No Cooking Tonight

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

Hot, hot, hot is all I have to say! We have so much amazing produce and fruit in the market, there is simply no reason to get hot in the kitchen. The stuff that is coming out of the ground right now is super-sweet and needs no heat intervention.

Okay, call me crazy but go ahead and blanch your beans, if necessary. But there is simply no quicker way to heat up a room than to set a saucepot of water to boil. Take my word for it. I live in the kitchen and just one of the reasons I love my refrigerator…instant air conditioning.

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The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich for One

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

During the week, breakfast is pretty much on the go, with a hard-boiled egg that I cooked over the weekend (using eggs my chickens have laid for me the week before) with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Alternating, I have some yogurt and blueberries.

However, now that it has turned super-hot, the girls are simply not in the laying mood so it’s been slim pickings as of late. And just last week, there were only two eggs found in the nest. So now I have resorted to hoarding them and the usual lucky recipients of a gift box of eggs will have to simply fend for themselves until this heat wave is over.

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More Peas, Please

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

Peas in a pod are such as treat at this time of the year. But their time is almost over because fresh peas are technically a spring fling, while we’ve turned the corner into summer. Upstate New York is a bit behind with harvesting peas because the climate is just a tad cooler than other areas.

You certainly can buy peas already shucked or cook with their frozen cousins all year long. But I like the seasonal tradition of shucking them yourself.

I usually take the task outside with two bowls in hand, a chair that sits in partial shade and have at it. It is my kind of kitchen Zen or meditation, where simple, humble tasks help to free up your mind by doing something that people have done for hundreds of years in the same way. My house, almost 200 years old, most likely saw some of this action many a spring and summer on the porch that is sadly, now gone.

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The Best-Ever Shortcake

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

This past weekend, I had a bunch of people over to celebrate Father’s Day. I needed a delicious sweet to end the meal that I could make ahead, that was seasonal and most important, a home run for the dads in the group.

I had bought some local strawberries (they just started making an appearance in my market) and so I thought, strawberry shortcakes! The dough is super simple and luckily I had all of the ingredients, which meant not having to make another trip to the market.

Now I have had my share of shortcakes over the years, but this one takes the cake, literally! Maybe it’s because it contains a lovely amount of heavy cream and butter -- two ingredients that are not part of my everyday consumption or at least, not used with abandon these days.

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Salad, Many Ways

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

I was back at the market this past weekend to make all things with salad. I often whip up a small salad to have with dinner but on other nights, salad is the star of the plate.

Radishes, salad greens and fresh herbs are ingredients that are popping up super-fresh at markets everywhere. So my recipe this week is basically a celebration of leafy greens with some adornments. Think of the salad as a supporting cast to the main dish.

Topping a grilled chicken breast or steak with salad is simply delicious…you get the crisp texture of fresh greens and veggies, and then the acidity from the vinaigrette, which results in a perfect compliment to the rich flavors of the grill and the meatiness of a steak.

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