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Cod with tomatoes, garlic, and basil is a quick and easy weeknight meal that’s healthy and delicious the entire family will love. Use fresh-picked ingredients from your garden for the best flavor. And make sure to choose a thick cod filet that is about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds. Give it the sniff test. If it’s fresh it won’t smell fishy.
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We had never been to this part of the United States before and didn’t know what to expect. We decided to spend an entire week here to drive along the rocky coast, search for great food, and visit the Top Lighthouses in Maine, USA. And we weren’t disappointed in everything we set out to see and do. Our only regret – we didn’t stay long enough.
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I found this old-fashioned orange drop cookie recipe in an old church cookbook I have from my grandmother. Some of my best baking and cooking come from old cookbooks I’ve collected through the years. I tend to modify the recipes a little as some of the ingredients aren’t widely available. But it’s fun, and the food is absolutely delicious.
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This Green Lentil and Sausage Soup is easy to make with fresh ingredients and fiber-rich lentils. You can leave the sausage out entirely if you want a vegetarian alternative. Lentils are seeds from the legume family. They come in a variety of colors and green lentils are among the least expensive to use. They are packed with B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and potassium. Lentils are also high in protein, iron, and fiber making them a great option for an alternative to meat.
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You plant a little black, brown, or tan seed in the soil, carefully water it and wait for it to grow. It may take a few days or weeks, but you check your seeds and see something poking through the soil one morning. It’s exciting to know that something so wonderful that lives, grows, and produces flowers, vegetables, and fruit comes from such a tiny seed. If you’d like to get your kids or grandkids involved, there’s a great kit you can order here: www.TheOutdoorKid.com. It helps kids learn about gardening at an early age. Now, here’s a little information on how to start seeds this spring.
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It’s February, and there’s about a foot of snow on the ground in our backyard. As I often do, I walked over to the large picture window in our house to see what wildlife is hanging out. Often there are deer, rabbits, squirrels, and a male and female cardinal. However, this time, I was pleasantly surprised by a “museum” or group of cedar waxwing perched in the crabapple tree.
Mixed in with the cedar waxwings were robins. I don’t usually see robins until spring arrives so I was surprised to see so many.
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During COVID, social distancing, and this crazy year we’ve all experienced made me realize and appreciate a few things. First, I appreciate family and friends more than ever and look forward to getting back together for face-to-face conversations and hugs. And seeing people smile without a mask as you pass them in the grocery store will be wonderful. Next, I have a renewed respect for the great outdoors, our parks, and the people who maintain them. Spending more time in nature, camping, fishing, and the fresh air have done wonders for my outlook on life and our future. And finally, I reignited my love for fishing. I don’t even need to catch anything to be able to say that “it was a good day!” Minnesota Ice fishing was on my list of must-try experiences, and it’s a great way to social distance.
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I get requests for this easy holiday sweet treat every year. This holiday goodie has easy-to-find ingredients, they don’t need baking and they don’t take long to make. The potato chip, peanut, and almond bark cookies make great gifts for neighbors, family, and friends.
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Beautiful Montepulciano Italy is located in southern Tuscany, in the Val di Chiana region is one of the prettiest hilltop towns in Italy. It’s an easy drive from Florence or Rome just off the A1. You’ll need some spare change or a credit card as it’s a major toll-road. We’ve found that some toll booths do not have people tending them and it may take a bit to figure out the machine and how much you owe. But, like all things, you figure it out and you’re on your way again.
I like renting a car in Florence and driving for an hour and half or two hours to reach Montepulciano. It helps me decompress after flying for 8 hours and prepares me for our visit to this wonderful part of the world. I’ve driven in Italy for years and have gotten used to the signs and Italian drivers. It can be a bit overwhelming your first time, so prepare by doing some research on signs and what to do and not to do when driving in Italy.
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I love renting a car and searching out the next adorable village with its local charm, churches, and of course restaurants. It’s in these small towns you find some of the best home-cooked meals. And believe it or not the pizza is different from Northern to Southern Italy.
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