Yes, Shaken, not Stirred

Posted December 30, 2012

Filed under Food

From the pages of Ian Fleming’s classic James Bond straight to your celebration, these three words are worth following to master the perfect martini: shaken, not stirred. Oh, and make sure it’s a vodka martini too for that smooth iconic perfection… And may I suggest a black shimmering dress for you and a tailored tux for your date?

Well Casino Royal aside, nothing feels quite as festive as the following two simple martini recipes: one dirty and the other (well some might call it girly but the fellows like them equally well) has a splash of fruit syrup. It’s all about taste you know. Follow either religiously and I can guarantee an easy transition right into 2013!

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Harvest Market

Posted September 27, 2012

Filed under Food

Summer is over… No sense denying it as we face October… So I’ve taken my beach blanket and spare bathing suit out of the car, packed away my sleeveless sundresses, and am treasuring the hours of delicious but dwindling daylight. Happily, there is still a great abundance of wonderful produce at my local farm stand and farmers’ market to brighten my kitchen! In fact, flowers are still blooming, food is still growing, as fields in Vermont overflow with pumpkins and gourds and squashes …

Driving over the mountain pass to the Stowe Farmers’ Market I am not disappointed by all the fresh food just waiting for me…

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Stop the Pop

Posted September 6, 2012

Filed under Food

I don’t mean to sound flip, but seriously, what do you make of the aisle where the soda starts at one end and is lined up for as long as the eye can see. Soda dominates advertising and marketing campaigns on our TV, our radio and in our print media. In fact, Coca-Cola slogans have been encouraging us to drink the stuff since 1900 with “Deliciously refreshing: for headache and exhaustion, drink Coca-Cola” to today’s slogan “Life Tastes Good.” Yes, life does taste good but what does that have to do with this noxious beverage linked directly to such epidemic health concerns as world-wide obesity and heart disease?