Spicy Honey Baked Wings

These sweet and spicy baked wings need no long explanation. The honey caramelizes on the wings as they bake. That's a very good thing. They're also easy to prepare. Fresh oregano and a squeeze of lemon is a delicious finish.  Best of all, they're baked not fried. Bees Knees Spicy Honey makes them extra special. The chili-infused honey is the secret ingredient, giving this dish a punch of heat and flavor. I reviewed the spicy honey a few weeks ago. It became an instant favorite in my kitchen. You can find the spicy honey on Uncommongoods. Regular honey and a sprinkle of ground cayenne pepper will work too. 

Easy Summer Spaghetti

Fresh and fast is what's on my mind. Meals that are bright, tasty and fuss free. During the warm months, I meander around parks, piers and orchards. I'm in the sunshine. I spend less time in the kitchen.   

Soup And Solitude

Throughout the New England winter, I return to this soup time and time again. I wash away the world and rush back to sweet solitude. A cold walk on a clear beach and a hot bowl of soup restores my peace. Maybe it's because I work part-time in a crisis center or because I'm an introvert or because I was a bit of a wild-child in my youth; whatever the reason, I need to be alone for long stretches of time. My mom used to call it my hibernation-mode.

Solitude is not something you hope for in the future, rather it's a deepening of the present. Unless you look for solitude in the present, you'll never find it. ~ Thomas Merton.

In my twenties, I worked at a hospital with a stable and sweet psychiatric nurse who gave me a birthday card that read, "Happiness is one way of being wise." She sensed I needed to know that. Years later, I read that the true revenge of our enemies, and our darkest demons, is to be deeply happy. As a twenty-something, I lived in Philadelphia. I would go out clubbing all night. Do people even do that anymore? I loved to dance. But it wasn't a particularly happy or mellow time. I was restless and roaming. I was searching for something more meaningful. I'm grateful for those early experiences and the many mistakes I made. I still love cities and urban music. But my life has evolved into something less chaotic and more fulfilling. I used to seek happiness in people, in possessions and in the wrong places. Now I know better. Now those old messages about happiness make sense to me.

Moroccan Roasted Vegetables With Toasted Sesame & Herbed Couscous Pilaf

It's a quiet time to reflect on God and spirituality. We stand still, exhaling into splendid solitude. I don't typically shout about religion from the rooftops like I do my cross stitch patterns or recipes. Vanity, my potty-mouth and an unparalleled addiction to red lipstick have followed me to operating rooms and they'll chase me to my grave. In my spiritual life, I've chosen a single path: a Good Guidebook. 

Mushroom Marsala Spaghetti

In my twenties, I survived epic trainwreck relationships. Ignoring my better instincts, I jumped aboard... heading for a crash. Being on a speeding train seemed sorta fun. Woohoo! I cozied up to dangerous situations, pitching my tent among the bomb blasts and heavy artillery. I convinced myself that it was better than being alone. One night, I sat in my car and prayed (begged) for the grace to leave it all behind. I hibernated in my room, licking my wounds until they healed. I took up watercolor painting. I cooked. I found peace in solitude.

Three Indian Inspired Chutneys

I've got three Indian-inspired chutneys for you. Bright and summery...the bomb diggity spooned over salmon. Serve them with chicken or your favorite protein. Think of them as chopped salads or salsas to enjoy with warm chapati, tortilla chips or pita bread. Toss some beans into them for a light vegan meal. The mango chutney is spiked with creamy coconut milk.

A welcome addition to Indian meals as well as backyard bbq's, each one has its own character. They all share the warmth of sesame and the heat of chili in common. Cool and crunchy, the chutneys are a nice choice during the warm weather months.

Greek Chicken With Lemon & Olives

Simple roasted chicken is always welcome on my dinner table. This golden-brown, crispy and juicy chicken is spiked with a punchy hit of lemon, oregano and garlic. Briny olives give the pan sauce a delicious saltiness. The sunny flavors of Greece make this dish a hit in our home. It's not complicated to cook either. Serve it with my Ultra Creamy Hummus with Greek Salsa  and my Rice Pilaf with Toasted Orzo, for a delicious Eastern Mediterranean meal.   

Chili-Lime Tzatziki Chickpeas

Fresh salads are making their way into my kitchen. I'm half Lebanese, so I'm genetically programed to love chickpeas. I like using them as the base for satisfying salads. Here, these protein-rich beans are tossed with a creamy yogurt-cucumber dressing. The dressing is spiked with a little garlic and fresh lime juice. The recipe comes together quickly. Everything is combined in one bowl. A red chili pepper finishes things off with colorful flavor and heat. I highly recommend it. Stuff this refreshing salad into soft pita with crisp lettuce and tomato. It's great over a fluffy baked potato for a light vegetarian dinner too.   

Roasted Potatoes with Lemon and Herbs

I love using lemon to add sparkle to golden brown fingerling potatoes. Roasted potatoes with creamy centers and a splash of citrus are good eating. The lemon and mint give them freshness and zip. Any herb or small size potato will work here. This dish is good warm, at room temperature or hot from the oven, making it a nice recipe for summer gatherings. Potatoes are a familiar sidekick for grilled fish, chicken or steak, but they’re equally welcome on a vegetarian/vegan table too.

Easy Spaghetti with Brown Butter, Lemon & Sage

With four ingredients (not including salt & pepper) and twenty minutes, you can make this simple and delicious pasta dinner. The recipe has the perk of including brown butter too. As the butter browns it becomes warm and toasty. The sage crisps in the butter, losing its astringent edge, infusing the butter with even more cozy flavors. A sprinkling of sea salt (fleur de sel or gray salt is great here) and a squeeze or two from a juicy lemon is a welcome finishing touch. 

Baked Fish with Lemon Herb Sauce

This is a great dish for a casual dinner. It's elegant but unfussy. The herb sauce is fresh and lively with the juicy fish. It's quick and easy too. The sauce can be made with many different herbs such as basil, tarragon or chives.        

A delicious dinner can be had by baking some potatoes and pairing them with the fish. Once the potatoes are almost done baking, the fish is put into the oven to cook. A green salad, peas or steamed green beans are great sidekicks too. There will be extra herb sauce to toss into the green beans or peas if you desire.

Lemony Pasta With Peas, Herbs & Feta

This is light, lemony recipe is great on its own or with sauteed shrimp or toasted pine nuts. There’s not much cooking involved, except boiling the water for the pasta.

Potato Leek Cakes With Peas & Dill

My mother was from a small town in Pennsylvania which had a large Lithuanian population. During the summer, people loved attending the church picnics. Huge fryers cranked out endless orders of potato pancakes to hungry customers. The cakes were always served with sour cream or applesauce on the side.

Cauliflower & Quinoa Fritters

I love making fritters! These tender cauliflower fritters are moist on the inside and golden brown on the outside. A bit of melted cheese means this dish is sure to please even picky eaters. View all of my fritter and vegetarian recipes in the Recipe Index.

Wild Rice With Mushrooms and Marsla

Marsala and mushrooms will always be a classic combination. There's a good amount of both in this pilaf to ensure maximum flavor. The smoky flavors of the wine compliment the earthy mushrooms. Herbs are a fresh finish. 

It was just the two of us for Easter this year. After church and a refreshing walk around a blue lake with our eager beagle, we enjoyed herb roasted chicken with this savory pilaf. For dessert, we had buttery, raspberry linzer cookies from this wonderful bakery in Cambridge. 

Mediterranean Toasted Quinoa Salad

This is a chopped salad that hits all the right flavors and textures: crunchy, creamy, toasty, tangy and bright . Lemony salads are wonderful year round. I particularly love them in winter, when most of us long for something lively, fresh and green. While tomatoes are tasteless in winter, red bell peppers, lemons and cucumbers are usually fine. Herbs seem to always be available on my supermarket shelves too.