I just returned from from a week's vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina. We rented a large vacation house with 3 other retired couples and took advantage of the post season reduced rental prices.The home was large and spacious with each couple having their own comfortable bedroom with a private bathroom ensuite. My husband and I shared the 2nd floor with our good friends with a living room ..read more

The weather has cooled off a bit, and I'm already thinking of heartier foods! One of my favorites is stuffed cabbage BUT it's way too labor intensive for me to want to sit and roll the cabbage, so I make an "unstuffed cabbage roll " version instead, which is an easy one pot plant-based (GF) recipe with no rolling involved!Vegan Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls: Easy, Healthy, and DeliciousIf you are ..read more

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is playing on Broadway in NYC. This week was 2-for-1 week at participating Broadway theaters, and we were able to get our 7th row orchestra, 1/2 price tickets weeks in advance by mail.Living an hour and half away (or even less time if we catch an express), we usually take the train. It's a pleasant ride. When we arrive in Penn Station in NYC, we ..read more

Is it a potato? A brown beet? a turnip? No!! It's a jicama!!Have you even tasted jicama? It's a root veggie that you might have seen in your local grocery store or farmers' market, but never knew what to do with it. It's not pretty on the outside, but it is crunchy and delicious and slightly sweet on the inside. If you’re ready to try something new, this root vegetable could become your new ..read more

I'm joining Sherry at Sherry's Pickings for  her "IN MY KITCHEN" September, 2024 blogger share!It's hard to believe that the summer is almost over and we are already welcoming in the month of September.  Not a lot going on in my kitchen right now but I'll share what I've got!We Have New French Doors in the KitchenThe wood frame and bottom of our old French doors rotted, so we ..read more

It's still corn season. The end of August begins to signal the end of summer, but it is not the end of summer produce. In fact the farmer's markets, local farms, and backyard gardens are  bursting with the end of summer's bounty - especially corn on the cob!!There is nothing like fresh corn on the cob right from the farm. It is sweet, tender, and packed with flavor, and there are so many ..read more

Have you ever made a Buddha Bowl for lunch? These versatile bowls are healthy, filling, and delicious. But do you know the beautiful story behind the origin of these plant-based meals in a bowl?Legend has it that Buddha Bowls originated with the original Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who is thought to have lived in South India sometime between the 4th and 6th century. The legend says ..read more

There is something new in our supermarkets/grocery store and it's really frustrating me!Is anyone else having problems/frustration checking out at the grocery store ? Maybe it is only me BUT I'm beginning to feel like my 95 year old mother-in-law who couldn't learn to use her iPad  (she should rest in peace). ( The photos are not me or my mother-in-law-)Here's my story. Grapes were on ..read more

It's hot and I have not been doing as much cooking, but I have been reading. What have I been reading this month? As usual, historical fiction. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, you will probably enjoy these captivating reads. I found that each book offered a unique journey into different eras and settings, blending rich storytelling with memorable characters. I now read on my iPad ..read more

Is it hot enough for you? .  We’re in the thick of summer, and we've been having a heatwave!  The heat can be brutal, especially when it comes to staying active. But don’t sweat it (literally)—there’s a fantastic way to keep moving without braving the scorching sun.When weather keeps me wanting to stay indoors with the air conditioning and skipping my morning walk,  I turn to ..read more