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May 28, 2021
This is about...
CREAMY Strawberry Rhubarb Popsicles---YUM!!
        THEY SAY THAT WHAT GROWS TOGETHER, GOES TOGETHER. This is certainly the case with strawberries and rhubarb. The largest growing season for strawberries in the northeast is about 5 weeks, starting in the late spring/early summer from June to July. And, the best time to harvest rhubarb starts a little earlier in May and goes through early July too.   SO THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO GET YOUR FILL. And right now it's easy to find them--fresh and locally grown at any farmers market or even many grocery stores.
        I used both of them in my ice pop recipe here. But the real star is...
 
April 22, 2021
This is about...
Gingery Carrot Dressing---YUM!!
  WHAT'S MORE SPRINGTIME THAN CARROTS?   This dressing celebrates them with Asian/Thai flavors, and it deliberately has a ton of zip. You can tone it down with less ginger, but what's the fun in that?   I WAS READY FOR A CHANGE from my go-to basic mustard/lemon vinaigrette, AND THIS IS IT!  It will perk up any salad, and it's super easy to make--just a whizz in your blender and done.
        But don't stop there. Stir it into noodles or rice. Use as a dip for veggies, even avocado slices or as a sandwich spread. And, if you use maple syrup or agave, it's accidentally vegan too...
 
March 23, 2021
This is about...
THE BEST CARROT CAKE---YUM!!
        It's Spring again! One of my favorite Spring treats is AN HOMEMADE LAYERED CARROT CAKE TOPPED WITH SWIRLS OF THE CREAMIEST CREAM CHEESE FROSTING. This cake always arrives at Easter, even if I don't make it, it magically appears--last year my friend Lainey made it. (Hi Lainey!)
        This is also a BIG SELLER at my cupcake shop.    I HAVE SOLD OVER 20,000 OF THEM OVER THE YEARS!    So, I'm not the only one that loves this recipe.
        Yes there's some chopping and grating, but once that's done, it's basically a ...
 
March 16, 2021
This is about...
Broccoli Bacon Salad ----YUM!
        STAYING AT HOME ALL DAY LONG MEANS THAT I'M SURROUNDED BY FOOD  A-L-L   D-A-Y   L-O-N-G.  My kitchen is one big room with a double island in the center and a kitchen table on one end---which I love.   It's basically my whole downstairs except for a piano and TV, a bathroom and a bedroom.   Food of all sorts is never more than a couple of feet away from me, as I'm always baking or concocting something yummy to eat.   So, since I love to pick and snack--IT'S BECOME A STRUGGLE!   And even though I can say "NO!" most of the time...
 
March 3, 2021
This is about...
Super Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies ----YUM!
        EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER, THERE HAS BEEN THIS COOKIE DEBATE that has separated most everyone into two camps---SOFT AND CHEWY, OR CRISPY AND CRUNCHY?
        So, which are you?
 
February 11, 2021
This is about...
Red Wine Buttercream Frosting----YUM!
        WELL, IT WILL BE VALENTINE'S DAY ON SUNDAY, A VERY UNUSUAL ONE INDEED. To add insult to injury another big snow storm is headed our way on the 14th, just after we had 25 inches fall less than 2 weeks ago. BUT WE CAN STILL CELEBRATE---RIGHT? How about red wine and chocolate? They are a lovely pairing, so why not combine both in a cupcake?
        Whip up a chocolate cupcake, or vanilla or any other flavor that suits your fancy. Bake them from a mix or your favorite recipe. Then, top it with this pretty red wine buttercream.
        You're going to use a lot of wine....
 
February 2, 2021
This is about...
Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Cauliflower DIP----YUM!
        NOT ALOT OF PARTYING WENT ON IN 2020, AND SADLY NOTHING HAS CHANGED YET.   So if you always cheered on one of the teams at a big Super Bowl party in past years, that's not gonna happen this year.   Still, if you want to celebrate in a smaller way, you'll probably want some chips and dip along with a bunch of other munchies while you stretch out in front of your TV.
        ME,   I'M NOT A FOOTBALL FAN,   BUT I AM A TV COMMERCIAL AND HALF-TIME FAN. And, I can certainly get into the munchie part.  However, even though I held the 2020 "15" at bay, can I keep it up in 2021?   It's a constant struggle, doing Isaac Boots almost every day, and trying my best to make tasty, yet healthy food to eat.   That means there will be no ....
 
January 27, 2021
This is about...
Roasted Sweet Potato Soup----YUM!
        Winter and a steamy bowl of soup are the perfect combo. And, THIS ROASTED SWEET POTATO SOUP WILL FEEL LIKE A WARM HUG. It's smooth and creamy, sweet and tangy, and soooooo comforting.
        Unlike most recipes, where you would boil the potatoes in the soup, THESE SWEET POTATOES ARE BAKED ALONG WITH CARROTS AND ONIONS until they are just beginning to caramelize, intensifying all of their flavors. Combining them with coconut milk, chicken stock, warm spices and the zing of a little lemon juice makes for some soothing, winter-time comfort in a bowl.....
 
January 11, 2021
This is about...
A Bloat Reducing Digestive Enhancer!
        WELL, IT'S JANUARY, AND I FEEL GROSS.   I need a change. I need to amp up my diet, and "healthify" it big time.    In past years, I've done serious cleanses, flying to the southern California desert, drinking only liquids, doing yoga and a few other unmentionable things. And, I always come back feeling sooo much better. For obvious reasons, that's not happening this year.   So I FOUND A "CLEANSE" FOR BLOATING AND DETOX THAT I CAN DO AT HOME. It basically removes all the inflammatory foods out of your diet. What are inflammatory foods?   Sad to say all the fun stuff---diary, sugar, white flour--gluten, fried, alcohol, too much salt, basically all the junk is gone. YOU CAN STILL EAT REALLY WELL THOUGH, WITH LOTS OF FOOD.   It's just.....
 
December 28, 2020
This is about...
Lentil SLOPPY JOES ---YUM!
        IT'S ALMOST NEW YEAR'S! AND GOOD RIDDANCE TO 2020! 2021 has to be better. And I hope for all of us that it is.
        To help bring in a better coming year, my grandmother had a New Year's Day tradition which all of her grandkids hated--eating a bowl full of sludgy lentil soup. Every year, no matter what, that pot was boiling on the stove when we arrived. There was no way of wiggling out of it. Because THIS WAS ONE WAY SHE BELIEVED WE WOULD HAVE GOOD LUCK AND HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR. The only redeeming value was....

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December 20, 2020
This is about...
Homemade Chocolate TRUFFLES ---YUM!
        THIS HAS BEEN A VERY UNUSUAL HOLIDAY SEASON. But to be safe and healthy, it's best not to take any risks. So, I'll basically still be hanging out at home. Next year hopefully will be so much better. STILL I THINK WE'RE ENTITLED TO SOME EXTRA TREATS THIS YEAR. So along with a few batches of Christmas cookies, although they will be much smaller batches, I'm making some homemade chocolate truffles this year. THEY ARE SO DECADENT. AND SO EASY TO MAKE. It's not necessary to even have a stove.
        They are basically a chocolate ganache. So what's a chocolate ganache? Simply, it's finely chopped chocolate combined with very hot heavy cream, and then stirred until smooth and shiny. The basic ratio is 2:1-- chocolate to cream. So once you have that under your belt....
 
November 24, 2020
This is about...
Baked Apple Cider DONUTS---YUM!
        THANKSGIVING IS ALMOST HERE. And I thought I'd focus on the morning after this year. You're gonna eat all those yummy leftovers for lunch and dinner and that includes those pumpkin, apple and/or pecan pies. I always include a little mincemeat one for me and I gotta have a chocolate cream one too.
        But FOR THAT MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST, HOW ABOUT SOME WARM HOMEMADE DONUTS? When they're this easy and delicious, why not? And since they're baked, they're less messy than fried ones, a lot easier to make, and less calories too.
        Of course, they're way more fun when you make them in donut pans, but no worries if you don't have any. THEY CAN BE MADE IN A MUFFIN TIN TOO. But don't use liners, just butter the wells so you can easily coat them in butter and cinnamon sugar.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
 
November 6, 2020
This is about...
RUM RAISIN Applesauce Cake---YUM!
        FALL HAS ARRIVED, AND I WANT ANY AND EVERYTHING APPLE-LY. A homey snack cake is just the ticket. Studded with rum marinated raisins, chopped pecans, and warm spices, this substantial cake has its top slathered with a rum flavored cream cheese frosting. How could it be anything but delicious.
        IT WAS INSPIRED BY an applesauce cake recipe from INA GARTEN. But I kicked it up with more cinnamon, and added rum soaked raisins to the cake, as well as a splash of rum to the frosting. YUM!
 
October 6, 2020
This is about...
Creamy Dairy-FREE Chocolate Pudding---YUM!
        I LOVE PUDDING! BUT LET'S FACE IT--IT'S NOT VERY HEALTHY. Here's a delicious, more healthy alternative. And, this version is even easier than making a traditional one, AND "ACCIDENTALLY" VEGAN---just a whizz in the blender, no cooking required. So, you can have pudding in less than 5 minutes!
        WHAT'S THE TRICK? AVOCADOS! They add all the creaminess needed to make a smooth, silky pudding. An added plus, avocados are high in monosaturated fat, fiber and vitamin E. Secondly, to make this super chocolatey, you have to use a Dutch processed cocoa powder. Plain old natural cocoas, like Hershey's, won't work as well. I love Valrhona, but Droste or Guittard would work too.
        In this dessert, I like to use light agave nectar because it is the most flavorless of all the healthier liquid sweeteners, and let's the chocolate shine. Finally, a pinch of salt helps to highlight the sweetness. So want some yummy pudding fast?....
 
September 29, 2020
This is about...
Vegan Pesto---YUM!
        OK. BEFORE YOU TURN THE DIAL, JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO CHEESE IN THIS PESTO RECIPE, I'LL ASK YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER. Give it just one try. I promise you won't be disappointed. This has all the creamy, bright flavors of the original. And, frankly I like this version just as much as the original---maybe even better. IT DOES REQUIRE ONE UNUSUAL INGREDIENT, NUTRITIONAL YEAST. Maybe you've heard of it before, maybe not. It's a popular nutrient-rich, vegan seasoning that is remarkably similar tasting to Parmesan cheese. Add a splash of lemon to the mix, to make up for that little kick of acidity that a parmesan would be adding, and you have a pesto that you can be proud of....
 
September 17, 2020
This is about...
Zucchini Bread---YUM!
        IF YOU PLANTED A GARDEN THIS SUMMER, YOU PROBABLY PLANTED ZUCCHINI. These plants are really easy to grow--so easy to grow, in fact, that if you miss one day of checking your plants, you may find a few baseball bat size ones waiting for you. Unfortunately, those guys are way too big to eat, becoming mealy and filled with seeds. IDEALLY, YOU WANT LITTLE SHINY GREEN ONES FROM 7-9 INCHES LONG.
        At any rate, if you have become overrun with them and need a few new ways to use them up. Here's an easy loaf cake packed with zucchini that's delicious and easy to make. YUM!

 
September 10, 2020
This is about...
Summer SUCCOTASH---YUM!
        FRESH PICKED CORN IS EVERYWHERE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK RIGHT NOW. And I usually can't get past the most basic way to indulge in it---boiling the ears and slathering them in lots of butter, salt and pepper. I could eat it that way forever. But every once in a while, in addition to my buttery cobs, I ALSO LOVE TO...
 
September 3, 2020
This is about...
Superiority Burger's Crispy Fried Tofu Sandwich---YUM!
        I WANTED A BURGER! It's been a whole summer season and since I'm refraining from meat for the moment, there hasn't been one grilled burger near my lips. It was time. So, I went searching for a tofu version that wouldn't disappoint. This one from chef Brooks Headley's Superiority Burger in NYC's East Village is yummy, crispy and the lettuce, tomatoes, mayo and ketchup were just as happy sitting on top of this guy as if it was its beef cousin.
        Since tofu doesn't really have a whole lot of its own flavor or texture, you have to give it some, which requires some drying, marinating, double-breading and frying. So, IT IS A BIT OF A PROCESS And, there's advance prep work involved, making it best to start these the day before. But.....
 
August 25, 2020
This is about...
COOL Cucumber Avocado Soup---YUM!
        PERFECT TIMING. I went to the farmers market in the center of Woodstock last Wed. and got carried away--of course, buying more veggies than I could probably use up. These veggies--now being a week old--- were on the edge. It was now or never. LUCKILY, I HAD ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS FOR THIS SOUP IN MY FRIDGE, READY TO GO. And, in a matter of minutes, I had a refreshingly cool, creamy, dairy-free soup-- perfect for these 90 degree days, when you don't want to be anywhere near the kitchen.
        YOU CAN'T REALLY CALL THIS COOKING-- throwing all of the ingredients into a blender for a quick whizz. Two minutes later, you have soup! And, I love that the avocados create a creamy texture with no dairy....
 
August 19, 2020
This is about...
Quarantine BANANA BREAD---YUM!
        IT SEEMS THAT BY NOW EVERYONE UNDER QUARANTINE HAS TRIED TO MAKE SOURDOUGH BREAD AND AT LEAST ONE LOAF OF BANANA BREAD. And, I was no exception. AS FAR AS THE SOURDOUGH WENT, YOU HAD TO HAVE A TON OF PATIENCE TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE. There's the whole starter thing--feeding it every day for over a week, where if you missed one day, all of that babysitting would have been for naught. Bottomline, I made a bunch of delicious loaves, but I got exhausted from all the high maintenance required. So, I finally retired the starter in the fridge, where it is quietly sleeping until I wake it up again. If you want to try to make a loaf of your own--the process is long and involved. But I did find a great beginner's sourdough baking book to learn how--"Artisan Sourdough Made Simple" by Emilie Raffa.
        Moving onto BANANA BREAD, this WAS A MUCH EASIER PROJECT...
 
August 13, 2020
This is about...
Summer Squash and Tomato Stovetop Casserole---YUM!
        YOU'VE GOT TO BE OVERRUN WITH SUMMER SQUASH, AND PROBABLY THE TOMATOES ARE KICKING IN. Plus, the heat is relentless and baking anything is out of the question. SO, HERE COMES A SUMMER VEGGIE DISH THAT CAN BE MADE ON TOP OF THE STOVE--NO OVEN REQUIRED....
 
July 29, 2020
This is about...
Thin and Crispy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Vegan or Not---YUM!
        I AM A COOKBOOK JUNKY. When I lived in NJ, I had one whole room filled with my collection addiction. There were so many that when I moved to upstate NY-- with way less book storage-- I donated a majority of them to the library at Monmouth University. Yes, there's even a cookbook section in a college library with my name on it!
        UNFORTUNATELY, I NEVER LEARNED MY LESSON. If a cookbook attracts my attention, I HAVE to have it. Case in point, just last week, 2 more arrived from my super easy, favorite bookseller, Amazon, "Buvette"(a favorite restaurant in NYC) and "Superiority Burgers" also in NYC.
        With another recent purchase, "Huckleberry," the picture on the cover was so delicious that I just HAD to have it- doesn't take much to sway me. I wasn't disappointed by the recipes either. It's not a gluten-free baking book, but ....
 
July 16, 2020
This is about...
Frozen Berry SANGRIA---YUM!
        IT'S HOT IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, REALLY HOT. Every day for weeks, we've been modeling a more tropical climate, high 80's with a thunderstorm almost every afternoon. Is New York, the New Florida??
        Well, when it's this hot, icy cold everything is in order. And THIS FRUITY, ICY, THIRST-QUENCHING BIT OF FROZEN HEAVEN IS THE PERFECT WAY TO COOL DOWN. Along with some wine and orange liqueur or brandy, a bunch of ice cubes and frozen fruit in your freezer is all you need. It will be only minutes before you'll be kicking your feet back by a pool, or in the shade of your backyard or in front of an air conditioner, with one of these in your hand...

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July 8, 2020
This is about...
Cool Vegan "QUESO" Dip---YUM!
        IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME TO EAT YOUR VEGETABLES, IT'S NOW! Summer farms are beginning to burst with all sorts of fresh options. So here's a fresh option to dip them in. IT'S A VEGAN TAKE ON THE USUALLY WARM, CHEESY TEX-MEX QUESO. Unlike my extremely, highly caloric version, made with a hunk of melted down Velveeta, and a can of Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies stirred in---I know, I know, it's not traditional-- this mildly spicy "queso" is made with soaked raw cashews, nutritional yeast and a pinch of turmeric to mimic that yellow cheesy color.
        IT'S NON-DAIRY, HAS WAY LESS CALORIES, AND IS SUPER EASY TO MAKE. And, since it's served cold, there's no extra prep required. The only challenge might be ....
 
June 30, 2020
This is about...
Summertime Red Cabbage Slaw---YUM!
        IT'S SUMMER--THE TIME TO EAT SALADS THAT I WOULD NEVER ALLOW MYSELF TO EAT ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR. In other words, salads slathered in mayo. I love potato and macaroni salad, and coleslaw, and now the time has come! This craving goes way back with my grandmother. We had it on every picnic table all season long. AND ALTHOUGH I COULD EASILY MAKE THIS VEGAN WITH VEGANAISE, I HAVE TO HAVE GOOD OL' HELLMANS.
        I went looking for green cabbage, and would you believe.....
 
June 23, 2020
This is about...
TRIPLE Ginger Chocolate Chunk Scones---YUM!
        STAYING AT HOME SO MUCH HAS MADE ME CRAVE MORE EXCITING FLAVORS LATELY--LIKE THE BOLD, ZESTY BITE OF GINGER. It's a flavor unto it's own--hot yet slightly sweet, pungent yet kind of warming and a pinch lemony. So when I saw this recipe from Tandem+Coffee Bakery's Brianna Holt in Portland, Maine, I was primed to make them. YOU'RE GONNA NEED A LOT OF GINGER FOR THESE. THREE KINDS TO BE EXACT--fresh, ground and candied, along with chopped chocolate, a few warm spices and a hint of orange. They are so tasty.
        There are a lot of ingredients (but you might already have them on hand--if you are a ginger lover like me). And, a bunch of chopping and measuring is involved to make these. So, they will take some time to assemble. But....
 
June 16, 2020
This is about...
Almond WAFFLES with Fresh Strawberry Sauce---YUM!
        LATELY, I'VE BEEN TRYING, ALTHOUGH NOT ALWAYS SUCCEEDING, TO STEER CLEAR OF REFINED WHEAT FLOURS. These delicious waffles use almond flour instead. So, that means they're gluten-free and packed with protein. SUPER EASY TO MAKE....