Rhubarb Chutney for your Easter Feast

By Lori Powell

So, officially spring has arrived in my neck of the woods. Tulips, hyacinths and the ubiquitous forsythia that bloom everywhere at this time of the year are flourishing.

The birds are singing up some sweet tunes every morning. Two Mourning Doves showed up on my back porch during that horrendous rainstorm last Saturday, which I took as a token of good luck! Apparently they establish their territory in early spring.

I was hoping that they would consider my back porch as their home. They mate for life and these two were huddled together on a shelf, safe under the back porch away from the high winds and torrential rain.

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Breakfast After a Morning of Antiquing

By Lori Powell

Oh yes, another weekend… except this is the first time I ventured out to have some fun which did not include a stop at a Home Depot, Lowe’s or the hardware store.

Ohhh, the lovely search and find of special objects and lure of antique shops and garage sales! Unfortunately Pennsylvania has plenty of them to satisfy my obsession of finding treasures amongst other people’s castaways. And yes, find I did…some old copper pots….old silverware and some pictures for the walls.

I am a huge fan of “Antiques Road Show,” except I am never home when the darned program is airing. Like the other folks clasping their treasures on the show, I am convinced I have a Picasso amongst my finds, except I still haven’t figured out which one has disguised itself as just an ordinary Joe!

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Another Kitchen Sink Dinner

By Lori Powell

Yes, yet another kitchen sink dinner using ingredients that are always in my pantry: oil, bacon (you can keep it frozen and then chip off what you need), dried herbs and spices (keep them fresh by buying small quantities and replace after four months), garlic, Parmesan, and some form of tomato product and pasta.

I happened to have fresh basil on hand, so that just helped seal the deal of what to cook for dinner. Also, it was Monday (and a long one at that) so I just wanted something quick.

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Cooking with the Seasons

By Lori Powell

I love Meyer lemons and I’m so happy that we are able find them. They are now widely available in grocery stores in New York and Pennsylvania. I am jealous of people who have trees laden with the fruit.

It’s amazing what you can do with a few ingredients when you can get the good stuff and follow the seasons. I picked up a small, lovely center cut piece of halibut and seasonal asparagus to round out my dinner plate with a little help from Meyer lemons, my fresh rosemary plants, good olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground pepper. All that’s needed for an amazingly fresh taste of spring.

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Rutabaga, My New “Butternut Squash”

From Lori Powell

Rutabaga is that funny-looking, waxy thing that you see in the root area of the supermarket produce section. It really doesn’t feel good to the touch but underneath is a globe of delicious goodness!

I must say that I was among the doubters, thinking it really can’t be that good and it’s probably woody and dry underneath the rind. Now rutabaga is my new butternut squash with lots more dimension – the adult version of butternut squash.

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