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Apr 19, 2026

Green Beans with Shallots and Tomatoes

These green beans with shallots and tomatoes make a wonderful vegetable dish that you'll be tempted to eat with your fingers, kind of like French fries. 

Green Beans with Shallots and Tomatoes in a bowl.


I know this is pretty much a side dish, but I first enjoyed it on its own for a light lunch accompanied by a tasty buttered Italian croissant, and it was plenty. Of course, my portion was a bowlful, and I'm not ashamed. 

Apr 18, 2026

Summer Squash Succotash

This summer squash succotash is a great recipe for using all of the wonderful produce that your garden produces in the summer. 

Summer squash succotash in a bowl.


While I don't have room for a garden, I am just lucky enough to have a cousin who is a horticultural genius, and grows an amazing variety of fresh produce in her almost cantilevered hillside garden. 

Apr 16, 2026

Yeasted Honey Cornbread

This yeasted honey cornbread is a cross between a sandwich bread and a slice of sweet corn bread you might enjoy at a barbecue. 

Yeasted Honey Cornbread slices on a serving board.

 

This bread will remind you of sweet cornbread. In fact, if you're in the sweet cornbread camp, you definitely need to try this bread with a big bowl of chili or a plateful of ribs. Definitely slather warm slices with honey butter for a heavenly experience. The sweet corn flavor comes through. 

Apr 15, 2026

Honeynut Squash Soup with Apple and Bacon

This honeynut squash soup with apple and bacon is velvety and smoky with sweet notes from the honeynut squash and the apple. 

Honeynut Squash Soup with Apple and Bacon in two white bowls.

This soup takes less than 45 minutes to make and is wonderful for lunch with a salad or for dinner as a first course or the vegetable course. It is also easy to make in advance and reheat for later, although it won't last long once you taste it. We polished this soup off in no time. 

Apr 14, 2026

Cornetti Dolci (Italian Croissants)

These cornetti dolci are slightly sweet, light, and amazingly airy. They are wonderful filled with jam or dusted with powdered sugar, or both!

Cornetti Dolci in a basket with two in front.


These cornetti are made with a laminated dough, similar to croissants. From what I understand, both cornetti and croissants have similar roots. Cornetti, besides being Italian and not French, typically tend to be slightly sweeter, have eggs in the dough, are a little fatter in the middle, and often are baked with fillings such as apricot jam, almond paste, or pastry cream. 

Apr 11, 2026

Stir-Fried Cilantro with Bean Sprouts and Shrimp

This stir-fried cilantro with bean sprouts and shrimp takes just minutes to make, and the results are fresh and flavorful. 


This stir-fry is amazing. It is a vegetable dish with about 8 ounces of small shrimp. The only seasonings you will need are fresh ginger and garlic, plus a little salt and sugar. 

Apr 5, 2026

Asian Pear Slaw

This Asian Pear Slaw is a refreshing and light make-ahead salad that stays crunchy and sweet in the fridge until you are ready to serve it. 

Asian Pear Slaw in a shallow bowl.


This Asian pear salad is wonderful as a side dish to meats, fried chicken, and barbecue fare. It's so refreshing.