Too Many Tomatoes

By Lori Powell

Tomatoes are dropping in my garden…literally. My garden includes everything from heirloom varieties to the humble cherry. So, when burdened (gifted) with the luxury of gorgeous home-grown tomatoes, I say, let the salsas begin!

With infinite salsa variations possible, I change it up, given the offerings at the farmers’ market or what’s in my fridge. You could add beans, corn or grilled veggies, to name a few tasty options.

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Avocado Soup – to Celebrate the Simple

By Lori Powell

It has been hot and super-hot in most of the country, not to mention what it going on with our economy, the world and the markets...not so hot!

Try to keep in mind that the simple things in life are not to be overlooked. We still have lots to be thankful for and if you have your health…well put simply, it does not get much better than that.

So much these days is out of our control but being thankful for what we still have and rewarding ourselves with good food is a good thing.

Make yourself something delicious, invite some friends and celebrate the simple! Here’s a refreshing soup for four to start you on your way.

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Make these Cucumber Pickles in Minutes

By Lori Powell

There is a local farmers’ market about a quarter of a mile up the road, open on Sundays from 9 to 1. After watching “CBS This Morning,” my go-to show and a regular weekend ritual, I grab my market bags and stop by to check out the new offerings. This week, there was an abundance of cucumbers, tomatoes and corn.

A freshly-cut cucumber perfumes the air as soon as it is cut. It’s so refreshing on hot summer days – and hot days seem to be a regular occurrence here in Pennsylvania. I love cucumbers as a snack, done simply, freshly sliced with a sprinkle of sea salt...yummmm!!

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Cook Simply in the Summer

By Lori Powell

Summer is one of those seasons where it’s easy to cook for just one or two. For one thing, you have the most amazing vegetables, fruits and herbs at this time of year. When you have the best the season has to offer, cooking simply is really all that is required!

It’s the season of the corn on the cob. There are so many ways to prepare it but the cardinal rule is just keep it simple. See the photo below for a quick and easy way to get those crunchy kernels off the cob.

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A Taste of Summer…Shellfish!

By Lori Powell

Here’s a quick take on dinner with super-fresh littleneck clams. Having these juicy morsels in my fridge is sheer joy!

Real little littlenecks are about1 ½ inches in diameter. Larger than that, they are appropriately called middle necks! Love that name – it makes total sense, at least to me.

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