It’s officially summer, and in Virginia, this sultry season started off in typical Southern style—hot, hot, and hotter. For several seasons, I’ve been in decluttering mode. Summer is no different, except that the heat seems to make it more challenging. Somehow, there’s now a hazy mirage hovering over my piles. Over the years, I have…
Summertime Thoughts: Storing Salutations, Ironing Shirts, and Saving Buttons
Lettuce, Before and After Solstice
The summer solstice is in the rearview mirror. Even though the hottest days are before us, the longest days have passed. If you haven’t planted your tomatoes or melons yet, you might not bother. The plants will grow like steroid abusers, but there isn’t time for the fruit to ripen. Or maybe you’ll get one…
A Chef’s Secret for Better Ratatouille
Summer promises a bounty of sun-kissed vegetables—a cornucopia of tomatoes, peppers, squash, and eggplant that beg to be put to use. This is not a problem. The trick is to lean in and rely upon recipes that embrace and celebrate the abundance of produce. One tried-and-true dish that does so is ratatouille. Ratatouille is the…
Cooking With Eggplant, the Queen of Summer Vegetables
It is said that there are over 100 recipes for eggplants in Turkish cuisine. I am not sure if that’s true or not, but what I can tell you is that the eggplant, in all its shapes and sizes, is an essential ingredient in global cuisines from Calcutta to New Orleans. To me, the eggplant…
Roasted Eggplants With Tomato and Mint
Use eggplants that are the same size, and make this when tomatoes are ripe and flavorful. This is such a great dish that I usually calculate a whole eggplant per person for a first course, and half an eggplant when used for a buffet or a side. I love using tomatoes of different colors and…
This Classic Dish Will Take You on a ‘Trip’ Through Greece
I remember the first time I ever tasted this classic Greek dish. I was traveling through Greece and landed on the island of Corfu. I met other American students there and we sat down in the town square for dinner. I ordered this dish that was redolent with Greek ouzo and had crumbled, melted Greek…
Tips to Keep Your House Cool on a Budget
Are you dreading the heat of summer? Relax while you consider these ingenious solutions to keep your house comfortable without putting a freeze on your bank account. Keep Furniture Clear Your air conditioning unit needs freedom to blast out air unobstructed. None of your furniture should be blocking that flow of air. This means you…
You Can Make a Creamy Potato Salad Without Mayo
If you’ve been searching for a recipe for creamy potato salad without mayonnaise, you’ve come to the right place. To make this salad creamy, I’ve used tahini paste. Tahini paste is made from ground sesame seeds, and has a similar consistency to natural peanut butter. When you thin out the tahini paste with water, what…
A Refreshing Summer Superfood
If you’re looking for a refreshing, sweet, and juicy treat to enjoy this summer, grab a mango. These tropical fruits are loaded with vitamins and minerals to support your health in several ways. Mangoes have more than 20 vitamins and minerals and are great sources of vitamin A, C, fiber, potassium, and more. That means…
10 Secrets to Throwing an Unforgettable Summer Dinner Party
As we start to resume gathering with our friends and family, outdoor dinner parties are a perfect way to ease back into entertaining. Dust off your hosting skills with these summer party hacks to make it the easiest dinner party ever! Here’s how to spend less time playing host and more time hanging out with…
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