Food
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Grow a Salad Garden for Plentiful Greens All Season Long
If you love salads as much as I do, lettuce and other salad greens are some of the best (and easiest) spring vegetables to grow at home. Leaves develop quickly, and you can clip as many as needed at a time. New ones will continue to grow from clipped plants, meaning you will definitely be able to cross at least one ingredient off your shopping list once the plants are in full swing. With warmer night temperatures here to stay, I’ll be filling the raised lettuce beds this weekend, but you can also plant seeds in deep hanging baskets and portable planters. Consider this encouragement to visit your favorite garden…
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Fluffy Blueberry Pancakes
Blueberries remind me of summer farmers’ markets and vacations in Maine, and they make their way into my classic fluffy blueberry pancake recipe whenever I find a really good pint. I love how the height of these pancakes allows the berries to stay nestled inside, where they become juicy and even sweeter from the heat of the pan. A bit of butter and a generous drizzle of maple syrup finishes a homemade stack perfectly. On weekend mornings, I rotate through a variety of recipes including these ricotta pancakes, whole grain spelt versions, and plenty of fruit-laden buttermilk stacks. Making pancakes from scratch is simple, and they can be customized in…
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Honey Oat Banana Muffins
With the warm flavors of honey and oats, these banana muffins are dairy-free and can be made with your choice of healthy oils. If opting for olive oil, make sure to select one that is mild and more fruity than peppery to complement the delicious banana flavor. I love these for breakfast and also with an abundant lunch salad full of seasonal produce. They’re so versatile I know you will find plenty of ways to enjoy them. Bananas should be allowed to ripen fully before baking with them, which means having a highly speckled to almost entirely darkened peel. This will lend the maximum amount of natural sweetness. If you…
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Pumpkin Granola
Autumn makes me think of hot mulled cider, cozy evenings, and baking with pumpkin. If you’re craving everything that tastes like the season, this pumpkin granola recipe will be on rotation in your kitchen as it is in mine. With pumpkin puree, seeds, and pie spices, it’s the perfect snack or breakfast. Mostly, I grab handfuls of it whenever I’m in the mood for something toasty, and lightly sweetened with maple syrup, during the day. As the perfect morning treat, this pumpkin granola recipe makes a great yogurt topping, and in the evening, it’s delicious over ice cream – think vanilla, caramel, or pumpkin itself! Also try it over baked…
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Potato Leek Soup
Simple goodness in a soup bowl – what could be more comforting in any season? I love this velvety potato leek soup for lunch, but it’s also the perfect starter for your evening meal. Rich, buttery Yukon Golds lend exceptional flavor and cook up rather quickly. Once tender, there are a couple of options for turning them into your desired level of smoothness. Fresh herbs and edible flower petals along with a drizzle of heavy cream turns this soup into a classic spring dish. During fall and winter, consider topping with frizzled shallots or deeply roasted mushrooms. Whenever you make this potato leek soup recipe, let your garnishes reflect the…
