• Pineapple chamomile iced tea sangria
    Drinks

    Pineapple Chamomile Iced Tea Sangria Mocktail

    With a refreshingly light sweetness from pineapple and ripe stone fruit, this non-alcoholic chamomile tea sangria makes use of summer’s abundant fruit and herbs.  A touch of sage balances the drink and is just the right ingredient to add clean herbal notes without overwhelming the pitcher. Lounge away the afternoon with a glass then sip another well into the evening, as chamomile tea is naturally caffeine-free with a mild floral quality that’s mellow and smooth.  Spoon cherry halves and nectarine slices in each serving along with plenty of pineapple, and this mocktail makes blazing days quite welcome. Ingredients 5 chamomile tea bags brewed in 4 cups water then cooled1 cup…

  • Pork chops topped with cherry sauce and surrounded by charred scallions
    Food

    Pork Chops with Cherry Sauce and Charred Scallions

    A savory sauce made with fresh cherries and merlot tops tender boneless pork chops in this dish that comes together in one skillet. Even the scallions soften and char in the same pan, with their mild onion flavor being tempered by the same heat that gives the pork a golden crust. When abundant bunches of cherries are available at the market, scoop them up for this recipe. If you’ve read about my five favorite specialty kitchen tools, you know that I recommend having a cherry pitter on hand for the season. Certainly, you can slice the cherries in half and remove the pits, but a pitter makes the task so…

  • Pickled Cherry Pico de Gallo
    Food

    Pickled Cherry Pico de Gallo

    If you made last week’s cherries, I hope you reserved some. As promised, I am sharing this Mexican recipe as another way for you to enjoy your quick pickled treats. Beyond tapas and charcuterie boards, give your meal a delicious twist by adding a pickled flavor to your pico. Whether you prefer carnitas or a vegetarian taco, this topping works incredible well with traditional Mexican flavors. Also known as salsa fresca, pico de gallo is a combination of chopped tomatoes, onions, peppers, and seasoning that can be layered on tacos or enjoyed with tortilla chips. As the word fresca suggests, it is a salsa made from the freshest ingredients left…

  • Pickled Cherries in Jar
    Food

    Quick Pickled Cherries

    “Cherries of the night are riper Than the cherries pluckt at noon” – From “Cherry-Time” by Robert Graves Fresh cherries are one of the addictive pleasures of summer. Sweet and shiny with just enough meatiness to sink your teeth into, they are easy to devour by the bowl. Still, with the abundance of cherries on my counter, I can’t resist the urge to bake, pickle, and otherwise transform them into even more deliciousness. Quick pickling allows you to take the freshest cherries and infuse them with spiced, briny flavor without the hassle of the canning process. They won’t keep the same way as preserved versions, so make sure to keep…

  • Plum Upside Down Cake
    Baking,  Food

    Chocolate Plum Upside-Down Cake

    Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold – William Carlos Williams (Excerpt from “This Is Just To Say”) With a delicious plum layer, this chocolate upside-down cake sparked me to repeat William Carlos Williams’ lines in the way that lyrics might play in your mind. As a lover and writer of poetry, I count his work as one of the sensual pieces that is as likely to pop up as any song. Having “eaten / the plums / that were in / the icebox,” the speaker apologizes…sort of. They were so sweet and cold, after all. Other poets have turned to the fruit and flowers of the…