Recipes

Do you have a special place from your childhood that your mind wanders to from time to time? I do! I come from a large family of six boys and me. I am the oldest, and the only girl. Lucky me, huh?! Needless to say, this made one-on-one time with our parents difficult at times. Some of my fondest memories were the one-on-one times I spent with my father. Small moments like learning more about who my parents were beyond the everyday moments of being parents stand out in my mind. My dad was a master fly fisherman, and he also was one of the few craftsmen left in America who completely hand crafted and sold custom bamboo fly rods as a hobby. These were truly labors of love from hand planing the large pieces of bamboo that would arrive at our home, to gluing and kiln-drying the entire finished product. There were many more steps to the process, but my favorite step was when he had completed a rod and tested it in our backyard...the fluid motion of his hand combined with the whooshing sound of the lines, so graceful and fluid. When he had finished testing the rod and was satisfied with the craftsmanship, he would treat us to ice cream. This was not just any ice cream shop. This was “dad’s special” ice cream place. The ice cream tasted better than any other place I knew--soft and creamy, full of flavor. The most important part of the memory for me was, and still is, is that I got to spend time with my dad.

I embrace technology whole heartedly. My iPad, iPhone and digital camera rarely stray far from my satchel. I love being connected to anyone and everyone far and near, but I simply can't embrace reading my favorite publications in digital form. There is something about the feel of flipping through my favorite food magazines and cookbooks, and the feel of the pages and the vibrancy of the photographs gracing the pictorials. I have a file of my favorite international food magazines that I often refer to when creating new recipes. The pages are worn and many are dog-eared waiting for future projects, but I wouldn't trade them for an e-reader or the simplicity of the iPad. I recently pulled one of them out looking for inspiration; a beautiful recipe for marinated raspberries and coconut granita caught my eye. Simple, unique and refreshing! I took the concept and adapted it to fit Beanilla and what I think you, the reader, will enjoy!

I recently walked into the grocery store and was immediately greeted by the sweet aroma of strawberries. The sweet smell instantly transported me back to Southern California. The strawberry fields in Carlsbad were in full production this time of year. The kids and I loved to gather up our beach gear, put the top down on the jeep and head to the coast for a day of sun, sand and strawberry picking. Many of the sweet berries never quite made it home, but those that did usually ended up in a simple fruit salad or even homemade jam to savor during the winter months.

I get so excited this time of year! The trees are blooming, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and the fruit is starting smell like fruit. If you don’t live on the west coast, you know what I’m talking about… There is a time in the dead of winter when you walk into the grocery store and the fruit and produce aisles smell like the floor cleaner they used earlier that morning. The strawberries are still red and ripe, but that intoxicating smell of fresh strawberries doesn’t overwhelm you. The raspberries don’t smell like raspberries, and if you’re lucky enough to find a peach, they smell like the packing material they arrived in. But… this time of year the produce aisles magically transform. The aroma of freshly picked fruit greets you the moment you step in. Finally! Fruit that tastes like fruit, and soon tomatoes that don’t taste like cardboard! If you live in the Midwest, celebrate this time (it is fleeting) with a fresh peach crumble. Simply slice the deliciously aromatic peach you can now find in the produce aisle and top it with a simple crumble. Bake to enhance the sweetness of the fruit, and store this memory away for next winter.

Classic blueberry pie is the quintessential summer dessert, and the perfect addition to any barbecue or backyard picnic that you may have planned this summer. This past weekend was the unofficial kickoff to barbecue season. Many of us celebrated the Memorial holiday weekend grilling out with friends and family, while others brought the RV out of storage or dusted off, and aired out their tents. I have beautiful memories of big family picnics packed up and hauled out to the Holland State Park. We would pick the perfect spot for everyone and set up camp. My grandmother always made her famous potato salad and perfectly cooked pasta salad with huge chunks of cheddar cheese. Aluminum foil would be brought out to line the community grills, and burgers and hotdogs would be cooked to perfection. There was never a lack of desserts -- homemade cookies and pies would magically appear from the picnic basket towards the end of the meal. Completely stuffed and happy to relax on our blankets in the sun, we would watch the boats slowly sail through the channel on their way out to bigger bodies of water. I feel very blessed to have such wonderful Michigan summer memories of my childhood. What is your favorite summer holiday memory?

My husband and I are both very busy! Careers, home improvements, children and dogs often leave us exhausted and with little time for ourselves as a couple. A few years ago we started incorporating one-on-one time into our daily routines. It may be as simple as standing in the kitchen chopping vegetables for dinner together to something as elaborate as remodeling a bathroom.  The time apart from the daily stress of life brings us closer together and helps us function better as a team in our family life.

It's been over a month since we began our journey to a healthier and happier family. Overall the progress has been good. My husband participated in the 36^th Annual Fifth Third River Bank Run a couple of weekends ago! I have been working out and walk/running with our adorable border collie on a fairly consistent basis, though I have been finding it hard to make the "time" lately. Occasionally our son, and more frequently our daughter, has been joining me, which has made it more pleasant and much easier to get out there and do it (those of you who have teenagers know that any one-on-one time is precious and rare).

Lemon Budino is delicious. It is a cross between tart and creamy lemon curd and a soft, light and airy genoise cake. I made this for the first time about seven years ago, fully expecting it not to turn out. Not only did it exceed my expectations in flavor, texture and appearance, but it was really simple to make! The first spoonful of Lemon Budino is a culinary delight. The dessert has two very distinct layers of creamy lemon custard and soft sponge like cake, and each spoonful is light airy and utterly delicious. Lemon Budino is the perfect dessert to make ahead of time for summer parties or to enjoy with a glass of white wine on the patio.