As you might have guessed based on my recent blog posts, one of my favorite things about summertime is all of the exciting fresh produce. It seems like every time I open my eyes this time of year, I see something that I want to cook with. Recently it was the cherries that caught my eye when I was at the farmer's market where I live. I've always loved cherries, especially when baked with flaky pastry. But this year, I really wanted to figure out a way that I would be able to e

Elderberry season is here! If you read my post on elderflowers, you will remember that we have 3 bushes around where we live. I've been eagerly waiting for the little berries to turn from green to purple, and when we got back from our vacation this summer, just that had happened! I quickly went out and gathered the ripe berries. A refresher on elderberries: They have long been known as an immunity booster, rich in vitamins A, B and C. They are also used to lower blood sugar i

Here in Colorado, the end of picnic season is nearly here. I'm determined to take advantage of the last of the nice weather before the cold comes, and this weekend is the perfect time for it since it is a holiday weekend. Picnics don't have to be a complicated thing. They can easily be an impromptu gathering of friends, and are also a great way to clean out your fridge and pantry: Cheese, radishes, peaches, water kefir or bread are all great things to share with friends at a

Do you remember the scene in the film Amelie that talks about her love of dipping her fingers into sacks of grain? If you've never seen it, you can watch a clip here. That's how I felt when I was working up these recipes. Because elderflowers. They are so beautiful and delicate! I've been eyeing a couple elderflower trees (also called sambucus) around our condo complex, waiting for the flowers to bloom so I could do something fun with them. When they finally started to bloom