Valarie Russell on September 17th, 2019

Mom always told you to eat your greens. Braising greens are a mix of greens that include kale, chard, collards, mustard, bok choy, raddichio, and turnip greens. They’re really great because you get several varieties of dark, leafy, chock-full-of-vitamins greens that are so versatile. Plus, they’re delicious – each bite bursts with flavor and texture. […]

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Valarie Russell on September 10th, 2019

“Butternut squash is so good on its own, that barely any seasoning is needed. This recipe is so simple and easy.” 1 butternut squash – peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced salt and ground black pepper to taste Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss butternut squash […]

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Valarie Russell on August 13th, 2019

A refreshing soup on a hot day. The flavors of the fresh vegetables blend together nicely. This is a soup I make again and again.   2 cups tomato juice 4 medium tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped 1/2 cup chopped seeded peeled cucumber 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper […]

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Valarie Russell on August 6th, 2019

Quick and easy to make, delicious served on a pickle tray or used in your weekend Blood Mary!   1-pound green beans, trimmed 2 cups white vinegar 1 tablespoon mustard seeds 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 2 cloves garlic   Place the beans in a heatproof container. In […]

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Valarie Russell on July 9th, 2019

An easy way to preserve okra…pickle it! It taste delicious and is impressive on any relish tray. It’s great in Bloody Mary’s too. 1 1/2 pounds fresh okra 3 dried red chile peppers 3 teaspoons dried dill 3 teaspoons black peppercorns 3 garlic cloves 2 cups water 1 cup vinegar 2 tablespoons salt Divide the […]

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Valarie Russell on June 25th, 2019

I never dreamed I would ever like hummus let alone Baba Ganoush, but I was pleasantly surprised I like both.  I’m definitely not a fan of eggplant but over the years I have slowly become one. This recipe is a quick, easy and a healthy snack. It makes an awesome dish to serve when friends […]

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Valarie Russell on May 15th, 2019

Asparagus makes a striking topping on this easy-to-assemble tart. Kenny absolutely loves this; I have made it three times for him this asparagus season. 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (10×15 inches), thawed ¼ cup sour cream 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced thin 1lb. asparagus, cleaned and trimmed 2 cloves garlic, diced or grated ½ small onion, sliced thin […]

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Valarie Russell on October 13th, 2018

This is one of my personal favorite soups, I used to make homemade bread bowls to serve it in… but times have changed and we try really hard to avoid those extra carbs.(But, it’s absolutely delicious that way!) It’s the perfect meal to make when Kenny brings fresh cut broccoli and cauliflower inside.  Hope you […]

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Valarie Russell on September 4th, 2018

What is a Thai eggplant? It’s a dinky little eggplant, and if you lop off the top and quarter them, they make a great ingredient in many dishes. Try this simple and delicious Thai eggplant recipe. 8-10 THAI EGGPLANT (quartered) 1½ cup ONION (chopped) 1 cup RED BELL PEPPER (chopped) 4 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped) […]

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Valarie Russell on June 12th, 2018

This recipe is a quick and flavorful way to use up an otherwise unassuming gourd. Simply baked with a slathering of marinara sauce, a sprinkling of cheese, and topped with crispy toasted garlic breadcrumbs (perhaps the best part of the entire thing). It’s like a deconstructed eggplant parmesan… but with squash (although you could very […]

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