A Local recipe and travel blog for food lovers

Last year there was three of us for Thanksgiving. Depressing, even though I loved my company! Thanksgiving to me is about groaning boards of food and lots of people with which to share. Since that wasn’t happening, I did want to make Thanksgivng special for our little crowd, so I upped the degree of difficulty with my turkey and created this roulade, or stuffed rolled turkey breast, as the centerpiece of our fest for three. It was a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds as well.

Summertime is upon us, which means, among other things, barbecue season! Hot summer days with food on the grill, fresh seasonal produce, and of course, good friends and family. This year, get-togethers seem extra sweet, so why not drop a dessert recipe on you deserving people? Gonna do it right now.

Like everybody else, I'm missing my favorite restaurant food, so I keep this recipe in my back pocket for when I'd like something a little different. Crazy Chicken is a dish I first tried at the Pearl Restaurant in Peterborough, NH, and I may have been able to get the recipe for the tangy lime-based dressing which serves as the sauce. I've made some tweaks along the way and I, too, am willing to share, because sharing is caring.

The end of summer comes way too soon, and with autumn upon us, it's time to pick the last of, well, everything from the garden. This results in a LOT of red and green tomatoes of several different varieties. Time to make salsa.

I have four bananas that are close to checking out so we are making banana bread today. My sister makes the best banana bread but she works for a living so instead of calling her for her recipe I am gonna figure it out. I look at a few recipes online and mald a few together. Then I spill way too much cinnamon in it and it works. Here we go.

I love a summer salad in the refrigerator, it is the gift that keeps on giving. Make it once, have it for days. I have posted recipes for rice salad, orzo salad, pasta salad and potato salad. Today we are doing a crunchy couscous salad and I am using everything I have in my own refrigerator and pantry. Waste not, want not.

My grandmother used to can fruits and vegetables all the time, and I remember going to the orchard to buy a bushel of peaches with her in late summer. The next day she would have gleaming jars of perfectly preserved fruit to last through the winter months and beyond, carefully lined up along the steps down to the basement. I've always wanted to can things, but my fear of doing it wrong and making people violenty ill has been holding me back. Time to face my fears. We will be canning jam today.

Someone I know has been bothering me to try my own rotisserie chicken recipe, and since I have time, chicken and a rotissierie grill, what the heck? I set aside all day Sunday to get it ready. I'll serve it up with some yellow rice, steamed lemon broccoli and some lightly tossed greens. The menu is set, gotta figure out my technique.

My son Derek made me my first Moscow Mule in February of this year, and while I had heard of them, I had never tried one. They are pretty great! Light and fizzy with just enough ginger and lime. You don't NEED a copper mug, but I'm swanky and like stuff like that.

Our first cross-country drive (together) from Peterborough, NH to Kalispell, MT happened in December of 2017, and our second stop was La Crosse, WI. I knew I had found a cool little hotel, The Charmant, on the banks of the Mississippi in a town we'd never been to before. And that dogs were welcome. I did NOT know that for the past twenty-odd years the local Rotary Club in tandem with the community hosts one of the most charming Christmas displays I have ever seen. And now I've seen it twice.

The Newbury Hotel took on a big piece of Boston's history by renovating a prestigious and storied city landmark where many of us have memories -- afternoon tea, people watching over lunch, and if you were lucky enough, an overnight stay in a fireplaced room, complete with a Wood Butler to keep the fire burning. Since we have reason to stay overnight in Boston just as the Newbury re-opened, I had to see for myself how she looked. Let's take a peek.

Bob has been itching to use some of his new camera gear and I am itching to get out of the house, so I decide to plan a road trip amidst the great outdoors. We've gone to Glacier National Park a few times (gotta post about it next time), but a change of scenery is called for. We're headed to the National Bison Range in either Charlo, MT. or Moiese, MT., depending on who you ask. It's probably in both, they're right next to each other. Time for a drive.

My self-imposed exile will come to an end today, as we have dinner plans at Giada Restaurant by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis inside the Cromwell Hotel, which just happens to have craps tables with the largest payouts in Vegas. Solid plan.

Day 2 in Vegas and I am committed to hiding in the hotel while the rest of the world is at the Consumer Electronics show, scoping out emotional support robots (this is not a joke) and personal hovercraft (this is not a joke either). Bob is up and off to the races, while I order a latte, vitamin C detox juice and croissant with jam while writing up some blog posts. I have backlog and need to devote some time. Once this is done, I do have a plan. Back to the spa for a facial and then to Zen Kitchen for sushi.

Our brief but enjoyable stay in Denver is over and we land in Las Vegas by 10:00am. It is fascinating to see how the terrain changes from snow-capped mountains to desert hills as we travel along. Pretty sure our hotel room will not be available so we try to think of things to do and all I can come up with is breakfast.

It is the Saturday after Thanksgiving and our family from out of state is ready for a little more New England holiday vibe. The original plan is to get a Christmas tree today and holiday shop in a quaint little Vermont town tomorrow, but the weather says otherwise. Snow on Sunday starts in the early afternoon, NOT great for traveling, yet Saturday is sunny so we are switching agendas! Quaint shopping is today so we are headed to Woodstock, Vermont.

Good morning Ranch at Rock Creek! It is grey and it looks cold out, but I am gonna get my activities on because this place is expensive! For the record, it is all-inclusive, so your food, drinks, tips and activities are all covered. This is a huge motivation for me to not sit around and do nothing. First on our list is a 2 hour hike through the mountains. But not before we hit the breakfast bar and get some coffee, fresh squeezed juice and maybe a little chocolate croissant to split.

We've been spending a lot of time in Northwest Montana, but… Montana is a big state. REALLY big! Time to do a little exploring. Yes, it's road-trip time in Big Sky Country! Headed to Bozeman and Missoula, with a short detour to The Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, MT. We are ready for a little down time.

I talk about spending time in different neighborhoods of a big city and concentrating your efforts in one spot, especially if you are pressed for time, so you eventually stitch together a feel for a city as a whole. Today we are in NYC again and I am going to Chelsea/Meatpacking District.

I am so ahead of the game when it comes to Christmas shopping this year! Total abberation! I think because we started on Thanksgiving weekend with our trip to Woodstock, Vermont I have a leg up. Go figure. Today I visit the Black Swan Gift Shop in Peterborough, NH, which never disappoints and will always put you in the proper holiday spirit.

Well, they continue to live up to their reputation! The Rolling Stones show in Foxborough is a spectacle! The music sounds great and Mick still has the moves like Jagger -- 8 weeks after a heart valve replacement! I hope I have this much energy at 73 years old! Had a great night.

I don't know how this happened, but we are going to the Stones show in Foxborough tomorrow. I feel like everyone should see them once, as they put on quite a spectacle, and any of them could die any day. Except for Keith Richards, he is a vampire. So don't wait.

I am home in NH now, but here is a picture of Jack the dog, on the boat in Montana with his life vest and matching shoes. Don't judge me, the shoes are so he does not ruin the vinyl seating and the vest has a handle so if he falls off we can grab him. Too cute to lose.

The Bigfork Christmas parade attracts thousand of people each year and for good reason - the Bigfork and surrounding area merchants/organizations do it up right! We were hosted by our realtor, whose office is right on the main drag.

My skin is dry and I need some upkeep. Specifically, I need an exfoliating scrub with a moisturizing treatment, a hot oil scalp massage, and then a shampoo and a blow out. My birthday is coming up and I can justify this. I asked my social media people where I should go and my girl Mel recommended Chill Spa. Their menu had exactly what I was looking for, so I made some reservations. I was not disappointed.

Right across the street from Nature’s Green Grocer in West Peterborough, NH sits Edward MacDowell Lake, formed by a flood control dam built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1948 - 1950. Its purpose was, and remains, to protect the town of Peterborough and surrounding area from the extensive flooding which occured in the late 1930's. Besides the dam, the lake/preserve is complete with a beach and picnic area plus walking trails abound. Biking, fishing and kayaking are popular here, too. Why not enjoy some different scenery?