I love tomato soup, love, love, love it. All kinds, all flavors, hot or cold, even from a can. But it’s so easy to make it yourself. I love to whip up a big pot, and stash away servings in the freezer to have on hand whenever the mood strikes. In the winter months, I make it with good canned Italian tomatoes, but in the summer when local tomatoes are in abundance I go fresh … [Read more...] about Tomato Soup Base
Vegetables
Summer Squash Casserole
I honed my squash cooking techniques years ago when I first started planning events for a living. I had two wonderful clients planning a big, beautiful outdoor wedding for their daughter on their sprawling, picturesque property. The father of the bride had an elaborate garden, raised, tiered beds all surrounded by a critter-proof cage. Every time I came out to meet with my … [Read more...] about Summer Squash Casserole
Fire and Ice Tomatoes
I love community cookbooks. The great and broad recipe collections gathered together by Junior Leagues, Junior Auxiliaries, symphony groups, historic homes, garden clubs. I have a large and ever-growing collection of these treasures. Some of them are quite professional nowadays, with editors and trained photographers. But I particularly love the old-school cookbooks, from … [Read more...] about Fire and Ice Tomatoes
Succotash Salad
I know. Frankly, it’s just fun to say. Succotash. I could go here with Sweet Summer Succotash Salad. Sunny Season Succotash Salad. Or the trite but amusing Sufferin’ Succotash Salad. But more than being a pleasure to say, it’s a pleasure to eat. Crispy corn, creamy limas, crunchy bell pepper in a sweet-tart Vidalia dressing. It screams summer. And it looks like a big bowl … [Read more...] about Succotash Salad
Garlic Scape Beef Satay
This year, for the first time, I noticed vendors at the local farmers market selling garlic scapes. Garlic scapes are the greens that shoot off the top of a variety of garlic. They have a milder, garlicky flavor. They are long, green, and have a bulbous head at the top. I had heard of scapes, but never used them and as I am intrigued by anything garlic related, I bought a … [Read more...] about Garlic Scape Beef Satay
