Asparagus and Piquillo Pepper Salad

Asparagus and Piquillo Pepper Salad

This is really just an assembly dish. Arrange jarred or canned piquillo peppers in a single layer on a plate. Top with steamed asparagus. Top asparagus with some parsley, scallions, capers, anchovies, hard-boiled eggs -- all chopped up finely. Serve cold as an...

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The Tim Tam Slam

The Tim Tam Slam

Last week, the 16-year-old and I went to Jungle Jim's so I can buy ingredients for dishes my brother was requesting, and she picked up a package of (expensive) Tim Tams. (There was a strawberry version at the clearance aisle but I didn't get it, because sugar. LOL.)...

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Argentina Unit Study

Argentina Unit Study

Living Books: Other resources that may be helpful: Argentina Booklet: A Country Study - $3.50 digital download Animal Habitats free download Christmas Around the World: Argentina A unit study here from Homeschool in the Woods...

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Flax Seed, Quinoa and Raisin Whole Wheat Bread

Flax Seed, Quinoa and Raisin Whole Wheat Bread

1/4 cup flax seeds 1/2 cup quinoa 1/2 cup raisins 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast 3 cups whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting 1 tablespoon sea salt 2 tablespoons honey Cooking spray, oil or softened butter Toast flax seeds for a few minutes in a dry skillet over...

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Red Salad with Tahini Sauce and Pomegranate Dressing

Red Salad with Tahini Sauce and Pomegranate Dressing

This is such a festive and yet simple salad that's especially fitting for the holiday season when you're likely to look for showy but not work-intensive dishes. The jewel-like pomegranate seeds that sometimes seem to be lit from within really liven up the dining...

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Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry Syrup

The cold and flu season is upon us once again, so I just made a batch of elderberry syrup to give our immune systems a boost, but also because it's plain delicious and we love it. Elderberries are a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Iron and Potassium, and a very...

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Bacon and Contraception? Not the Same Thing

Bacon and Contraception? Not the Same Thing

A pro-lifer friend shared his concern with me this morning, asking if we should oppose bacon along with contraceptives, since bacon has been declared a Class 1 Carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. First of all, the processed meat and cancer...

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Fruitcake!!

Fruitcake!!

If you grew up hating fruitcake like I did, maybe it's time to recalibrate. We've heard the horror stories of fruitcake being used for doorstops, or regifted from year to year through the generations. This isn't your grandmother's fruitcake. And while this recipe is a...

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Loaves and Fishes: We Can Be the Miracle

Loaves and Fishes: We Can Be the Miracle

Sunday morning before Church I decided to stop by Twitter, where I saw this tweet from Grist: Can you have kids and still be a good person? The solutions like this one and would love to see it implemented all over. At the same time, giving the poor access to healthy...

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Coquilles St. Jacques on St. James’ Feast Day

Coquilles St. Jacques on St. James’ Feast Day

It's St. James' Feast Day, so this is what we had for dinner. It's the classic Coquilles St. Jacques, simmered briefly in vermouth and then enrobed in sauce and browned briefly in the broiler. A green salad, some bread, and perhaps some white wine to round off the...

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Black Bean Salad

Black Bean Salad

Another flexible recipe that will adjust to whatever you have on hand, but as always, the more colorful, the better-looking (for your eyes) and the better for your health. After you’ve got all that up there done, the rest is easy. Just toss, adjust seasonings, and...

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Boca Negra, or Black Mouth

Boca Negra, or Black Mouth

This, besides black forest cake, is my oldest child's favorite cake. I've only made it twice because she's actually allergic to eggs, so as you might understand, when I do make it, she savors every mouthful. And for good reason -- it's rich, and yet light, and...

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