Can we really eat locally in the dead of a northern winter. First, get out of the house!

Can you really eat locally in the dead of winter in the frigid climate of northern New England? Or, more accurately, the question is, can you do so and not be bored to tears eating nothing but beets and other roots? Yes you can! That one’s easily answered in the affirmative at least for our…

Let’s make this easy: One pan or dish, no recipe. Are you with me?

We could call the The Season of Ease. At this time of year, we have vegetables of every possible type, sometimes in great abundance, and dinner is easy. When my kids were small and I relied heavily on my garden, supper in the summer was often a collection of whatever vegetables were in abundance on…

Add a little snap to your supper? Sounds good, horseradish, please.

Well it’s a hot one! This week’s heat wave has sent many a New Englander and beyond to the lake or into the house for refuge as temperatures hovered in the extremely humid and high nineties, kissing 100 with the heat index. This is not the time for prolonged meal prep, especially when even the…

How about a ‘make under’ asparagus soup?

Next year, my asparagus soup will be purple! Guess what type of onion I’ll use. We wait for those tempting little spears all year. Fresh from the garden, tender, full of flavor and nutrition, asparagus tells us that the seasons really have turned and it’s time to dig out the sandals and sunblock. They were…

Scrap Happy Planet: So, where do we go from here?

Over the past nine months, we’ve looked at ways to help reduce food waste in our own kitchens and keep our planet happier and healthier by using all those scraps that often end up in landfills contributing to our ever-growing environmental problems. The worldwide statistics are sobering, over a third of all food we produce is…

If your parsnips are still in the ground, methinks it’s time to dig them up!

Although we think of parsnips as mostly an autumn crop and enjoy them all winter, when I was growing up, most gardeners left the bulk of these biennials in the ground until spring so they would sweeten during their winter’s rest.  First or last, it doesn’t matter Technically, spring-dug parsnips are not the first crop…

Scrap Happy Planet: When you say ‘leftovers tonight’ do they cheer?

Once a month, we’re looking at ways to help reduce food waste and keep our planet happier and healthier by using all those scraps that often end up in landfills and contribute to our ever-growing environmental problems. The worldwide statistics are sobering, over a third of everything we produce is tossed out, over a billion tons of…

Scrap Happy Planet: Can I tell you about Peppermint Pesto?

Once a month, we’re looking at ways to help reduce food waste and keep our planet happier and healthier by using all those scraps that often end up in landfills and contribute to our ever-growing environmental problems. The worldwide statistics are sobering, over a third of everything we produce is tossed out, over a billion tons of…

It’s’ a real snow day, so let’s make a pot of cream of broccoli and mushroom soup!

We’ve had snow here and there this winter, but this week’s storm saw closings called the night before for many, an invitation to sleep in a bit and linger over some home-cooked comfort food. It’s one of those days where just about everything is closed, the schools, some shops, town clerk’s offices, community college, the…

Scrap Happy Planet: Raid your vegetable and fruit scrap bowls!

Once a month, we’re going to look at ways to help reduce food waste and keep our planet happier and healthier by using all those scraps that often end up in landfills and contribute to our ever-growing environmental problems. The worldwide statistics are sobering, over a third of everything we produce is tossed out, over…

Scrap Happy Planet: Taking and Making Stock in the New Year

  Once a month, we’re going to look at ways to help reduce food waste and keep our planet happier by using all those scraps that often end up in landfills and contribute to our environmental problems. The worldwide statistics are sobering, over a third of everything we produce is tossed out, over a billion tons…

Scrap Happy Planet: Stale Bread for the Banquet?

  Once a month, we’re going to look at ways to reduce food waste and keep our planet happier by using all those scraps that often end up in landfills and contribute to our environmental problems. The worldwide statistics are sobering, over a third of everything we produce is tossed out, but we’ve rolled up our…

Scrap Happy Planet: Frittatas and Omelets to the rescue!

    Once a month, we’re going to look at ways to reduce food waste and keep our planet happier by using all those scraps that often end up in landfills and contribute to our environmental problems. The worldwide statistics are sobering, but we’ve rolled up our sleeves before to save these resources, and now’s the time…