Don't recycle...

...your used peanut butter, mayo, Kimchi jars. Run them through your dishwasher to thoroughly deodorize them and they're ready for leftovers to freeze or refrigerate.

Use summer's bounty of stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, apricots) and produce like broccoli and corn to blanch and roast and freeze for winter use. I love surprising guests in December with a 'fresh' fruit cobbler made with summer sunshine treats.

Have you wondered why the food you've frozen doesn't taste so good after a couple of months in the freezer? If you've stored it in plastic containers or plastic bags, the plastic has leeched into the food mingling with the flavor for not-so-fresh smells/tastes. Freezing in clean glass jars eliminates this from happening.

How do you dress-up a chicken?

I love to cook, but sometimes I want something quick and easy. You know those roasted chickens they sell at Costco, Whole Foods, and even my Farmers Market? They can be dressed up to make a beautiful, colorful, tasty salad that’s fast and pretty darn easy to assemble.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 roasted chicken, skin and bones removed and shredded with your fingers (Or if your family ate most of the bird the night before, this is a great way to use up any chicken meat leftovers)
• 1 fennel bulb, washed and sliced thinly
• 1 handful of mushrooms (I like a mixture to add complexity), brushed and sliced
• 1 bag mixed greens preferably organic and from your Farmers market (Why? They won’t taste like plastic. They’ll be super fresh and should taste sweet. And, you’re supporting your local area economy and farmers.)
• 1 handful of nasturtium blossoms – or sometimes you can buy edible flower blossoms in the baby green mixes. These will add color and a peppery, spice to your salad. 

Combine in a glass salad bowl.

Dressing

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil. I prefer Cecchetti Olive Oil because of the buttery flavor. (I even use it on my popcorn instead of butter!)
• ½ small sweet red onion
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• ½ cup balsamic vinegar or sherry vinegar
• 1-2 teaspoons honey
• dash of kosher salt and fresh ground pepper

Using an emulsifier, food processor, or slicing/dicing/wire whisking, blend the dressing ingredients together. Pour over salad and toss and serve.  Bon Appetite!

P.S. Add berries

If you want to get really fancy with your ice cubes, add berries with your juice and freeze in ice cube trays. I just did blueberries in fresh line juice for a Tequila Pellegrino cocktail.

This trick is also helpful if you have a lot of fresh fruit that may perish that you're not going to be able to eat now.

What a treat to have seasonal summer fruit in your cocktail in November on a cold rainy day. Cheers!

Cool down with a summer beverage that's light & tasty

I'm always looking for ways to feel like I'm eating and drinking well, without spending a fortune. While 'Whole Paycheck' offer convenience and 'whole foods,' it's easy to walk out spending $100+. Yikes! If you have a family, you're looking at spending way more so what's an idea for a cool beverage that won't cost $$$?

Buy fruit juice at Traders Joes and also juice lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit and use your ice cube trays. Once frozen, toss in a plastic bag or glass jar in the freezer. I use these fresh juice ice cubes in bubbly water like Pellegrino, but they're also delicious in plain and simple tap water. This is also a lot less expensive than purchasing flavored waters.

For an adult cocktail on a hot summer eve, in addition to the juice cubes and Pellegrino, add Tequila or Vodka. Yum!