Enchanted Forest Pasta: It’s Local And Seasonal

Today was a gorgeous spring day: the sun was bright, the sky was a perfect robin’s-egg blue, and flowers bloomed, filling the birdsong-laden air with fragrance.
Zak’s favorite tree is blooming, the tree that always says “springtime” to him–the redbud.
A native to the eastern US, particularly the Appalachian mountain regions, the redbud is a […]

Appalachian Pasta Primavara

Spring is finally in full swing, with sunny days, cool nights and the warming earth is sending forth shoots, leaves and flowers to be enjoyed by all who long for fresh green vegetables after a winter of potatoes, turnips, squash, and frozen and canned veggies.
This recipe came out of what was in my refrigerator. […]

Sauerkraut Braised in Beer: An Early Spring Delight

Yes, sauerkraut is a spring vegetable.
Yes, it is made in the autumn, and eaten all winter, but the last of it is also eaten in the early spring, before the emergence of the first spring greens, asparagus and peas.
Well, it is eaten in the spring if you made enough of it to get […]

For A Snowy Night: Spiced Beef And Lentil Stew

This hearty stew is based upon the plain German lentil soup I grew up eating.
The soup of my childhood was taught to my Dad’s mom by her mother-in-law, Anna Marie Fisher, whose parents were German immigrants. She had it from her Bavarian mother, and as I understand it, the dish was typical winter food […]

Saturday Dinner: Sort-Of, But Not Quite Pork Chops, Applesauce and Mashed Potatoes

I didn’t really know what to call this post, really, because the dinner came out of improvisation on the theme of a many a childhood dinner in West Virginia: pan-fried pork chops served with applesauce on the side, with mashed potatoes and some sort of green vegetable (usually cooked from a vibrant verdant beauty into […]