The required Easter snapshot. One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. Monday – Quinoa Taco Salad Tuesday – Ham and Pineapple Pizza Wednesday – Chicken Fajitas Thursday– Spring Panzanella Friday – Ginger... more

Spring has sprung, complete with puddles to splash in. One of the things we strive for when planning our menus is making everything fit together into one nice, neat little package. We look to use ingredients in different ways throughout the week so that we’re benefiting from the ability of do-aheads and being able to buy in bulk. We also benefit from a well-stocked pantry. Monday – Maple-Glazed Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Tuesday – Quinoa Vegetable Paella Wednesday – BBQ Chicken... more

Maybe you’ve already purchased another turkey and stored it in your freezer. If not, I want to convince you to go out and buy one this week at a discounted price. Just because you had your fill on roast turkey and mashed potatoes doesn’t mean you have to pass on that incredible deal at the local supermarket. This is the perfect time to stock your freezer full of last-minute meals, soups and casseroles that taste nothing like the Thanksgiving meal from last Thursday. Green bean casserole... more

Summer is gone. The 42 degree motorcycle ride to work this morning made it official for me. It is October, over a month past Labor Day. This year was an especially good Labor Day. We hosted our first (annual according to the neighbors) Ribfest and it was a great success. The idea has been brewing for a while now. Every time we make real BBQ people want to know how it’s done, and I happily tell them. Unfortunately, that can take over an hour because I really like to talk about BBQ (real... more

I have been running around frantically for the past week or two with more things to do than i can possibly keep track of. There’s been coordinating the book fair, baptisms for itty bitty babies, hospital visits with my sister-in-law and niece, doctor’s appointments and, of course, the ever present work that fills my days. Luckily, simple dinners like this can be assembled a day or two before and require only minimum prep work to get them in the oven and steaming hot to the table. If... more

While this lemon chicken pasta salad could function as a side dish or a potluck item, we eat it on top of a bed of organic spring mix greens as a meal. It’s fantastic paired with garlic bread or pesto cheese bread as well or even just a few raw vegetables for dipping. It’s easy to make ahead, and it stores well in the fridge. As with any creamy pasta salad, it absorbs the moisture the longer it sits. If this bothers you, simple stir in a tablespoon of milk or two tablespoons of ranch... more

I spent a week or two at my grandpa’s during high school at one point. I was avoiding reality, and he needed someone to keep him company. At some point I went home to my parents and my four younger siblings, but he let me take a few things with me, the most important being my grandma’s cookbooks. To this day, they are one of my favorite possessions. I paged through them, looking at my grandma’s handwriting, finding her bookmarks, carefully placed in the pages. I read the recipes,... more