When we get together with our friends, at least two things are guaranteed :: lots of laughs, and really good food! Recently, we were getting together for a birthday dinner and everyone was asked to bring something. My friend Mim brought this Stetson Chopped Salad – which had the wonderful side effect of producing cravings for it the next day. And apparently, it’s famous!
Continue Reading →
In Minnesota, the return of spring means a number of good things. Among them, that it’s time to fire up the grill and get outside! With that – for me anyway, comes a certain amount of nostalgia. My dad was a grill {and smoker} maestro. Mom would prepare whatever it was he was to grill – burgers, brisket, individual barbecued meatloaves, or even pancake batter – and then turn it over to “Big Dave.” Continue Reading →
I don’t often get excited about salads. I mean, really… You order a salad on the rare occasion when your self control is in check {though you’d rather order the Nachos Supreme}. Or when ordering a salad makes you FEEL better about ordering the Nachos Supreme. And if I can be honest here… there aren’t a lot of salads that I crave. Continue Reading →
Some of my favorite people are flavored similarly to my favorite foods :: just enough sweet with a big pinch of salt.
Here’s a typical comment I get from some of my friends who follow Raisin & Fig: “I would love to try some of your recipes, but I have all of two seconds to get dinner together, and we’re just not gourmet at our house.”
This one’s for you…
I used to have a tendency to over-think things. Whether a business decision, a should-I-cut-my-hair decision or an “is-this-photo-good-enough-for-the-blog”-decision, I would labor to the point of IN-decision. In my corporate life, we called this “analysis-paralysis!”
A very wise man by the name of Charlie Tremendous Jones {I’m not kidding} shared a mantra at a sales meeting years ago, that was life changing :: Continue Reading →
Apparently, I’ve been dicing onions all wrong. And I never knew how to cook – let alone eat, an artichoke. Further, if you asked me what “tripe” was, I’d have said a fish.
That was, until I spent an entire evening watching old episodes of “The French Chef” with Julia Child. I managed to finish half a dozen shows before forcing myself to call it a night – and I learned a ton. Continue Reading →
I opened the front door the other day to find the nicest surprise. On the porch was a box from Harry & David – so I knew that whatever was inside would be a delicious treat. I dusted the snow off of the box and opened it to find gorgeous apples, perfect pears and Gouda cheese. It was a very thoughtful gift from faraway friends.
My current morning routine includes a cup of my absolutely-necessary-and-don’t-even-try-to-reason-with-me-until-I’ve-had-it coffee. And one of these Whole Grain Bran Muffins. I’ll savor one while I linger over “quiet time” to start the day – or eat one en route to an early morning meeting.
I'm glad you stopped by ... pull up a stool, grab your favorite beverage, and let's make something delicious!
