Let’s shake up Easter brunch this year. While I love a traditional (and spicy) Bloody Mary, this year I’m mixing up pitchers of something new:  the oh-so delish sangria recipe below. It’s from one of my favorite food blogs, spoon fork bacon. While they have never led me astray, how can I serve guests something  I’ve not personally sampled and endorsed??  So cheers to you. Let the bubbly weekend commence!

Tell the truth: did we have you at “skillet?” If you’re fretting tonight’s Friday night supper, consider one of our favorite mac-and-cheese concoctions. It’s perfect Friday night fare for a winter’s night. Happy weekend ahead!

recipe via.

Do you say sashimi, sushi or crudo? I say yum! But when in Rome, the term would be crudo, raw fish served at the peak of freshness and perfectly finished with simple ingredients. Enter the beloved pomegranate. Julienne a radish for good measure. What are you cooking this weekend?

recipe via.

A recipe for a fabulous fall weekend: Why not stay in on these brisk mornings and make yourself a scrumptious breakfast, just because. Recipe: here.

Growing up, our house was the no-whining zone. Mom would not tolerate complaining. Her tart advice: “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Today, I quite agree. But who knew there was such variety?! Kudos to Oh The Lovely Things blog and their eight recipes for fab lemonades. Refreshing…and empowering! (P.S. thanks Mom!)

Mix a pitcher of Vanilla Apple Crushes and head for veranda.  Start concocting now: six parts apple juice, one part vodka with a good measure of crushed ice and a squeeze of lime.  From our favorite cook book author Donna Hay.

Ahhh, our salad days are fast approaching. One of the very best parts of the summer season is the local farmer’s market. They’re a-bloom everywhere, overflowing with fresh veggies, fruits, eggs and cheeses, grains, and even fresh-from-the-oven sugary delights.

This past weekend found us curbside at a market in Charlotte, North Carolina. So much to devour – figuratively and literally. We are strongly considering swearing off super markets for the season. This week’s menu will include a romaine salad with roasted asparagus (sprinkled with olive oil, salt and pepper and in a 425-degree oven for about fifteen minutes – so fast and easy) with falafel from our friends at the Mediterranean booth. Local strawberries are still ripe and plump. A perfect topping for morning granola (also from the market) and over-the-top deliciously paired with shortcake and whipped cream.

What’s your menu like this week?

Caveat Emptor: Beware of faux famer’s market produce. We did spot the occasional coconut, pineapple and banana for sale at the Charlotte market, hardly macrobiotic fare! Common sense rules, but when in doubt about food origin we always ask.

Having a little dinner with friends, thinking of making this yummy herb and mozzarella mushroom dish.

So in love with Donna Hay and want to be a great cook like her in my next life. Simple but always interesting recipes.

Happy Weekend!

Recipe via

It’s apple season and we’re sitting here trying to figure out how to justify eating pie for breakfast. Because we’re going to be baking- as soon as furniture market wraps up, it’s pumpkin & apple time.

And then the Smitten Kitchen comes up with this: Apple. Pie. Cookies.

A couple of these with coffee in the morning feels a little safer then digging into a pie tin at 6:30am.

for the full recipe, click here. They are cute, too, aren’t they?

Yes, It’s the season for showing more skin. But What Katie Ate is ruining our figures, and we don’t even care.

If you aren’t following her blog let us tempt you into heading over there:

Just as stylish as they are delicious, her recipes keep us coming back for more.