The Philadelphia Flower Show is a grown-up gardener’s paradise, and it can be a wonderland of discovery and delight for children as well. The larger-than-life displays offer a unique setting in which to engage youngsters in the beauty of the natural world and ignite a lifelong passion for its precious plant life. The theme for [...]

In the last week, a good portion of Pennsylvania has seen a significant amount of snowfall. While the snow can be pretty, it can also mean that you become stuck in your own home for days at a time while waiting to be plowed out. And, while the first couple of hours can be fun, [...]

My sister Abby came to visit me this past weekend. I knew she was arriving Friday night, but I wasn’t sure what time, so I planned to go out to eat with her. She ended up not getting in until later, so we just ordered pizza, and decided to go out for lunch on Saturday!
I [...]

A few months ago, the wonderful folks from Alouette cheeses found my blog and offered me some free samples of their products to cook with and review. I then recently found out that Alouette is a French-owned company with its North American headquarters and plant in New Holland, PA.  Alouette has a large variety of products [...]

Two of my favorite back road stores to visit in Lancaster County are Country Housewares Store near New Holland and Miller’s Natural Foods in Bird-in-Hand. Both are Amish owned and operated.

I’ve been visiting Miller’s Natural Foods since the early 1980s. My uncle frequently bought antiques from a man named Eli Miller on Miller Lane in [...]

Recently, a friend introduced me to a very special cookbook that I not only enjoy reading for scrumptious recipes but for stories of our great Commonwealth. Settings: A Cookbook by Julie Sullivan is a well organized collection of culinary treasures from talented kitchen artists throughout PA. With each recipe, Ms. Sullivan does a great job [...]

Seasonal changes bring new foods to our plates and our markets. They also often bring celebrations. To that end, this Sunday, September 13, you can taste the local bounty of the Lehigh Valley at Taste of the Valley, brought to you by Buy Local Pennsylvania
Spend your afternoon grazing on the good food created by chefs [...]

I admit it – I’m a country girl at heart. Yeah, I may love to escape to Philly every once in a while to hit the sushi restaurants and martini bars, but when it comes right down to it, country roads, open spaces and home-cooked meals feed my soul….Which is where the Country Cupboard comes [...]

Much of this past year, I tried to occupy myself with new activities that supported a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. During the spring season, I spent a lot of free time in the kitchen, music on and windows open to let in the breeze and appreciate the day. Although cooking is time-consuming, being in the kitchen is a stress-relief [...]