Kendra and Eduardo are home for a visit. The last few peonies were still in bloom and Kendra’s wedding dress still hung in the bedroom upstairs, so we did a bridal photo shoot. I love photographing peonies. They’re no shrinking violets. The pink peonies are sweet perfection for the bridesmaids. These peonies were planted for […]
May Wine
Late afternoon sun streaming through May Wine. This herbal delight is traditionally made in Germany with Reisling wine on May 1st to celebrate Spring. This jug barely made May here in Upper Black Eddy for the sweet woodruff has just blossomed. We won’t talk about the weather (grumble, grumble). May Wine Print […]
Terrariums
Every other October, just around my birthday, Tovah Martin would grace us here in bucks County, Pa with her sweet and generous spirit. I’ve loved all of her books. Jerry Fritz, of Linden Hill Garden Design, would host Tovah for a terrarium workshop. Everything would be there for us (Jerry is a detail person impeccable […]
Pear and Butternut Squash Chutney
This chutney, with the cinnamon and cardamom, has the taste of India. Here I’ve served it with a cheese and cracker assortment but it would go very well with samosas, pakoras, dosas, dal, or rice. The cheese, starting at the top center and continuing clockwise are a local cheese called Hereford, which is like a […]
Italian Mushroom and Barley Soup with Wild Mountain Oregano
Updated January 1, 2026 Brrrr. Baby, it’s cold outside. No better time for soup than today. As I gathered the ingredients, I found I had Italian barley, Italian olive oil from our friends Ann and André, and Italian wild mountain oregano that I just scored from Metropolitan Seafood. With all local produce from the Wrightstown […]
Freezing Broccoli
This time of year the brassicas, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, and Brussels sprouts, have been touched by frost and have sweetened up; a perfect time for preserving for the winter freezer. Look for broccoli with tight heads and no yellow flowers sprouting. By steaming the broccoli stems separately from the florets, we don’t waste and […]
Salade (Almost) Nicoise
No tuna here, so I’ve used my French Potato Salad and my French Mustard Vinaigrette. Oui, oui. The large heirloom tomatoes are done. They’re still around but don’t have that sun-ripened brightness that makes them queen of the garden throughout the hot days of summer. Cherry tomatoes hold their taste longer, probably because they are […]
French Mustard Vinaigrette
Making a Niçoise salad today with the potato salad from yesterday. So here’s the dressing I’ll be using, a simple mustard vinaigrette. When making salad dressings, taste for the balance of oil and vinegar. Each vinegar will vary in dominance over the oil. Lemon juice is the mildest with cider and red wine vinegar […]
French Potato Salad
This is from Ina Garten’s first book, Barefoot in Paris. I only make potato salad once a year, usually in the dead of summer to add some weight to green leafy salads. This is the one I make. The secret is to add the champagne vinegar and olive oil when the potatoes are still hot. […]
Drying Herbs
Air-Dry Hang tiny bundles held together with a rubber band or some twine. Or dry on a rack or screen, separating the larger leaves, and placing in a cool, well-ventilated space out of direct sunlight. […]