I had the distinct pleasure of being served breakfast over the weekend, and I did not have to shop, prepare, help in any way, or clean up.  It was fabulous – not only the meal, but the whole experience. Finnish pancake, fresh strawberries, crisp bacon and hot coffee -- what more could a person want on a beautiful Sunday morning? For those of you who have never tasted it, a Finnish pancake is somewhat of a cross between a popover, quiche and omelet.  The below recipe creates a smooth, slightly sweet custard like dish.  Finnish Pancake. Melt one tablespoon butter in a 7 x 11 inch baking pan. …

The Year of the Dragon, Chinese Year 4710, begins today, Jan. 23.  Their calendar is based on lunar cycles, so does not coincide with the typical new year on Jan. 1. The start of each Chinese Year begins on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice.  Wear some red colored clothing today (said to bring good luck), or try one of these Chinese-inspired recipes to celebrate the New Year. None are authentic, but they will bring the flavor of the Orient to your dinner table without ordering takeout. Crab Rangoon Bites. Combine an eight-ounce blocked of softened reduced fat cream …

Okay, I admit it. I’m married to an avid (rabid?) Patriots fan and I know very little about the game.  My son says I am an embarrassment to the family due to my total lack of knowledge about sports. I retort, "What about sauté or fricassee or macerate – do you know what those mean?" They don't care, they start babbling about safeties and first downs and possessions and who knows what else. Usually this doesn't faze me, but now…Well, now the Patriots have made it to the playoffs and the big championship game is at home (I do know that means it's played in Foxborough) next week.  And the plans …

We're eating primarily out of the freezer this week, and I've uncovered some ground beef that was purchased about a month ago. If I found this last Saturday, it probably would have ended up as burgers on the grill since the weather was in the 50s, but for this week, we'll be cooking inside. I have all the ingredients on hand for any of these three recipes, so I'll leave the final decision up to my husband. I know he would eat any of them, but the meatloaf is definitely his favorite. Cheeseburger Quiche. This is a super easy recipe that can be on the table in less than an hour. Preheat oven to…

Happy New Year.  I overheard a conversation in the work cafeteria last week.  The group at the table was discussing an article about having someone else make your New Year's resolution. Apparently the premise of the editorial was that there is a better chance of having resolutions stick if a loved one or friend observes what could improve in your life, and tells you the steps to take.  I'm a little hesitant to go full bore on this idea – someone could get hurt, despite the good intentions. But I'm game for coming up with a list of several kitchen related resolutions that I will try to abide …

It's always nice (and nutritious) to have a salad every day, but sometimes we all get in a rut preparing the same old thing.  Here are a couple of recipes to spice up your lunch or dinner menu. These are also perfect for bringing to share at a potluck or as part of a buffet. Strawberry Spinach Salad. Rinse and tear into small pieces two bunches of spinach (or use two bags baby spinach leaves) and place in large bowl. Add one pound sliced strawberries; optional add ½ cup sliced almonds and/or one can drained mandarin orange slices. Whisk together ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, ½ …

I circumvent the aisles filled with Christmas ornaments, goodies and decorations when they first appear before the Halloween candy is even marked down.  I refuse to listen to Christmas carols when stations begin playing them nonstop before your Thanksgiving meal is digested.  But lately, I can't avoid the fact that holiday food gifts are showing up on my doorstep, my work desk or mailbox.  I love receiving, sharing and eating them, but it's making me feel guilty. When will I find the time to prepare some of my own?  Good intentions to do a little bit every week went out the door Dec. 1, when …

This time of the year, I tend to hunker down and cook more comfort food.  My idea of comfort food is something that is tasty, but not fancy, doesn't require exotic ingredients, and is filling as well as nutritious  Often it can be made without referring to a recipe or cookbooks, since you have prepared it so many times. Beef stew is one of my husband's favorite comfort foods. Not only do I prepare it for the family, but I've also been one of the "stew makers" for Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church for over 20 years. I officially retired from this volunteer position this month, but thought it…

I lied. More than once. It wasn't malicious, but it was blatant. To make matters worse, I heard my kids echoing my exact same words.  "We have no food in this house." But it wasn't true. Of course we had food in the house – doesn't everyone?  Maybe it wasn't their favorite brand of cereal, or it was the smooth instead of the crunchy peanut butter, or it was wheat bread and not bulkie rolls. But there was always plenty to eat, even if one of us complained, "There's no food in this house." Unfortunately, that's not true for a number of families right here in Eastern Massachusetts.  According to…

Had enough turkey for a while? Me too.  Don't get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving -- the turkey and all the fixins.  But after three days of indulging in leftovers, I am ready for something a little different. And I'm ready for some healthier meal choices that will hopefully stave any holiday weight gain that may happen during the next six weeks.   It's now believed that the widespread rumor that adults gain an average of five to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day is a bit overstated.  Well-known television personality Dr. Oz recently said that half of Americans will gain two …

I have a "holiday baking" gene that appears generally coinciding with a number of Hallmark card occasions – Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays. I have successfully baked desserts many times, so I know I am not totally deficient in the baking gene.  This particular dessert used to be a staple at our Thanksgiving celebrations, but it has not graced our table for a few years, and my kids have called me on it.  Don't believe what they say about elephants, it is really your own children who never, ever forget anything you say or do or promise.  The recipe was clipped from a newspaper …

Holiday season is fast approaching, whether you are ready or not. And whether you plan it or not, there will be company visiting. Whether it is family, friends, coworkers or neighbors, you should have an easy appetizer you can bring or offer for those last-minute gatherings.  Here are a baker's dozen of effortless snack recipes to keep in your back pocket for those unexpected visitors. Pick up a few of the ingredients mentioned to keep on hand; if they don't get used, they can be a treat on date night for you and your honey.  Put a block of cream cheese on a plate and cover with red pepper …

For some strange reason, the baking gene has totally passed me by. Someone must have whispered in its ear, "Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to the next generation." My mom, my sisters, my nieces (and nephews), and especially my two daughters are all fabulous bakers. Me? I cringe if someone asks me to bring a dessert. How about a nice fruit salad instead? Maybe I could pick up the paper goods, or bring ice or a fine bottle of wine? But, bake a cake or cookies? I don’t think so. I don't believe I've ever even baked a pie. Oh, those pies I brought to book club; the key lime was …

Butternut squash is one of my favorite "winter" vegetables. Not only is it a great source of fiber, potassium and vitamin A, it is also very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. It is filling and delicious served in a variety of ways.  We received several squashes during our last of the season pick-up at the Moosehill CSA, and also purchased a couple at a farmstand for 25 cents a pound. I'm kicking myself I didn't get about two dozen more at that price, since they last a long time if kept in a cool, dry place. I typically keep mine in the cellar on top of the freezer.  Here is a …

Everyone has their own technique for making "gravy" or tomato sauce, and I thought I would share mine.  I can't claim that this is traditional, authentic, nor the best, but it tastes delicious, works for my family and I've been making it for years this way. Try it-- you just might like it. In a food processor, finely chop one large peeled onion, two stalks stringed celery, one or two large peeled carrots, one deseeded red pepper, and one package (10 ounces) mushrooms. I personally don't like green peppers, but if you do, chop and add one to rest of vegetables.  Heat ¼ cup olive oil in a large…

One year ago this month, my first article in Sharon Patch was posted. It's hard to believe 52 weeks have passed by and 52 articles have been published. Initially, I was both excited and apprehensive about writing a weekly column – would anyone besides my mother read it? How hard would it be to come up with ideas to write about each week? Would I even have the time to write with my family, full-time job, and other commitments? Well, it has turned out to be a great experience. I've met new friends, expanded my horizons (and perhaps my waistline just a bit), and had lots of fun. And plenty of …

With the wonderful warm weather this weekend, it seems like I should be writing about barbequing instead of Crock-Pots and comfort foods. But all of these slow cooker recipes can be used year-round with great results. Pseudo Rotisserie Chicken. I wasn’t quite sure how this would turn out, but had to try it after reading several reviews online about cooking a whole chicken in a Crock-Pot. The reviews were right – this is so easy and so delicious.  Note: the chicken will not brown, but it will be moist and delicious. This is a great recipe for a fall day or even in the warm weather so your …

As I've stated before, I love cookbooks – I love to read them, I love to use them, and I love to collect them.   In the interest of keeping my marriage intact, I’ve limited my collection to three shelves in my kitchen. If a newly purchased one doesn't fit, I must regrettably release an older one. However there are a few "untouchables" that will remain on those shelves for the foreseeable future. "Joy of Cooking" by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker, 1995 Edition. My husband gave me this copy several years ago after my original one literally fell apart at the seams. I …

Fall has officially started, and there have been some chilly evenings during the past few weeks. School is in session, accompanied by sports, clubs and other afterschool or evening activities. The lazy days of summer are over and the carpool schedules are in full swing.  It seem like there are days when there is just not much time to plan, prepare and serve a family meal.  Even if you don’t have school age children around, who couldn’t use an easy dinnertime every now and then?  Crock-Pots are a wonderful way to have your meal cooked for you while you are busy working, running errands, or …

Remember that book club weekend getaway I wrote about last week?  Well, it is somewhat of a challenge to organize the trip and coordinate the food contributions of 13 individuals.  The food for two breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner is brought down to the Cape and cooked on-site. We plan it months in advance, make sure everyone’s calendar is free on the chosen weekend, and yet inevitably one or two can’t attend due to unforeseen circumstances.  Instead of making last-minute menu changes, I use an online program for sign-up of meal items that each member can bring.  I initially used this …