Photo by Mark Weinberg at Food52
Psyched to see that Food52 chose my Mahi Mahi and Avocado Tacos with Mango-Cilantro Salsa recipe as a Community Pick! Check out the recipe and beautiful photo by Mark Weinberg, plus a Food52 review, here. Cheers to summer feasting!
Last year around this time, I began The Seasoned Traveler, not knowing a thing about blogging and uncertain where it might take me. This year-long adventure has been an amazing experience, one that has taught me a lot about food, photography, and writing, and brought me much joy as a creative outlet, but I’ve decided it’s time to travel onward and tend to new (and old) things. Thank you, all of you who supported and followed my cooking trials, let me open my heart up to you and share 150+ varied recipes along the way. Continue reading
The best summer desserts to me take advantage of summer’s bountiful ripe berries and stone fruits and are not too fussy. This one is easy enough to pull together for any occasion, anywhere, even (preferably) at a little rustic cottage. Roll up your sleeves and combine your favorite summer fruit with a simple oat topping. The oven’s magic will turn the fruit jammy and aromatic and the topping crisp; what could be more perfect on a summer evening? It’s delicious served with a scoop of ice cream but is lovely as is, especially if shared with good friends & family. Enjoy! Continue reading
A while back, I made some phyllo tartlets with some of the first fresh strawberries of the season and loved them for both their flavor and ease. I recently made some with cherries, after cooking them slightly and making a simple syrup from their juices. The tart-sweet cherries combined with the lemon mascarpone cream reminded me of a cheesecake, and the crisp phyllo gave it a great crunch. Just three bites and I was reaching for another one… Continue reading
To me, the ideal summer meal comes together relatively quickly without turning on the oven. These chicken lettuce wraps are just that; the most labor-intensive part is in chopping all the fresh produce, and then it cooks up in less than 15 minutes on the stovetop. It’s a wonderful family dinner or summer party finger food. I love the vibrant colors and flavors here, especially the kick of ginger and sweet hoisin sauce and the subtle notes of orange. Some lightly sautéed bell pepper and crushed peanuts give it some lovely crunch. I use romaine lettuce as I think it stands up better than traditional iceberg to hold all that delicious filling inside and to me has more flavor. Make these fresh & vibrant chicken lettuce wraps and you won’t ever crave the Chinese restaurant ones again! Continue reading
Our family doesn’t have a regular taco night, but we’re thinking of starting one after having these. Just look at all those colors and textures on the plate — the slightly spicy and zesty mayo drizzled over pan-seared mahi mahi, a bright mango-cilantro salsa, some crisp red onion and raddichio and soft slices of avocado. Playful, flavorful and healthful, these make a great quick meal for a summer evening with family.
What’s not to love about a refreshing drink that’s bubbly, fruity, deep red and zesty? I love these sparklers for their flavor, but the health benefits give them even more appeal. With watermelon, blackberries, lime and mint, you’re getting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that support a healthy cardiovascular and digestive system, plus loads of nutrients, including Vitamins A and C. Continue reading
I love potato salads of any kind; they are usually what I go for first at a barbecue or other warm-weather get-together. And yet I can’t tell you how many times I’ve botched my own attempts at making a good potato salad. The potatoes have ended up either too mushy and falling apart or too hard and unyielding. I finally figured out that the right variety of potato makes all the difference.
A potato is a potato is a potato, I used to think. Not so. And this is particularly crucial to those of us living in new places where the potato varieties are unfamiliar and labels can be confusing. Here’s what I’ve learned: Continue reading
We all know that staying hydrated is essential to good health, and this is especially so as the days get longer and warmer and we’re more active. Are we all getting eight glasses of water a day? I know that I, for one, struggle to get this minimum recommended amount of water on a daily basis. So, here’s a refreshing, hydrating drink that makes it all easier: fruity elderflower sparklers! Consider this less a recipe and more of a little tickler to spark your creative ideas on how to stay hydrated and enjoy some refreshing drinks! What’s your favorite way to hydrate?
Come check out Fiesta Friday #10 (it’s an especially rocking party this week) and Happy Friday, everyone! Continue reading
Crispy phyllo shells, lemony mascarpone filling, fresh strawberries — and the best part is that these little treats couldn’t be simpler. Great for a spring get-together, and you can mix up the topping with other seasonal fruit for an even more colorful presentation. Enjoy!
The Seasoned Traveler 