Review: The Cookbooks of Sara Foster

Sara Foster is the owner of Foster’s Market, a couple of local gourmet markets and casual eateries best known for their breakfasts and sandwiches. So I was already familiar with her style of cooking when I bought her two cookbooks, Fresh Every Day and Sara Foster’s Casual Cooking. Still, I did not expect that they [...]

When Your Garden Gives You Zucchini, Make Zucchini Slaw!

Image via Wikipedia

Yes, it’s that time of year, when we start wondering what we’re going to do with all this zucchini (and why did we plant so much in the first place). Here’s a fresh idea I got from Sara Foster’s Fresh Every Day cookbook: zucchini slaw. The main component is zucchini, of course, but [...]

Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Bacon and Fried Egg

This sandwich makes my husband lose his senses. I only make it for him once a year, on Father’s Day, which I’m sure you’ll understand once you look at the recipe. It’s not exactly the most healthy of breakfasts, but it is delicious!
The recipe comes from Sara Foster’s Casual Cooking, but the recipe is so [...]

Emergency Dinner Guests? Pesto Vinaigrette!

Not too long ago, I blogged about the five things I always have in my fridge, freezer and pantry to ensure that I can put together a delicious meal anytime. I didn’t put pesto on that list, but I probably should have. I made a big batch of pesto last summer and froze it in [...]

Building Flavor for Soup: Mushroom Broth

Soup is one of my favorite dishes to make. During the winter months, I think we eat it at least once a week. Soup is a go-to dish because I can usually put together something hearty and satisfying just from what I have in my refrigerator and pantry in less than 30 minutes for a [...]

Planning the Thanksgiving Menu: One Week Out

It may not have sunk in yet, but it is only one week until Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. I like that it revolves around family and food, rather than the orgy of gift-giving that Christmas has become. And because it is a harvest celebration, Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to search out [...]

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

Image by shannon_turlington via Flickr

When the days get chilly and gloomy, I get in the mood for soup. We eat a lot of soup around here, at least once a week, and I am always on the lookout for exciting new recipes to try. Now that I am in the habit of making my own [...]

Rotini with Swiss Chard & Sausage Ragu

Rotini with Swiss Chard and Sausage, originally uploaded by shannon_turlington.
Please forgive me for posting this rich, hearty, warming pasta recipe in the middle of summer. Yes, this is truly a wintry dish, but it was so good that I couldn’t wait to share it with you.
This is the first recipe that I have tried from [...]

Greens Cooked with Bacon

In the South, it is a New Year’s Day tradition to eat black-eyed peas and collard greens. When I was a kid, I was convinced that this “tradition” was a trick to get me to eat things like black-eyed peas and collard greens. Now, of course, I realize this is one of many New Year’s [...]

Pan-Braised Carrots with Orange

This simple recipe was my favorite of everything I cooked for Thanksgiving, and it was also a big hit around the table. The recipe came from Fresh Every Day, but it is so easy that it’s more of a cooking technique than an actual recipe. Although I served it for Thanksgiving, it is quick to [...]