again (up from $1.50 a few weeks ago) and local markets are practically giving away tomatoes. You can count on an abundance of cucumbers and tomatoes during the late summer months and if you are counting calories and pennies then you might as well make the most of the current crop. The following recipe is a terrific way to showcase your own homegrown vegetables or simply a way to infuse a traditional summer cookout with a hearty dose of nutrients. Besides … Continue reading →

Four Alternatives to the Grocery Store

Just fifteen or twenty years ago it would have been unusual to buy your groceries from anywhere other than your typical neighborhood grocery store. Things have definitely changed since then and the average consumer has a whole range of opportunities to shop for food. Gone on are the days when the supermarket was practically the only place most people went to get their groceries. According to the Wall Street Journal, Americans are only shopping for groceries at supermarkets 51 percent of the time. So where are they going for grocery purchases, and will those places save them money? 1. Big … Continue reading →

What You Need to Know about Maple Syrup

Is your maple syrup all that it should be? Real maple syrup can be used not only for pancakes but also in many savory dishes. When choosing maple syrup from the store, it is important to read the ingredient label. There should be only one: maple syrup. Just because a bottle is labeled all natural does not mean that it is pure or real maple syrup. Cheaper syrups, usually labeled pancake syrup often have no trace of maple syrup in them at all. Maple syrup comes in four different USDA grades, lighter and darker. The darker grades (the syrup is … Continue reading →

Finding Fresh High Quality Ingredients

The quality of your ingredients will definitely affect the quality of your meals. And while you may be able to get away with certain common ingredients for every day cooking, if you want to step it up for certain meals, you’ll have to find fresh, high quality ingredients for your recipes. You’ll definitely be able to tell the difference in your cooking. Fresh, high quality ingredients don’t necessarily have to be expensive, although you may pay a bit more than the normal processed supermarket fare. Of course, if your sources include local farmer’s markets, co-ops and the like, you should … Continue reading →

Creating Color: Dye Plants in the Garden

If you have children, you’ll know about some amazing dye plants. Tomatoes (via spaghetti sauce) are pretty good, as are blueberries and cherries, particularly when they’re mashed on a white shirt. While many of us run for the wash at the sight of these glorious fruits being mashed into clothing, some people actively seek out plants that dye cloth. I want to be one of them. I love dyeing silk, and I would love to dye some wool this year. Through my experiments, I’ve discovered a number of plants that make lovely dyes. Over the next few years, I’ll be … Continue reading →

How to Choose the Right Pasta

Although I am typing this away from home (while waiting during one of my children’s sports activities), my mind is on dinner tonight. We have an abundance of tomatoes that must be addressed. While I enjoy fresh organic tomatoes just sliced with a bit of salt or for fancy, fancy, a bit of mozzarella cheese and oregano then broiled, the fact is that there are too many tomatoes for even me to eat. I could make a tomato pie, but my husband prefers some freshly made sauce for tonight’s dinner. Since he made dinner yesterday, I feel that I should … Continue reading →

Finding a Farmer Near You

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Here, our spring has been persistently wet and cold. However, I have hope. I know that one day soon this weather will turn a corner, and when it does the crops will begin to come in. Yum to fresh garlic scapes and the tender leafy greens that thrive in our wet weather. And double yum to the delicious berries that will follow them in the summer time, berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Other crops will make their way down from a nearby warm area. Crops like peaches, plums, and even cherries will be here in abundance. How do I … Continue reading →

Strategies For Getting More Healthy Food For Less Money

If you have a tight grocery budget, food shopping is a challenge, to say the least. You want to feed your family the most healthful meals that you can, but it seems like the healthier a food is, the more it costs. There are a few ways that you can get fresh, healthy food for your family without breaking the bank. Try the following tips and see whether they can work for your family. If you live somewhere with room for a garden, or even a balcony with room for some potted plants, you may want to try your hand … Continue reading →