• Bloody Mary mocktail
    Drinks

    Bloody Mary Mocktail

    Ripe market tomatoes are destined to become part of a delicious tomato salad topped with fresh herbs and cheese, but they also remind me to make a Bloody Mary, the quintessential brunch drink that encourages you to garnish with abandon.  This garden-in-a-glass mocktail relies on bottled tomato juice, but a skewer with tiny ripe tomatoes gives you something to snack on while you sip.  Add enough raw and pickled vegetables to suit your fancy plus a thinly sliced wheel of fresh lemon. When I make a tomato-based drink, I think of my father, who often would pour me a diminutive glass of pure tomato juice right before dinner.  Something about…

  • Quick pickles with ginger
    Food

    Overnight Quick Pickles with Ginger

    A homemade touch makes a simple picnic or impromptu feast all the more tasty. Rather than reaching for a jar of pickles at the market, pick up some mini cucumbers and fresh ginger, then make your own quick pickles overnight in the refrigerator with the help of some pantry staples. The resultant flavor is fresh and vibrant, plus it doesn’t require any special canning equipment. Certainly you can allow these pickles to sit in the brine longer than overnight, but I love being able to make them one day and enjoy them the next. While I enjoy pickled vegetables, I have never had an interest in the canning process, and…