Recent Articles
Growing Potatoes in Containers
The first time I tasted homegrown potatoes from our garden, I was hooked on their superior texture and flavor. Growing potatoes is great for many reasons, not least of which harvesting them is like unearthing treasure as a much-earned reward for your hard work in the garden. Most varieties come late in the summer, after months […]
Thai Beef Stir Fry with Garlic and Basil
If you come here often, you might notice that some of my favorite foods are comfort foods, recipes that are the food equivalent of a warm blanket, cozy sweater or your softest pillows. Especially in the cooler months, this is what I crave. Spring was just beginning to show itself here when, out of nowhere, […]
I’m a Beekeeping Beginner!
When I start a new project, I sometimes get overwhelmed by all of the things I don’t know. It happened years ago when I started growing food. I had only limited experience with it when we moved into our current home and made a big commitment to build a large fenced-in vegetable garden complete with […]
Potato Gnocchi in Tomato Broth
People who are really into (insert obsession here) have a way of overcomplicating things or letting tradition and snobbery get into the way of good things. Is it high art or low art? Is he/she old money or new money? Is the wine a good vintage? Is the gnocchi made the way my Italian friend’s mom […]
Euphoric DIY Lotion Bars
Mr. President says I bite off more than I can chew because I’m always getting into multiple new hobbies at once and looking for my next new obsession. I can’t even keep up with my own interests. So many potential hobbies, so little time! That’s what happened when I first started playing around with essential […]
Succession Planting for a Manageable Harvest
Succession planting is a valuable tool for managing the amount of food from your garden, minimizing potential food waste, and maintaining a gardener’s sanity.
Can a Vegetable Garden be Beautiful?
During the first summer in our current home, we invited a realtor friend over for a glass of wine outside, the same friend that had sold us our fixer-upper. Cathy saw for herself the dramatic transformation our home and backyard had been through, including the addition of the large fenced vegetable garden. The vegetable garden […]
Indian Spiced Meatballs
One of the things that got me googly-eyed over Mr. President when we met is that he knows how to cook. One of our early dates was Thanksgiving. He cooked the entire meal from start to finish including a butterflied roasted turkey, all the fixings, and a from-scratch apple pie, all served up elegantly in his […]
Pasta with Butter Roasted Tomatoes
What can be said for tomatoes in winter? Nothing good, really. When I think of winter tomatoes, I think of mealy, pink, flavorless wedges atop bland iceberg lettuce salads at crappy restaurants. They’re the hallmark of bad salads served everywhere. Almost all of the sugars in a fresh tomato are produced within the last couple […]
Book Review: Big Magic
I am not a “resolutioner” when the new year rolls around because I have been a frequent victim of goal overload. However, I do look at each January as a time for reflection, introspection, and inspiration. If you need some of that right now, have I got a great read for you! I recently finished […]
Hi! I’m Brande. I’m a proud homebody, reluctant career girl, and happy wife to a nearly flawless husband. I’m not afraid of spiders, getting dirty, ill-advised kitchen experiments, or lofty ideas. Welcome! I can’t wait to get to know you. 
Freezer Friendly
Gluten Free
Good For Singles
Sure To Impress
Vegetarian