It’s time to say goodbye to my kale. I picked the last of it, and decided a slaw would be good. Then, I pulled some golden beets and the green tops were beautiful, and the golden beets are delicious raw in a salad. Also, I pulled some carrots, so the ingredient list was falling in…
Author: Lanie Fioretti
My name is Lanie Fioretti and although I am not a classically trained chef or a degreed nutritionist, I have been studying food and nutrition voraciously since the early seventies. After working in public health and private practice for 22 years, I retired my dental hygiene license. I have taught cooking classes at Whole Foods and Central Market, done product development for a bakery in east Texas, catered, and been a personal chef. I usually think of myself as an improvisational cook!
Potatoes and Onions and More, Oh My!
Author: Kathy Eggplant I practice what’s called intensive gardening, combined with my version of square foot gardening. After digging down and removing 8-10 inches of dirt from the ground beneath my raised beds, I filled the beds with compost and soil, so I ended up with a rich soil depth of 18-20 inches…
Are You a Good Host?
Living in rural areas, and having close contact with soil and plants is not only good for your stress level, but also your gut bacteria. In a recent New York Times article, Some of My Best Friends Are Germs, Michael Pollan explores the results of destroying (beneficial) microbes on our skin and gut. Our resident…
Brush Up on Beneficial Bugs
This year, I wasn’t paying close enough attention to my front bed plants. They usually need very little care, because they are xeriscaped beds. The esperanzas (yellow bells) that are typically huge by now, we’re stunted. With the foliage all crinkled together, it was too hard to visually examine, so I ran my hand over…
Crispy Potato Feta Cakes
PrintCrispy Potato Feta Cakes Prep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 10 minutes Yield: 4 potato cakes Ingredients1 cup leftover mashed potatoes 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs* (more for coating before sautéing) 3-4 TBSP crumbled feta 1 tsp granulated garlic powder 1 tsp granulated onion powder (or use finely chopped green onion) 1/2 tsp smoked paprika Salt &…