The official start of fall may still be a few months away, but it’s about this time of year that I really start wishing time would pass a little more quickly, especially as our temperatures in the desert southwest won’t be dipping below the 105 mark for at least that long!

Autumn is my favorite time of year and though we don’t get much of a demarcation when it comes to summer ending and fall starting, I like to surround myself with as many reminders as I can that the seasons have (technically!) changed. One of these, of course, is food. I can’t help but start longing for hearty stews and casseroles or the sweet smells of baking fruits and squashes loaded with cinnamon and sugar.

One dish that’s a hit no matter when I make it is macaroni and cheese. Though the boxed version may be faster, the smells of homemade baking cheese and pasta just can’t be beat!

Spicy Mac and Cheese
adapted from Food Network

2 cups elbow pasta or medium pasta shells, cooked until almost al dente
8 oz cubed cheddar cheese
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
8 ounces cubed Monterey pepper jack cheese
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dry mustard
4 Tb sour cream
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup half-and-half

4 slices bread
1 tablespoon butter

~ Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

~ In a large bowl, toss together pasta with the cheese cubes and pour into the baking dish.

~ In a large bowl mix together the flour, salt, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dry mustard, and sour cream, egg, heavy cream and half-and-half. Pour over the pasta and cover with shredded Cheddar.

~ Bake uncovered until top is just beginning to brown, about 35 minutes.

~ Meanwhile, cut the bread into crouton-sized squares. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter, add cubes and toast until golden. Sprinkle the bread cubes on top of the macaroni and cheese and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes more.

[image: sxc]

What’s on your menu for this 4th of July? Whether you’re planning on keeping things low key at home or are bringing a dish or two for a big get-together, I always think it’s fun to do a little planning ahead of time to bring something that’s both fun and delicious!

I like that the 4th is on a Saturday this year so that we have the whole day to celebrate, instead of just the evening. We’ll be hanging out at home this year, though sadly we don’t have a barbecue at our new house yet (my husband has some big plans when it comes to “designing his own” out on the back patio). So, whatever we do will need to happen in the kitchen, which I don’t mind. That’s what grill pans are for, right?

Our standard 4th of July dinner, when we’re at home and not at a friend’s, is usually steak with some oven fries and roasted vegetables. The kids, who, at this age, can take or leave steak, will probably get hamburgers. For that, I like to mix one pound of ground beef with a packet of onion soup mix and a tablespoon or so of Worcestershire sauce and some salt and pepper.

I think this year, because it is on a day we’ll all be together, I’m going to spend a little extra time on dinner, and make some homemade potato salad and dessert. This time of year always reminds me of my grandpa, who loved my Chocolate Zucchini Cake, so I think I’ll be surprising my family with that.

What’s on your 4th of July menu? Are you staying in or going out?

[image: flickr]

If you’re looking for good, yet budget conscious, eating while on the road, nothing beats a farmer’s market.  Not only is the food fresh and delicious, the prices are generally set with locals in mind.  That means your not paying a premium price just for being a tourist.

With purchases from a market, you can easily create a picnic lunch or dinner, or stock up your hotel room (or apartment, or wherever you’re staying) with tasty and healthy snacks.

I’m traveling in Italy right now, and a stop at a local market yields a variety of salami and hams, cheeses from the local region, fruits and vegetables, bread and pastries, and a few other little odds and ends.  Add in a little olive oil and a bottle of wine, and I can make a fabulous dinner.

Even if you don’t speak the language, it’s easy to point or gesture at what you want.  Food seems to be a universal language.

Besides food, many markets will include flowers, local crafts, and other agri-business items.  It’s also a great way to meet locals and get some tips about things to do and see, and places to go.

If you’re traveling in the United States, you can refer to the Department of Agriculture’s listing of farmers markets around the country.  At the website you can click on the state and get information for the area, including market location, hours, and contact information.

If you’re traveling abroad, many guide books will list local markets.  Or, check with a local tourist office or look for signs around town.  A front desk clerk at a hotel or property manager at an apartment rental is also a good resource.

Photo credit: SXC

Summer vacation usually means travel plans, and when you’ve got pets you either need to make special arrangements for their care while you’re gone, or special plans to bring them with you.

The Weekender bag at PlanetDog.com can help you with the latter! Holding up to the 30 cups of dry dog or cat food, the portable bags allow you to take care of pet feeding without lugging around a giant bag of food.

Available in several different colors, the bag is made of poly-canvas and is water resistant and machine washable. You can find it at PlanetDog for $16.95.

[image: planetdog.com]

I can’t believe it’s already mid-June. Summer’s in full swing around here — kids are finally out of school, the pool’s up and pumping and the sun is zapping any will I might have for being in the kitchen!

~ Strawberry Lemonade Bars from Playing House

~ Broiled Peanut Butter Frosting at Megster Meter

~ Sweet Cherry Orange Peel Poppy Seed Loaf from Healthy. Happy. Life.

~ Italian Soda at Cooking Dunkin Style

~ Inside-out Pizza from Our Best Bites

~ Strawberry and Rhubarb Pate De Fruits at Tartelette

~ Savory and Sweet Zucchini Cups from Culinerapy

~ Malt Gasoline Cocktail at Kaiser Penguin

~ Pecan Bars from Annie’s Eats

~ Salted Caramels at Finding New Flavors

~ Homemade Maraschino Cherries from Cupcake Project

[image: flickr]

It’s that time of year - between trips to the park, camping, long walks or road trips, people are getting out and about and enjoying the warm weather. While pet owners don’t usually forget about their pets during their summer activities, they can now be more prepared!

CommuteMate has created a very nifty all-in-one food and water container for dogs and cats (though you wouldn’t take a cat along on your bike ride, it’s perfect for a road trip!).

All the components of the piece have a purpose: while assembled it holds food and water, and once taken apart it becomes dishes to pour the food and water into.

The handy container is available for $15 at Amazon.

[images: amazon.com]

Today is the last day of school for my kids, and for about the last month I’ve been poking around online trying to find some fun things for them/us to do over the next three months.

I found the video above and immediately bookmarked it to share here. Using things you’ve already got in your kitchen — food coloring, milk and dish soap — you can create a really cool little “color dance.” Here’s another fun example. I feel cheated — my experience with this only involved pepper and water!

I found several other videos demonstrating fun things to do with food, including one of my favorites: cornstarch goo (oh my goodness, that kid’s a doll!). There’s also a dancing egg using a shot glass and an egg, you can make instant ice, and for older kids, try a lemon battery.

What are your favorite food science experiments?

 Most quilters enjoy cooking, too, and frequently look for recipes to share.  Ever since the pioneer quilting bees, women brought foods along and exchanged recipes.

 My grandfather mentioned this in his writing. (He was a newspaper columnist in addition to being a farmer).  Grandfather Coon described his mother going to quilting gatherings at the neighbor’s where the ladies also served refreshments.

Image:sxc.hu

When my daughter and her Fiber Divas group get together for work and planning, they always have refreshments, too.  Also, they occasionally visit fabric shops, galleries, or take a class.  Then they plan on stopping at favorite resaurants for a special treat.

I read on one quilter’s blog, that because she liked to cook and knew others did, too, she was going to add a recipe exchange portion to her blog.  Often quilters post periodic food and recipe items on their blogs or web sites.  Some even compile cookbooks.

 So from time to time, I’ll discuss recipes for quilters and crafters.   Do you have some favorites?

Dogswell, makers of dog food and dog treats, are offering a special giveaway to pet owners who have lost their jobs or are having a tough in the current economic situation.

“Because of the economic crisis, Americans are being ousted from their homes and, in many cases forced to give up their pets for adoption. The toll on pets is just as big as on people, and DOGSWELL is doing its part to ensure that pooches aren’t forgotten during these troubled economic times.

They’re offering 10,000 bags of dog food to the first 10,000 eligible people who request one at their website. They’ve been open to receiving redemption forms since April 15th and will continue until May 15th. All forms must be postmarked by then to qualify. Winners of the food will have a bag shipped to them within 45 days.

[image: dogswell]

My husband and I decided to try growing some of our own food this year, but we really have no space for a garden.

Our little container garden

Even though we don’t have a plot of dirt we’re giving it a shot anyway. The promise of homegrown, fresh tomatoes and peppers is something we’ve thought about for a long time, so this spring we bit the bullet and decided to try our hand at a modest little container garden!

We picked out little seedlings for tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers and jalapenos and some appropriately sized containers and good soil. The picture above is what our little venture looks like as of this morning. The tall tomatoes in the back are a little droopy because I’d just watered them but I know they’ll perk up within the hour (and they do have cages around them, they just don’t show up well in the picture). They’ve got some pretty little yellow flowers blooming already and I’m getting so impatient for the fruit already!

The pepper plants have all looked robust and strong since we got them in the dirt. We really wanted to do some zucchini as well but our nursery didn’t have any, and it was apparently too late to try seeds, so maybe next year.

We don’t know too many people in our area who grow their own food — the conditions in Las Vegas are so harsh that those who have tried and haven’t been able to be as vigilant as necessary eventually give up. If this bunch turns out well we plan to expand next season with the aforementioned zucchini, more tomatoes and maybe even a lemon or lime tree.

Are you planting this year? What does your crop include?