What’s for dinner?

Sweet & Spicy Salmon, Shrimp & Chard
When you forget to thaw any meat before you get hungry, go straight for the seafood. Fish and shrimp are easy to "quick thaw" in a … [Read More]
What’s for dessert?

Blackberry Cabernet Cupcakes
My friends are hosting a Valenwine’s Party tonight to celebrate Valentine’s Day with wine tasting. Most people think of cheese and … [Read More]
In the Fresh Domestic Kitchen

Breakfast of Champions: Pancakes, Sausage & Poached Eggs
A hearty Breakfast of Champions if ever there was one: Silver Dollar Pancakes Poached Eggs Grilled Sausage Links Blackberries Not just once, but two days in a row. How do you follow up a breakfast like this? The rest of the day's meals have a tough act to follow. … [Read More]

Soft Marble Cake with Chocolate Bourbon Glaze
It’s not that I need to have cake on my birthday. I’d already had ice cream, and that was key. Making this cake was more about trying out my new birthday presents. You see, amidst a flurry of Christmas cookie baking, my trusty mixer that had blasted its way through who-knows-how-many pounds of flour, sugar, butter … [Read More]
In the Fresh Domestic Garden

3 Flowerbeds + 10 Dirty Fingernails Later…
Today launched our post-Memorial summer hours at work, when we're released at 3:30. And I made the most of my extra hours. First, … [Read More]

The Power of a Plant
Interesting to stumble upon this plant (on the clearance rack, no less) while I'm reading a chapter in "The Source Field … [Read More]
Around Town + Beyond

How I Got the Grocery Store to Pay Me for Shopping
Yes, you read that right: I got the grocery store to pay me for buying name-brand toothpaste. And believe me, I don't work for Giant Eagle. I'm just a savvy bargain shopper. First, a disclaimer: I don't usually buy groceries at Giant Eagle, because I know that you can get better deals on better quality perishables … [Read More...]

Sunday Eve Picnic: Mini Wine & Cheese Party
Today became "Use Up All the Gift Cards Weighing Down Your Wallet" Day. Fueled by a scrambled egg/bacon/English muffin breakfast from The Shore Restaurant followed by a couple of West End Tavern Bloody Marys, we headed to Great Northern Mall. First stop: DSW, where I stretched a $25 gift card (and then some) into … [Read More...]




