We had a gorgeous 75 degrees sunny, Carolina blue sky day in Charlotte today. That alone begged me to get outside rather than spending time in my favorite place, the kitchen, But the reality is that it is December and a time of year during which more people than ever are sick, overwhelmingly busy, and [...]

Given Mexican food is my favorite cuisine (but do I really have to pick?), we eat a good deal of it around here. You name it: tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, bowls of rice and beans. On this night, we fancied burritos. But we like them smothered in a sauce. A really, really good sauce. This one [...]

Pesto is a fresh and flavorful combination of a leafy green (think herb, arugula, spinach, etc.) + some type of nut (pine nuts, walnuts) + olive oil + sharp aged cheese (like parmesan) + garlic that can serve as an Italian sauce or spread. My basil plant is the only thing in my garden that I happen to [...]