I am inspired to share with you that summer is around the corner. It’s time for the new seasonal harvest of crisp and fresh vegetables as well as warm and long summer days. As a culinary specialist, the time of year creates many adventures that excites the palate. Good, fresh food shared with others. Salads are a great way to enjoy all the freshness the season brings. A salad is a dish consisting of mixed, mostly natural ingredients. They are typically served at room temperature or … [Read more...] about Creating a Fresh Salad
The Natural Healing Garden
Spring Up with Culinary Herbs
Spring is here and it is time to celebrate the season! I recall springtime memories from my time living in Phoenix; the desert blooming with magical colors of wildflowers and cactus bearing fruit. We would attend Spring Training baseball games and celebrate with the fans and players. Spring Break was also a time for celebration when our children would be off from school and we would take road trips. For many of us, we do “spring cleaning” in our homes, closets and office spaces. Perhaps your … [Read more...] about Spring Up with Culinary Herbs
Encouraging a New Year of Culinary Blessings
As we ring in the new year, I must admit that 2022 was an incredible year. I experienced with my team many opportunities where food, teamwork, creativity and growth came as true blessings. It was also one of the hardest years for me personally and professionally; however, at the end of it, I feel stronger. For those of you who may know me, I love celebrating the culinary experience. Sharing food is a portrayal of my love language. Breaking bread is the best way to describe it. The urban … [Read more...] about Encouraging a New Year of Culinary Blessings
Preparing a Joyful, Immune-Boosting Cup
Who doesn’t feel warm and peaceful while sipping a cup of steaming hot cocoa with marshmallows on top, or a double espresso peppermint latte made with almond milk, extra froth and a candy cane, or smelling the sweet scent of an herbal tea with a drizzle of honey added to it? Recently, we celebrated my friend, Melanie, and had a fundraiser to help her with her wellness and medical needs, for she has cancer. It was a lovely event where her family, friends, community members and perfect … [Read more...] about Preparing a Joyful, Immune-Boosting Cup
Cooking with Pumpkin
It is the celebration of autumn. Throughout the community, we see signs of the festive season: “Hocus Pocus” decorations, Halloween candy, carved pumpkins, warm cider and, perhaps most popular, pumpkin pie. Pumpkin is a favorite autumn ingredient. Growing up, we loved carving pumpkins, scooping out the seeds and making homemade pumpkin pie. Helping my mom in the kitchen was a treat when she made pumpkin bread. Whether you cut up the fresh pumpkin or purchase canned pumpkin, there are so many … [Read more...] about Cooking with Pumpkin
Celebrate Celery
While growing up, my best memories of celery were spread with cream cheese on a veggie platter. Peanut butter and raisins on top of celery was always a fun treat. That would be called “Ants on a Log.” My mother would also attach the food grinder to the table and begin placing multiple stalks of celery into the unit grinder for our Thanksgiving stuffing. I loved helping her with this project. As an adult and culinary specialist, I include celery in many of our recipes. I especially like … [Read more...] about Celebrate Celery
Eating During Stressful Times
Stress can be found in the faces of family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. I have seen perfect strangers with frantic looks on their faces. My heart goes out to them. I can share that I, too, have experienced forms of stress. As a local business owner, wife, mother and grandmother, I have stress points throughout the day. My overall health has been affected. You may have read in the past two articles that I have Hashimoto’s Disease, an autoimmune disease that specifically attacks my … [Read more...] about Eating During Stressful Times
Eating Healthy Food is Part of Self-Care
When you hear the term “self-care,” what comes to mind? For many years, I have thought that self-care involved getting a massage, receiving a luxurious facial, hiking in our beautiful forests, attending a fancy retreat, relaxing in a bubble bath, reading a good book and listening to jazz music with some lighted candles. Through the years, I have found that self-care was holding my grandsons and rocking them to sleep after storytime or sitting on the porch and watching deer walk through the … [Read more...] about Eating Healthy Food is Part of Self-Care
Let There Be Quiche
My Grandma Betty Scardine was my family cooking instructor. I would watch her every move as she would shift from the upstairs and basement kitchens. I loved how she took the simplest ingredients and created wonderful dishes and culinary memories. I can recall watching Julia Child, the famous American cooking teacher from France. I loved how she created the most amazing dishes and introduced the French cooking techniques as I watched her on the family television. Her skillful and often comical … [Read more...] about Let There Be Quiche
Defining Culinary Teamwork
Growing up in our family, there were roles we each took as meals were being prepared. Opening cans of tomatoes and cream of mushroom soup was exciting for me, for my mom was going to make “Goulash,” a common casserole with ground beef, elbow macaroni and other fine ingredients we had in the refrigerator. Our family called it “Shitabowla!” Pronounced Sheetabowla. I am chuckling as I am writing this. Growing up, I wanted to take on roles in the kitchen to help with the family meals. I also … [Read more...] about Defining Culinary Teamwork
