Grilled corn is one of our favorite summer staples. There's nothing better than the mix of smoky and sweet! A couple of weeks ago we kicked off grilling season with an all day friends and family grilling extravaganza. This dip was a highlight! It's great paired with veggies or chips and hearty enough to work as a side dish. 

Hibiscus Tea reminds me of walks in the Caribbean, stopping to sample roadside BBQ and being handed a syrupy, vivid 'house tea'. Now, years later making it in Maine as the days get longer and the sun starts to have warmth again is the ultimate nostalgic treat.

This recipe is simple and the end result is versatile. On its own the tea is bold, it brightens up any cocktail (especially good with Gin and Tonics!) and mixed with seltzer and a splash of Lemon White Balsamic Vinegar, it's the perfect base for a shrub. Cheers!

Raw cashews and walnuts are two of my staple pantry ingredients and I recently found a new favorite use for them. Syrian Za'atar roasted nuts are a little but sweet, a little bit salty and pack just enough of a kick to keep you coming back for more. The roasted nuts keep for weeks and are quick to make - two of my favorite things when it comes to homemade snacks! 

These nuts are great added to a charcuterie board or sprinkled on ice cream as a simple dessert.

Full disclosure: I've never made brownies from scratch before. So, when these turned out to be reminiscent of the delicious professionally or box mix brownies I'm familiar with, it was already a win! Great recipe from Mastering Spice (not surprising - we've loved all the recipes we've made from this book). At first you taste the pink peppercorns then you get the green cardamom pods and a bit of the Urfa chile flakes. Delicious.

I had this for the first time at a friend’s house. She’s known for hosting spontaneous dinner parties of 8 to 10 people that are always perfect – fun, simple, welcoming and just the right amount of chaos. It’s the kind of house where you walk in and immediately feel welcome and at home.  

Our group is filled with dietary restrictions (gluten free and dairy no go’s), vegetarians who are occasionally pescatarians, dedicated meat eaters and kids ranging in age from 3 months to 8 years old. This soup satisfies all kinds of diners. Right up until you plop yogurt on top, it’s dairy free. Kid’s will happily eat it and the veggies hidden within. It’s gluten free (check your bouillon and Chorizo) and filling. And, most importantly, it’s quick to make!