Memorial Day began after the Civil War to commemorate fallen soldiers. These days, we think of it as a day to remember all veterans and loved ones, as well as the unofficial start of summer. Parades, barbecues, and long weekend trips are all on the agenda. My father served as a medic during the height […]

There’s something about summertime (or almost summertime) that makes me crave tomatoes. I remember as a kid, taking the first summer bite of a giant, red Jersey Beefsteak, so ripe the juice would drip down my hand as I bit in. With just a little salt, the sweet-spicy fruit could become an entire meal, and […]

Out in my garden recently, I was pleasantly surprised to find several chive plants thriving after a long, rough winter. This was shortly before my husband, Kevin, and I took a quick weekend trip to Toronto to visit our friends John and Karen. I made a mental note to cook up a batch of potato […]

Did you know that the Persian, or Tahitian, lime is the most commonly available in the U.S.? While the true origin is unknown, it’s thought to be a hybrid of the Mexican lime. It is believed to have been introduced to Europe from Persia. Then, taking a roundabout route to reach us, Portuguese traders brought […]

We always have limes in our kitchen. I like them in guacamole, or to add citrus flavor to mineral water or an icy Corona. So, while preparing dinner one evening, I thought – why not use some limes in my roast chicken? It turns out that pairing the limes with cilantro, garlic, and shallots adds […]