Author: Kasha

Bake a Batch with the Kids: Molasses-Spice Cookies

Bake a Batch with the Kids: Molasses-Spice Cookies

Posted on by Kasha
This is the time of year for cookie swapping parties and food bloggers are getting into the act thanks to the efforts of Lindsey (LoveandOliveOil.com) and Julie (TheLittleKitchen.net).  These lovely ladies organized the cyber-swap (the second annual), matching each of us with three other bloggers.  I sent a dozen Molasses-Spice cookies to each of the bloggers on my list and I received three dozen delicious cookies in return from three other Secret Santas. Thankfully, there was no pressure to fill yet another holiday season time slot with activity.  We didn't have to be on our best behavior or wear  nice...Read More
Back to Basics: Chicken Stock

Back to Basics: Chicken Stock

Posted on by Kasha
We all know how badly Hurricane Sandy devastated our area. For once I was glad the media  hyped it to death. Many communities were close to 100% evacuated and countless lives were saved because of it.  Having survived Hurricane Irene and tropical storm Lee and the resulting power outages and floods, I know that advance warning and preparation take some of the pain and suffering out of an event like that. My first thought after hearing that Sandy would impact the Northeast was, "Oh, dear GOD, no.  Not another flood." Then, I cried. Then, I gathered supplies.  I shopped for...Read More
My November… plus Cookies, Revisited

My November… plus Cookies, Revisited

Posted on by Kasha
"Mom, did we have power on  Halloween?" "No." "Did we have power the day before Halloween?" "No." "When did the power go out?" "October 29th." "And what's today?" "November 5th" "Well that's just ridiculous..." **Note: Power went out 10/29 when 2 trees came down and took out a ton of lines.  Thanks to Frankie for spearheading the tree removal process!  Power was finally restored on 11/6. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Up here in Orange County, we've pretty much recovered and Hurricane...Read More

Missing… but still in action.

Posted on by Kasha
Get a load of this... Yes, that's a frog. It's a frog in a pint-sized deli container. It's a frog that I found hiding behind the window fan in my son's room Friday night. I went to close the window because the forecast was for rain the next day when I was at market.  Bleary eyed and ready for sleep, I go in and remove the fan from the window, only to find this THING attached to the screen on the INSIDE! I screamed, but just a little.  Once I caught my breath, I raced around trying to find SOMETHING...Read More
Grilled Corn with Parsley-Garlic Butter and Parmesan

Grilled Corn with Parsley-Garlic Butter and Parmesan

Posted on by Kasha
Parsley garlic butter with fresh parsley, to put on anything you can dream up. I was washing up bunches of parsley for our 3 markets last week and the smell caught me right there. You know the place. That place in your nose where the aroma hits you so deeply that it triggers your brain and makes you think  you just have to have it - kinda like movie theater popcorn. I brought a bunch home and whipped it up in the food processor with a few cloves of garlic, a stick of unsalted butter, a few tablespoons of olive...Read More
If the baking bug bites you, scratch that itch!

If the baking bug bites you, scratch that itch!

Posted on by Kasha
[caption id="attachment_3327" align="aligncenter" width="612"] Thomas loves car racing so his dad took him to a Ferrari race in CT and he got to meet this driver. Look familiar? He's on ABC's Shark Tank![/caption] I'm helping a customer at the Ringwood Farmers Market one Saturday when I politely hold up a finger and excuse myself for just a second. "Thomas, can you go in my cooler bag and get my drink?  The pink one, please." I return my attention to the customer at my scale.   "Lately I've noticed that people, adults and children alike, don't use please and thank you...Read More
I’m Seeing RED!

I’m Seeing RED!

Posted on by Kasha
And yellow and pink and green zebra-striped and black-ish and purple and golden-pink and.... that brings me to tomatoes and pasta Caprese. It's about damn time. General consensus is lots of green tomatoes around in people's gardens, but none are turning red. Well, this week, they started turning. I picked up a block of fresh mozzarella at the market the other day and, like a good FarmGirl, I have basil growing in a planter on my deck. This bounty, along with the colorful and perfectly ripe tomatoes I picked, made the most amazing dinner. Pasta Caprese is the easiest thing...Read More
Blue Potatoes with Garlic and Chevre

Blue Potatoes with Garlic and Chevre

Posted on by Kasha
We started growing Adirondack Blue potatoes several years ago, back when the Peruvian Blues were all the rage.  We're into that whole 'eat local' thing, so why not choose a NY state potato over one of South American origin, no? The Adirondack Blue is a hybrid developed by Cornell University in 2003.  It's on the sweet side and dry-fleshed, similar to a russet baking potato.  The skin is thick enough to hold up to oven baking and this is a fantastic candidate for 'twice baked' potatoes.  TJ and Alex are big fans of this delectable little do-ahead side dish. We had...Read More
Inspiration Strikes: Zucchini and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

Inspiration Strikes: Zucchini and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

Posted on by Kasha
Zucchini inspiration begins somewhere and for me it began with garlic. I would imagine that seeing, touching, and smelling garlic would inspire culinary greatness in most people. I looked at the garlic sitting in my father's work-worn hand and immediately thought garlic bread!  I'm not saying it hasn't been... but in theory, garlic bread probably should not be the sole component of one's evening meal. I also had a beautiful loaf of Janet's ciabatta bread and creamy fresh chevre.  How could I NOT create something simple and delectable from those superior ingredients? So I donned my flip flops and baseball cap, grabbed...Read More