by Chrysa SmithAbout this time of year, I'm reminded of my great uncle from Poland. A big round man with a long, stinky cigar, enormously wide tie and heavy slavic accent, he would never eat corn. "Eh, that's for cattle!" he'd say, as the dish passed to the next person.Veggies in a can may not be haute cuisine, but, at the height of growing season, I do think Uncle Zig missed a great [...]
by Chrysa SmithBerries are in season. They're cheap. They're plentiful. They're in every market. So let's take advantage of all of those blueberries and strawberries bursting with color and flavor and juice and healthy anti-oxidants and nutritional value----and make something for dinner. I must confess, I am a summer fruit gal. But I've never been fond of blueberries. So, after hearing how wonderful they are for you, I looked and looked for a [...]
by Chrysa SmithNo, not talking about the Latin dance number---although it would be great for bikini weather. I'm talking about the Latin mixture of fruit and vegetable and sweet and savory---perfect side dishes that are also good for the torso.Here's what you'll need for tasty, healthy and fresh side dishes to spice up summer meals---meals that can be hauled to the beach with ease: PANTRY STAPLES:cutting board and good, sharp knifesupply of red [...]
by Chrysa SmithThis Sunday, I made my debut as an adult acolyte (aka: altar server). While I can proudly say that I didn't spill a drop of wine on anyone's Sunday best, I can also say that while it is a pretty neat spiritual experience, downing more than a sip of church wine in early morning reminds me of two things:-there's a good reason for sommeliers-I need to address the beverage service that [...]
'A woman is like a tea bag. You can never tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.'-Eleanor Rooseveltby Chrysa SmithI just got a notice that June is National Iced Tea month. And, in doing a little research, found out that the iced variety of my favorite drink is another clever American invention. USA! USA! Oh, excuse me for the little cheer, but I love stories about American food [...]
by Chrysa SmithI recently turned 50. And within a week of this momentous occasion, I went to my favorite place---the beach.Alright, I admit, now that I've lived in Southeastern PA for 23 years, I'm also calling it 'the shore.'Call it whatever you like, but I'm being called more and more by an inner spirit to spend more and more time there, and discover more and more favorite places to bike, walk, get a [...]
by Chrysa SmithMy spice cabinet overfloweth.In fact, it should be purged of those little, metal cans that sit way in the back. I think there's a cream of tartar and can of whole cloves in there that might be celebrating some sort of silver jubilee.But what I've found over the years, is that once you begin a relationship with these dried potions, it changes your meals---for the better. Let me explain.I grew up [...]
