The cold weather has set in and it’s time to light the fire and enjoy simple meals that fill us with superb nutrition and love. This clean and pleasing recipe is so satisfying, you’ll make it many times before spring arrives. The origins of this dish […]
Oh my goodness I can’t think of a yummier treat on a fall day then a tasty apple fritter! These little bites are easy and fun and make a great snack for the kiddo’s or a respectable dessert served with a side of vanilla ice cream. Easier […]
How many of you out there have a memory that revolves around homemade cabbage rolls? I sure do! My Grandma and I would roll them together every fall when I was just a wee kid. I love the slightly sweet (thanks to the brown sugar) and slightly […]
Imagine taking all the bounty from your garden and putting it in one delicious and complete dish? I think that’s just summer in your tummy! This one pan dish can be a used as a luscious side or grab a nice locally sourced loaf of sourdough and […]
Other than my dog Ina, I have three favorite dogs that I absolutely love – to eat. Hot Dogs! Each of these dogs has a unique origin story as well as tried and true toppings. Lets dig in!
The Chicago Dog
Origin: The World’s Fair in 1883 kicked-off a […]
Straight up I’m going to be honest and admit I borrowed this recipe from King Arthur Baking Company because it’s perfectly great and perfectly easy. I’ve used this recipe for years and it never fails. Plus, you can doll it up like I’ve done by adding edible […]
Summer dining is a wonderful time of year with fresh ingredients easily available. For me, it’s a time to combine ingredients that just work when they’re together. I often give more thought to my side dishes than I do the main course. Here are three favs that […]
Lemon anything is a personal favorite of mine. Now, mix a little lemon with mascarpone and whipping cream and I am swooning. If you are looking for a decadent and delicious spring recipe that you can make in advance… look no further. Please note, this is a […]
This handy make-ahead recipe works as a delicious brunch item or if you’re looking for an easy supper, you can simply add some shredded chicken to the party. This is even more scrumptious if you put it together the day before you bake it. For all of […]
I was chatting with a friend in my shop recently about Easter dinner ideas and he mentioned lamb and how intimidating it is to prepare. Huh? It is? I’m here to tell you there is nothing easier or more elegant than a gorgeous rack of lamb. And […]
Egg Foo Young has been a popular item on Chinese menus in America since the mid-1800’s yet some have argued that it’s really not a Chinese creation at all. Well, that’s just crazy talk because history tells us otherwise and our little town of Jacksonville might have […]
Easy Recipes from the Pot Rack – Dec 2023/Jan 2024
If you’re the kind of host who likes to serve your guests something special but you don’t have the time required to spend hours in the kitchen, this fabulous, easy dessert is for you! It looks stunning but doesn’t require a pastry chefs degree. And the […]
Easy Recipes from the Pot Rack – November 2023
You may have noticed from this column that I’m not much of a baker. I’m more of a savory kinda gal. But this simple cookie is one I love because it’s easy and perfect for any holiday celebration. It’s also lower on the sweet scale with a […]
On September 30, Jacksonville lost a passionate man and a beautiful soul. John Dodero, long-time Jacksonville resident and studio potter passed away after a battle with lung cancer. John was 77.
As a community, we were fortunate to have John as a neighbor and a caretaker of our hamlet. John […]
It’s soup season! This year I present a personal favorite of mine—Mulligatawny soup. It’s a yummy, curry-flavored cream soup with so much complexity that your family will think you slaved for hours. And yes, there are a fair amount ingredients, but don’t let that scare you. The […]
Charcuterie is raging these days and we’re often presented with large, gorgeous, over-the-top boards brimming with tasty nibbles. As a host you may be tempted to create a charcuterie platter that could feed an army when all you really need to do for a simple occasion is […]
August means watermelon, figs, and peaches in the Rogue Valley so let’s design a menu featuring these show-stopper fruits.
Cold Watermelon Soup
3 cups cubed watermelon
1 celery stalk
1 medium tomato
1 cucumber
1 red bell pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
Juice of 2 limes
Handful fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon apple […]
Easy Recipes from the Pot Rack – July 2023
So here we are with two serious questions; is a marionberry kinda like a blackberry (yes), and is a buckle the same thing as a cobbler (no). Bottom line on the berry question, not all blackberries are marionberries, but all marionberries are a type of blackberry. You […]
Easy Recipes from the Pot Rack – June 2023
This is a super easy recipe with very simple ingredients but… you can’t do it right until you’ve mastered the art of searing a large sea scallop. So pay attention!
Ingredients
12 large sea scallops (about 1-1.5 lbs) pssst… I buy 14 in case I screw a couple up.
Salt […]
There are a few things everyone needs in their culinary wheelhouse. Good soup is one of them. The other is a basic Frittata. Why, because both are a terrific way to clean out your fridge and create something absolutely delicious. For breakfast, lunch or dinner… a frittata […]
When we think of cake with a touch of liquor in it, our minds might conjure up a rum cake. Last May I featured a Margarita cake which may have been my most viewed recipe. Today, I present Grand Marnier cake. Why? Because it’s delicious! And do […]
Easy Recipes from the Pot Rack – March 2023
Spring is just around the corner so I decided to give you something SPRINGY. Vietnamese Spring Rolls are one of those things you see in restaurants and think “I could never make that!” But I’m here to tell you, you can. Easy peasy lemon squeezy recipe that […]
It’s February and I was thinking about sexy, sultry recipes I could share because that’s what we do in February, right? Heart shaped meatloaf and platters of oysters are pretty obvious by now. Instead. I present a silky French concoction that to me is simple decadence on […]
When I create appetizers, I’m a big believer in the less is more principle. I like to find a hero ingredient and go from there. This year I’m embracing asparagus. It’s colorful, festive, delicious… and easy!
Cheesy Asparagus Roll-Ups
24-pieces fresh asparagus, ends trimmed
1 loaf white bread
2 […]
I’m not gonna lie, French Onion Soup remains my absolute favorite meal. Often when I go to a fancy restaurant I order this lovely concoction as my main course. This recipe is a bit boozy. Just be sure to cook off the alcohol or the flavors won’t […]
It’s October and my palette is shifting into hearty dishes that scream comfort. Let’s tuck into a tasty and tender Schnitzel pounded thin and topped with a luscious gravy. So many options with this little recipe. Make it as is or improvise and make it your own. […]
Risotto used to scare me. The ingredients are simple enough but the love needed to create a proper risotto means you have to give it your full attention. So I make my risotto the star of the show, not a side dish. When you take your time […]
Coctel De Camerones! Mexico’s delicious invention where you can eat chilled shrimp with a spoon! Seriously one of my favorite Mexican dishes and I especially love it in the heat of summer. It’s like eating a chilled Gazpacho but better. There are many recipes out there that […]
The taste of summer for me always includes juicy tomatoes and fresh cut herbs from the garden, especially basil. This savory pie is light and delicious and perfect for a summer luncheon or supper and you can serve this fella both warm and cold. Make it ahead […]
If you’re in need of a fresh idea for salmon tonight, give this tasty dish a chance. It’s a gorgeous little bowl of goodness that is so simple AND flavorful, you’ll be revisiting it all season long. Makes 4 bowls.
Ingredients:
16 oz piece of skinless salmon […]
So, you’re invited to a Cinco de Mayo party and you’re not sure what to bring that is festive, fun AND unique. I give you cake! Not just any cake, but a slightly boozy concoction that looks stunning and tastes so refreshing.
Ingredients
For the cake:
5 room temperature […]
Spring is here and my palate is dreaming of lighter fare with a nice balance of acid and fat. So this year I decided to not do the big leg of lamb on Easter Sunday and instead do a lite and full of flavor version of lamb […]
Instant Pot and Crock Pot recipes continue to be all the rage. I find this form of cooking handy for sure, but it doesn’t really inspire. The dishes all come out pretty much the same… over-cooked. Well, I changed my mind when I tried this little dandy. […]
Happy Chinese New Year—the year of the Tiger. A tiger by definition is fierce, determined, and ambitious. Sounds like a recipe for success that all of us can follow as we forge into another year of uncertainty. So, in honor of that tiger within […]
Easy Peasy with just 5 ingredients and you get to use a blowtorch! What could be better! Seriously though, we spend much of the holidays eating pie, pie and more pie. I’m not knocking pie… a good pie is like it’s own food group! But Crème […]
Call it an appetizer for a holiday gathering. Call it a side dish on your Thanksgiving table. Call it a game day lunch bite… I call it delicious! So easy and yet decadent with our local cheese celebrity stealing the show. How lucky are […]
If this easy one pot dish could have a region to call it’s own, it would be the Rogue Valley. The flavors scream Autumn in Oregon and the presentation is just gorgeous… (and a tad quirky). I prefer this dish be made with dark meat (thighs and […]