Is it my Fall pumpkin? It could have been my new “go to”  fall wardrobe piece, but isn’t. Instead it’s my new token of affection!!! The casserole dish that makes my work even more enjoyable and your food taste even better. Bon Appetit.

There is a first time for anything and this “first” was tackling a gorgeous crate of peaches and attempt to can them. Something I have never before tried but I figured with the resident experts around me and the advent of google I had a fair chance of turning these luscious peaches into Christmas gifts. After reviewing several canning sites and re-reading over and over again to make sure I didn’t miss a crucial step I set up shop. Shhhhh everybody, mom’s focussing and really doesn’t want to blow it. It was a fairly meditative process until the last step, sealing up those jars and waiting for the 12 – 24 hours to see if they had sealed properly. A little stressful, at one point in the night I heard the beloved “ping” the seal of approval. The next day my son told me he had heard a ping or two!! Woo hoo I could at least count on 3 out of 12 attempts. It’s all in the journey I kept saying to myself, “at least you tried Linda”. The end result was 11 out of 12 little soldiers. Nice!

I found this image recently after another blissful sunny summer day. After a day of friends, water and unlimited sunshine the tribe headed out to have a bite to eat at a very special remote establishment. The surroundings were idyllic, rolling green pastures, sweet smelling country air, a restaurant with the best pizza pies ever, a few came by horse they were tied to the fences, indoor, outdoor seating was available we chose a picnic table outside, 3 pies that we swooned over and when all was said and done and we thanked our lucky stars for such an offering we then discovered the band playing a couple of songs in the amazingly cute (hot) loft inside. When it was time to replenish the wine it was then that I discovered this image. Made the day and night complete. Namaste!

I am so fortunate to prepare the meals that I do, some of which require crazy ingredients that thankfully I can usually find in my metropolis! Then one weekend I find myself in the country……and a friend shows me her chickens and graciously offers me a dozen eggs from these special birds, especially LWC , Little White Chicken. I have never held a chicken before that felt like my cat, soft, small and sweet! And I am in awe of the beauty and simplicity of this one ingredient, the egg and once again feel so fortunate.

I must say it’s a wonderful thing when you can take your work with you, isn’t it? Probably for most of you the notion is far from appealing but hey I am happy to cook anywhere! Even at the ocean even when surrounded by a gaggle of small children running around my feet all day even after two days of sunny skies then turning into classic grey, damp beach weather making that gaggle of children a bit more evident. My job was to cook for the grown ups after kiddy bedtime and I rose to the occasion, sand in my shorts, damp sheets to sleep in all of this was bliss. I was able to hear the ocean roar, smell the salt, play in the sand, struggle with basic (read non existent) kitchen utensils and still pull off a satisfying meal for my crew!

You can take me on vacation anytime!

There is always a reward for a job well done!

Whose hungry? We have plenty!

And so it goes……Mother Nature forces us to move on. In my urban neck of the woods the streets are dry, the clatter of skateboarding is prominent and my son insists of wearing only a hoodie because “It’s sooo hot outside mom”! I still need gloves and something to break the fresh wind. 

The spring covers of food magazines are now all sporting edible flowers, chocolate bunnies and sexy shots of lamb chops. Just as the old winter stews were getting a little tired a new crop abounds pushing us into the next culinary direction. A delightful menu to bring us there are grilled marinated lamb chops with balsamic cherry tomatoes and barley with toasted cumin and mint. This is an easy and healthy recipe that has a lot of wow factor for your family or your guests.

Bon appétit!

I love my job! In fact I can’t even call it a “job” because of the joy I find in it everyday. My house is filled with warm delicious cooking aromas, I dance around the kitchen, there is no persnickity boss leering over my shoulder making cranky demands. I AM the boss and that would be pretty challenging breathing down my own neck, but I digress. At the same time as I bounce out of bed in the morning wondering what culinary delights I will be embarking on that day, let’s face it, even “dream jobs” can have some annoying elements. Enter pet peeves. Like…..having to purchase a bushel of parsley for only two required tablespoons, I know I could make soup or start my own herb garden, getting there…..or running out of a crucial ingredient on a minus 50 winter day and having to run out to the store to get it and the recipe really calls for it! Then there is the daily, ranks right up there, can’t escape it unless someone does something nice for me which sometimes does  happen, the UNLOADING OF THE DISHWAHSER, ugh, but mostly the cutlery tray…….hate it. It’s ok I don’t need a birthday gift or Mother’s Day card, just please empty the dishwasher for me, everyday, at the very least the cutlery tray. Now you know.

Love is in my heart, in my kitchen, even in a greasy parking lot, watching your pal get out of a snow hole or the artisan garlic chopping board from my dad. I believe if it’s in your heart truly, you will see it everywhere.