Kitchen Herb Garden, Plan Now and Plant Soon

By Marsha Fottler. March is the month to plan the best, most convenient and most productive kitchen herb garden that any cook could covet. Sound like a springtime fantasy? It’s not only possible but proven if you follow a few easy guidelines. The first day of spring is March 20 so start choosing your candidates for a stellar herb garden now. Strategy 1. Plant herbs in containers (plastic or lightweight composite so you can...

Food Buzz – Truffle Salt

By Marsha Fottler. Just when you thought you were all set for gourmet salts, you’re going to want to make room for one more – truffle salt. This addition to your spice rack could become addictive because its so versatile and good tasting. It’s a blend of Italian ground truffles (up to 10%) harvested mostly from the Abruzzi area and sea salt. Using truffle salt intensifies the taste profile of whatever you sprinkle it...

Masa, A Heavenly Gift to Cooks and Eaters

by Kelley Lavin. While on a recent trip to my home state of Arizona, I began to ponder the nature of heavenly gifts. Unlike so many travelers before me, I didn’t contemplate the famous red rocks of Sedona or the ethereal fragrance of the desert after a short winter rain. What moved me and brought back taste memories was my first bite of masa, the earthy corn dough found under the corn husk wrapping of a tamale. It struck...

Blueberries to Bok Choy: An Organic Farmer Reveals...

by Herb Gardener. Research has demonstrated that blueberries boost the immune system and fight free radicals. It took Southwest Florida farmer and organic produce entrepreneur Mitch Blumenthal to discover the fruit also has a salutary effect on dreams. “My passion for organic farming developed first as a landowner who didn’t want to use caustic chemicals on his property,“ Blumenthal says. “When we bought our first...

Kitchen Resolutions for a Fresh Start

By Marsha Fottler. Making New Year’s resolutions that pertain to your everyday working life in the kitchen is rewarding because practical and aesthetic changes in that space are easy to master and will leave you feeling empowered and happily in control of your attractive surroundings. Start today. • If you haven’t used a particular cookbook in the last two years, recycle that cookbook by giving it away to a friend or...

Holiday Hostess Gifts

By Marsha Fottler. It’s official, we’re now entering high season for holiday home entertaining. That means you need to stock up on reliable hostess gifts – those small but welcome treasures that you hand over to your hostess upon arriving for a dinner party. Three rules for selecting and giving a hostess gift: It should be simple, the presentation should have a wow factor, and it should never disrupt the rhythm of the...