This is more of a quick tip than a full recipe, but it’s my favorite way to make bacon. If you haven’t tried baking bacon in the oven yet, give it a go — it’s simple, easy to clean up, and yields consistently great results. Here’s one small trick before we start: running bacon briefly … Read more

Orzo with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Spinach is a simple one‑pot meal that comes together in about 20 minutes — perfect for busy weeknights when you want something fast, flavorful, and satisfying. If you enjoy quick Mediterranean‑inspired dishes, this orzo recipe is packed with bright, savory flavors and requires only a handful of ingredients. It’s … Read more

Love the classic Caprese salad? This version features chicken breasts spread with basil pesto, topped with fresh mozzarella, and baked alongside cherry tomatoes—a perfect, flavorful summer dinner. If you’d like to serve this with pasta, consider pairing it with homemade tagliatelle for a truly satisfying meal. This is one of those mostly hands-off recipes I … Read more

Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup is a rich, creamy Instant Pot soup that quickly became a favorite. Cubed chicken simmers in a flavorful broth with carrots, celery, onion and garlic, and a blend of herbs gives this homemade soup its savory depth. Homemade Creamy Chicken and Barley Soup This soup is perfect for lunches or … Read more

The sister of the famous chicken dish: coq au vin blanc. Bright, fresh flavors and incredibly tasty. The added herbs and vegetables give it depth and character. This recipe is a lighter variation of the classic coq au vin, using white wine instead of red. I add bacon, pearl onions, sun-dried tomatoes and a touch … Read more

Make your own great-tasting peppermint bark—in the microwave! For the past several years I’ve taught a class called Gifts From the Kitchen. It’s always a lot of fun, and many people return year after year as we prepare different homemade treats. One favorite we made recently is a simple marbled peppermint bark that’s quick enough … Read more

Have you ever heard of a “cutting garden”? I hadn’t until recently. As someone who loves gardens and country-style flowers, I quickly fell in love with the idea and thought you might enjoy learning about it too. I’m fairly new to cutting gardens myself, but below I’ll introduce the concept and share 10 cut flowers … Read more

The page failed because the app encountered an error. A layout that forces a full-screen iframe and hides scroll bars can create a polished, immersive look—but when the app crashes or the iframe fails to load, visitors can be left staring at a blank or broken screen. Understanding these layout choices clarifies why some pages … Read more

Of all the small kitchen annoyances cooks tolerate, few prompt as many tactics as peeling and chopping onions—and the inevitable teary “tear gas” effect. The scientific explanation is well established: cutting an onion releases volatile compounds that form syn-propanethial-S-oxide, a gas that irritates the eyes and triggers a blinking and tearing reflex intended to wash … Read more

Taste a forkful of autumn with this moist Apple Buckwheat Cake, filled with pecans, honey, and nutritious buckwheat flour, finished with a crunchy crumble topping. (Skip to recipe.) Fall has arrived—on the calendar, in the trees, and in the crispness of the air. I love the season: the earthy colours, the misty mornings, and that … Read more