Independence Day means summer is here for real. It also means cookouts, picnics and barbecues. In addition to hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken and clams, cookouts mean a large variety of side dish salads. What is a salad? Our English word comes from the Latin sal or saltare (to ...

“An herb is the friend of physicians and the praise of cooks.” — Charlemagne - Our garden has been neglected since Mom isn’t able to tend it. But chives and mint are still vibrant in our wild garden patch. Several species of mint grow in our cool climate. Peppermint has purple, ...

When visiting a friend in Poland, I got so excited when she served radishes for breakfast, with an assortment of breads and cheeses. That’s because few Americans get excited about them. For many, radishes are simply a garnish that adds a little color and flavor to salads. For me, radishes ...

Summer is almost here. Our farmers market is in full swing. It is time to ponder what we eat, and why we eat what we do. Food gives us energy and nourishment so our bodies can grow, thrive and remain healthy, promoting wellness within us. Sometimes we eat from convenience. We’re hungry, ...

It’s hot. The calendar still says spring, but it sure feels like summer. Summer berries won’t be here for a while — so no strawberry rhubarb pie quite yet! But our rhubarb is coming up like crazy. Rheum rhabarbarum, or garden rhubarb, thrives in cool climates from Alaska to Siberia and ...

Every May I look forward to fresh, crisp-tender stalks of asparagus. Mom used to tend the asparagus bed in her garden until her back gave out. Now we buy it at the farmers market. This year, however, I spent May 1 in the hospital, then in a rehab facility. Here there is no fresh food — ...