Perfect for sharing.

Have you ever had trouble deciding between multiple menu items at a restaurant? I’m constantly stuck between two or three entrees, so much so that I attempt to manipulate my dinner companions into ordering the items I’m choosing from, just so I can have a bite. Occasionally, my persuasion backfires and I wind up with a serious case of “food envy,” not as impressed as I had hoped with my selection and wishing I had ordered what someone else has.

The easiest way to avoid the dreaded “food envy” is to order and entire meal of small plates or appetizers to share. I’m never more satisfied than when I can have a little bit of everything on the table. This recipe for a homemade, healthier version of a favorite finger food is so tasty, you may not want to share. Read More…

The sweet, refreshing taste of shellfish is almost synonymous with summers at the shore. Most varieties take less time to prepare than red meat or chicken and, usually, you don’t need too many ingredients to highlight the natural flavors. The only drawback is the effort one must occasionally suffer before it can be eaten.

Deconstructed salad, pre-crab.

I’ll forever admire from afar the crab boil concept. It’s incredibly appealing – the image of sitting at a newspaper lined picnic table with a plastic bib, drinking beers and cracking through the bright red, Old Bay doused crustaceans. It’s just far too much work to endure when one is hungry, and I’d rather not be left with gashes on my fingers. I’m more of a pre-cooked, shelled and de-veined shrimp or lump crab meat in a can kind of gal.  Read More…

As I grow older, which seems to coincide with becoming busier, I value simplicity in my daily activities and chores. At times, I have to remind myself to “keep it simple;” usually, though, reminders come in the form of the free time that is created by living the motto. For example, an absence of complication at work makes my to-do list feel lighter, and I feel less stressed. I’m even trying to tackle my wardrobe and donate the things I no longer wear, opting for a handful of key, classic pieces. My girlfriends and I would much rather chit-chat over a bottle of wine and a nice cheese board than make reservations for a night out at a crowded restaurant where we’d struggle to hear each other over the noise.

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