Bloody Mary Meatballs
We were getting ready to walk to Barnacle Billy’s for Steamers in the mid-afternoon and my sister, Darlene, suggested we have a Bloody Mary before leaving; Susan and I were on vacation so why not. I made the Bloody Marys–a little bit of vodka and a little bit of Bloody Mary mix from Stonewall Kitchen.…
Maine Vacation 2026
This is the day the Lord has made;We will rejoice and be glad in it.Psalm 118:24 The psalm is a reminder to pause, look at life as a gift from God, and choose joy instead of worry. Many people often use this phrase as a positive morning greeting to encourage others to find peace and…
Citrus Shrimp with Capers and Celery
If it seems to you Susan and I eat a great deal of shrimp, we do. Probably once a week. This featured recipe is delicious. Quoting The New York Times: “This easy make-ahead weeknight meal is also a wonderful potluck dish or crowd-pleasing party side. Shrimp are gently cooked in olive oil to keep them…
Green Beans and Shrimp (Sheet Pan Meal)
I bought a rather large bag of green beans from the farm stand down the road from where we live. I thought of making an Indian recipe but I decided it was too complex, although I do love Indian food. Here is a newspaper story from years ago. I went online and searched for green…
Carpe Diem
The Latin phrase carpe diem translates literally to “pluck the day” or “pluck the day (while it’s ripe)”, and it is widely translated into English as “seize the day.” It means to enjoy the present moment and make the most of current opportunities rather than worrying about or relying on an uncertain future. Our alarm…
Pearl Couscous Salad and Shrimp
One of the best salads I have ever made! Recipe from the New York Times. Some changes noted below as I made this for just Susan and I. Ingredients Yield: 6 servings Preparation Meanwhile, here is a photo from today looking out my window and a recent watercolor:
One-Pan Mediterranean Shrimp and Chickpea Skillet
Easy to make and delicious!!! Ingredients Instructions Based on a recipe from “30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners.”
Life Lately
I always get a bit impatient during the month of May. I want to garden; plant tomatoes, basil, cucumbers, parsley, lettuce, etc but here in New England those in the know say wait till Memorial Day–we might still get a frost. Plus, the swamp maples in the yard behind our property, release thousands of seedlings,…
A Few Days Ago
A few days ago at the park down the street from where we live–Mittineague Park.
Shrimp with Grapes, Citrus, and Rum
So simple to make and simply delicious! Ingredients Instructions Based on a recipe from The Spiced Life, which was based on a recipe in Susan Volland’s Green Black Red: Recipes for Cooking and Enjoying California Grapes.
Health Update
“Bruce, the kidney stones are still an issue,” the urologist said, “But we are more concerned about a mass on your bladder.” This was a few weeks before Christmas 2025, during my usual, routine 6 month ultrasound. More tests were called for but with the holidays coming up and my medicare coverage changing, the CT-scans…
Quick Fish Chowder With Hot Butter Crackers
My wife and I do not often cook dinner together. She is the baker. And I am the maker. I am now reminded of the Aztec Two Step song, You Do The Bakin. Recently, Susan and I made this chowder together and it was delicious. Quoting Sue Li from The New York Times: “As easy…
Spring is in the air.
Photo from March 17. March is the month of expectation, The things we do not know . . . —Emily Dickinson, American poet (1830-86)
White Bean Salad With Fennel and Celery
This post cries out for a different title. Like…….WOW! Or…….DELICIOUSNESS! Perfect for summer, but also perfect for a cozy winter evening. Quoting Sue Li in The New York Times: “Like so many bean salads, this one is delicious the day it’s made, but gets even better as it sits. You can marinate the beans in…
PERSIMMON BREAD
The young women bagging my groceries when seeing the three persimmons asked, “What are those?” “Those are persimmons,” I answered. “What do you do with them? What do they taste like?” She asked. “I am going to make persimmon bread and they taste a bit like sweet apples, honey-like.” I had never heard of persimmons…
GOOD DOG, GOOD DOG
Quiet Life Our dog has lost his hearing.It’s sad.Years ago I read to himDOG SONGS by Mary Oliver: “A puppy is a puppy is a puppy.He’s probably in a basket with a bunchof other puppies.Then he’s a little older and he’s nothingbut a bundle of longing.He doesn’t even understand it….” Thirteen years ago we said”We…
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