Mother’s Day Rhubarb Margarita

Don’t Take Your Momma Out Mother’s Day Rhubarb Margarita’s are here, but are you? It’s been a really long while. First there was the baby, then there was the my business is too busy, then there was the living abroad and losing my father, and now there’s the covid. All that to say, while I’ve […]

Continue reading

Grilled Ramp Butter

While Grilled Ramp Butter, isn’t actually a meal in and of itself, and it’s really simple, just two ingredients: grilled ramps processed with salted cultured butter, I think it’s the ultimate in decadent Spring condiments. This delicious butter is amazing on grainy toast with a poached egg, a slice of fancy cheese, a little ham, […]

Continue reading

Rainier Cherry Scotch Thyme New Fashioned

I love Ranier cherries but I’ve had to wait a long “thyme” to finally enjoy this Rainier Cherry Scotch Thyme “New Fashioned” cocktail. The idea for my Rainier Cherry Scotch Thyme “New Fashioned” came to me sometime last fall. Oh the torture of having to wait for Rainier cherry season to get to finally make […]

Continue reading

Grilled Asparagus

Even a little drizzle couldn’t keep us from celebrating Midsommar’s in style with fresh from the Wisconsin garden Grilled Asparagus. So tender, so tasty, so easy, and so perfect with the Cedar Plank Salmon, and Vasterbottenpaj (Swedish Quiche). My friends Dave and Katie were on grill duty with me and we put on extra hoodies and grabbed […]

Continue reading

Spicy Mint and Dill Quick Pickled Beans and Carrots

Summer calls for lots of quick and light snacks like my Spicy Mint and Dill Quick Pickled Beans and Carrots. And a Big Southern Supper especially needs hors d’oeuvres that won’t overwhelm your guests, but rather whet their appetites. These unexpected Spicy Mint and Dill Quick Pickled Beans and Carrots accomplish just that. After all, […]

Continue reading

Father’s Day Rosemary Rhubarb Upsidedown Cake

It’s tradition in my family to make a rhubarb pie for Father’s Day but this year I’m changing things up with my Father’s Day Rosemary Rhubarb Upsidedown Cake. Usually the timing of Father’s Day is perfect for the first rhubarb harvest (in Door Country, Wisconsin), which is probably how the tradition started. It doesn’t hurt […]

Continue reading

Leftover Crab Dip Crêpes

Here’s one more nice and easy leftover crab dip idea: make savory Leftover Crab Dip Crêpes and serve with the leftover Snappy Green Salad. They work really well with any salad. But I definitely recommend something simple with a citrus dressing. Lemon or lime complements the citrus in the crab dip perfectly. Added bonus, these Leftover […]

Continue reading

Leftover Crab Dip Melts

If decided to try out my Chesapeake Bay Crab Party menu and you have some leftover crab dip, then you’re going to be really happy the day after the party, because using up the leftovers with these Leftover Crab Dip Melts might be even better than the dip itself. But I’m not really sure, so […]

Continue reading

Snappy Green Salad: beyond leafy greens

My Snappy Green Salad: beyond leafy greens was perfect for our Summer Kick-Off, Chesapeake Bay Adventure. The old-fashioned fun of board and yard games made me nostalgic for all things Summer, and the Snappy Green Salad fit the theme perfectly by requiring a little bean snapping. Both bean snapping and corn husking are romantically nostalgic […]

Continue reading

Rhubarb Mint Juleps

Rhubarb Mint Juleps are just the ticket to take advantage of the fresh rhubarb that’s in abundance during the spring as well as take cocktail hour to the next level at the Kentucky Derby Party. I have to admit, there’s absolutely nothing traditional about this combination, and rhubarb is not a southern thing at all, […]

Continue reading

Millinery Lesson: Pink Roses Derby Hat

As a seasoned Kentucky Derby and Derby Party goer, over the years I’ve had need for a lot of hats. I bought my first real hat from Linda Campisano in Evanston, IL and I still love it. However, real hats are really expensive. And they’re big, with big hat boxes that require lots of storage. […]

Continue reading

Spring Pussy Willow Wreathe

I’ve got one more Spring decoration idea for you. When I bought pussy willows for my Easter Decorations, they were about four feet long, and I cut them down to fit into my small centerpieces. That left me with lots of extra branches. I took eight branches of about equal length and formed a rectangle […]

Continue reading