Bring Back Cheddar

Cheddar and Smoked Chicken Salad with Creamy Roasted Shallot Vinaigrette

It wasn’t until Cabot Creamery delivered a box of cheddar, that I decided to toss cheddar back into my salads. The only reason why I stopped, was because feta, parmesan or goat cheese also became a few of my favorite salad additions. As a kid, Dad used to effortlessly toss large garden salads of tomato wedges, crisp iceberg lettuce, chunky carrot slices and thick, sliced cucumbers with cheddar chunks thrown into the bowl. Other people made similar salads with cubes of meat. Dad also introduced to us to salads made with greens grown from our backyard garden. When most people were eating sweet iceberg, we were munching on delicate, bitter greens: the type of pre-washed greens most people currently buy. Today’s salads are nuanced plates with artfully arranged vegetables.

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Parade Magazine: Nutty Butternut Squash Pancakes With Baked Apples

Nutty Butternut Squash Pancakes With Baked Apples

Like its winter cousins, acorn squash and pumpkins, butternut squash are naturally sweet. They’re the dessert of the dinner table. Since discovering butternut squash a few years ago, I’ve enjoyed them, because they’re easier to prep with their subtle ridges and smaller cavities. (Make sure to use a sharp knife.)  Read more

Parade.com: Spinach Fettuccine with Basil Pesto Shrimp

Spinach Fettuccine with Basil Pesto Shrimp

The weather is cooler, but there’s still plenty of green vegetables everywhere, especially summer squash, arugula and basil. Fresh spinach fettuccine pasta (find it at an Italian store or use dry pasta) is tossed with shaved zucchini, basil pesto shrimp and baby arugula. It’s a pasta dish for enjoying the last of summer’s vibrant vegetables. Read more

Quick Buttermilk Walnut Bread

Quick Buttermilk Walnut Bread

Quick Buttermilk Walnut Bread
Autumn is supposed to be a depressing time of year, but today my feelings are different from a few seasons ago. I feel happy. Blessed. In the words of James Brown, “ I Feeeeeel Goooood.” This morning we woke up to a warm and crisp day. The boyfriend and I danced to Tina Turner, Jackie Wilson, Stevie Wonder and classic R&B hits from the past. Buttermilk Pancakes were served with walnuts and figs. Vanilla milk was swirled into French Press coffee. As our food slowly digest, we caught the last end of the second Wall Street movie on television. After a busy summer of my boyfriend’s debut on Broadway and me finally getting a job, we finally relaxed on this Saturday morning, the first day fall. Read more