Author Archives: cathyboettner

Well, summer is upon us and things are happening in the gardens…some is going well, some not so much. My fig trees are both leafed out now, but it is clear that one is WAY behind the other. On a happier note, the birds have been less interested in the strawberries lately and my husbandContinue reading “A Garden Update”

My maternal grandmother used to make bread and butter pickles and I remember how the house used to smell when she had just made them–like summer. I started making them several years ago and that smell brings back memories of my sweet grandmother. She always put celery and onions with the cucumber slices, so IContinue reading “Spicy Bread and Butter Pickles”

We have a gas grill and a big green egg that we store under the stairs from the deck. We were struggling with where to keep the ash removal tool and ash pan for the egg and the grill brush and the wood chips and charcoal for the egg. I also bought my husband aContinue reading “A tidy grill area”

My husband wanted Chicago style deep dish pizza for his Father’s Day lunch. I consulted several sources to come up with what we made for him. The good thing about this pizza is that you don’t need to do much ahead, but you do need to get your ingredients ready. The recipe I consulted fromContinue reading “Chicago Style Pizza on the Big Green Egg”

This recipe is an odd combination of ingredients, but it is one of our favorite make ahead chicken recipes. I love a good tangy sauce, and this is definitely one of those. 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 8 skinless boneless chicken thighs 2 tbsp olive oil 1 cup dryContinue reading “Balsamic Garlic and Herb Chicken Thighs”

This is my grandmother’s recipe for three bean salad that I have adapted because I really don’t like cold kidney beans. Dressing: 1/2 cup sugar (I usually reduce to 1/4 or 1/3 cup) 1/2 cup vinegar 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp dry mustard 1/2 tsp tarragon 1/2 tsp basil 2 tbspContinue reading “Summer Salads–Marinated Green Beans”

Mike and I found this salad one weekend when we were only making new recipes. It’s a light and tangy dressing and we really like it. 1-16 oz package frozen baby peas 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup sour cream 1 1/2 tbsp horseradish 1 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard 2 tsp dried dillweed (I used fresh)Continue reading “Summer Salads–Dilled Pea Salad”

I planted pickling cucumbers this year, just like last year, so that I can make homemade pickles. I have found a mix that makes it so easy to make pickles that anyone can do it. You need to buy white vinegar (5% acidity); Mrs. Wages’ Dill Pickle mix; and pick or buy a pile ofContinue reading “Dill Pickles–the Easy Way”

Our little garden behind the shed is growing like crazy! The first stock tank with tomato plants is behind the other two and I don’t know why. They seem to be setting fruit okay, but there is a huge difference. They were planted at the same time with the same kind of tomato plants–Roma. TheContinue reading “The Veggies are coming!”

Monday was supposed to be kind of a rainy day, so I decided to run out and pick up some provisions at my favorite artisan producers. My first stop was the Community Market in Delano, TN, which is between Benton, TN and Etowah, TN on Highway 411. This is a Mennonite community and their farmContinue reading “Mini Food Tour of East TN”