Black Bean Soup
Last night I hit a home run with a dinner that pleased a carnivore (my husband) and a quasi vegetarian (my daughter) and it took me all of 15 minutes to make. I was beside myself with joy, really. Several times a week I make something different for dinner and when I hear silence (which I often do), I don’t even have to ask “Is this a repeat?” anymore as I know the answer. But, I keep trying because I love variation, flavor, and the discovery of a new dish. At my core, I believe food is fuel but I also want to enjoy a meal. Comfort food and old standbys aside, enjoying a meal is also discovering a flavor that wakes up your taste buds and brings a new excitement to eating while nourishing your body. Read more 
How to Spend One Day in Madrid, Spain
Madrid is a very popular European city that draws millions of visitors every year. Filled with world-class museums, restaurants, historical monuments, parks, theaters, and a population that never seems to sleep, Madrid has a wonderful dry climate that makes the tourist experience pleasant throughout the four seasons.
I spent four years living in Madrid and our apartment – in a neighborhood called Salamanca – was in the heart of the city which allowed us to truly experience day-to-day life in the Spanish capital. Often times, friends or acquaintances ask me what they should see on their first visit to Madrid – a question that has always been difficult to answer because it depends on how much time they have and where their interests lie. Read more
The Grill and the Barbecue Sauce
As daytime temperatures soar and the days get longer, most people think less about turning the oven on and more about grilling outdoors. When I married my husband 21 years ago, one of our wedding gifts was a Weber gas grill which we spent our honeymoon putting together. There must have been 1,000 parts and although stressful to assemble, we completed the project with our marriage intact. Last year after 20 years of reliable service, we decided to replace the old Weber with a new grill, the question being: do we choose gas or charcoal? Read more
The Alternative Blueberry Muffin
Blueberry muffins are one of those all American breakfast foods that should be included in a patriotic cliché similar to the 1970’s jingle “As American as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie.” But, somehow “As American as sports, meat, and muffins” doesn’t sound that great. We are a nation somewhat obsessed with sports, meat, and muffins but being reminded of that doesn’t always make us feel great about ourselves. Read more
The Arte of the Potato Chip
The simplest of foods made with quality ingredients are often the best and in the case of the potato chip, this truth rings true. In its purest form, potato chips are thin slices of potato that are deep-fried and lightly salted. When made with earthy potatoes fried in extra virgin olive oil and lightly salted, it’s easy to subscribe to the mantra “one is never enough.” Read more
Market Day in Geneva, Switzerland
Saturday morning is market day in most of Switzerland: a time to wake up early, forgo breakfast at home with the knowledge that a better meal awaits at the Rive market in downtown Geneva. Rive is actually the name of the parking garage that borders the market and because these two consonants and two vowels form such an easy word to pronounce, the market has become known as “Rive” by the locals. Read more
Milk With Extra Deliciousness
Bring Forth the Granola
When I was growing up, the only people I knew that ate granola were hippies and our neighbors from California (who incidentally also had the only vegetable garden in the neighborhood, took vitamins, shopped at a health food store, and made brownies and pancakes from scratch…how weird is that?). The rest of us ate Lucky Charms with day-glow marshmallows, Captain Crunch (I especially liked the kind with crunch berries), Frosted Flakes, Kix, Cheerios, and for a healthy choice: Shredded Wheat. Read more
The Simplicity of Hummus
Hummus is a middle eastern dip made from chickpeas that have been cooked, pureed and then blended with tahini (sesame paste), olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, cumin, and sometimes paprika. High in iron and vitamin B9 (folate) and also providing phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc, hummus is a good source of protein and dietary fiber. But, like any prepared food the nutritious value of hummus greatly depends on the ingredients used to make it. Read more
My Favorite Mail Order Websites for Food
The growth in internet sites has brought the world of food into homes. Years ago, new and unusual foods were acquired by traveling to faraway places. Today, people still travel to eat but with the world becoming global, international and national foods can be ordered on-line and delivered to our doorstep within days. Special ingredients not readily available at the local grocery store can also be obtained at various websites. The choices are unlimited but here are a few favorite sources: Read more
Paddock Post 