Just in case you were wondering…..grilled peaches may be the best dessert around ( I’m a die hard chocoholic, and even I say that!!).  Here in Georgia, we are starting to see an abundance of beautiful Georgia peaches.   After a while, even I get tired of drippy sticky peach juice running down my chin.  And besides, eating a whole peach isn’t exactly an elegant dessert. 

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But grilled peaches are….and they are so easy to make!   I cut the peaches in half, take out the pit, brush them with a tiny bit of plain tasting oil (like Canola or Rice Bran) and plop them on a medium heated grill, cut side down.   While my yummy peaches are sizzling, I mix some balsamic vinegar with brown sugar (2 parts vinegar to 1 part sugar) and heat up gently on the stove so the flavors mix and the vinegar becomes syrupy.

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Now comes the good part – put some yummy vanilla ice cream in a bowl, top with the peaches, and drizzle the balsamic glaze over the whole thing.  Easy as can be, elegant, and fabulously delicious.  Enjoy!!

Unique and practical college graduation gift

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Graduation is an important step in a young person’s life. And whether you are a relative or a family friend you want to acknowledge the achievement with something special.

While stores don’t offer college graduation gift registries, you can find that perfect gift. Since graduates are starting fresh in the world they need a variety of things to set-up their first post-college home.

Consider something for their kitchen. Your practical graduation gift will help them transition from the college cafeteria and Cup Of Noodles to cooking nutritious and delicious meals for themselves.

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Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” Save someone you love from a life of frozen pizza!

This recipe collection, compiled by “Mom” and packaged in a retro pizza box, contains recipes that are simple and affordable, and while they are geared to fledgling cooks, they also are ideal for “school night cooking” for more experienced cooks and “date night cooking” when two are in the kitchen.

Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” is hip, practical and helps young adults feed themselves, wow their friends, attract a mate, and learn the value of self reliance.  The recipe collection is an ideal graduation gift by itself or you can personalize it by adding a favorite lasagna pan, selection of basic spices or wrap it with a silicone spatula attached to the bow!

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Available online at www.mamasays.us
$18.99 plus s/h

As seen in Daily Candy and CBS Better Mornings.

Rather than give another gift card — give your college graduate a present that will help them avoid a life of frozen pizza. Order today for immediate delivery.

Photo credits: NMFP/Points North;  MAN SMILING © Breezeart | Dreamstime.com; BAREFOOT GIRL © Dbgroup-inc | Dreamstime.com

Portuguese Fisherman Stew

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I love fall and winter eating. Soups and stews are so easy to make, so versatile, and can also be so great when you need to clean out the fridge!!

I finally did it. I got rid of my old tin soup pot and I bought a wonderful Le Creuset 5 Quart Dutch Oven,and it has become one of my favorite things in the kitchen. It is made of heat-retaining cast iron and has a durable enameled interior that cleans easily. I can roast and braise in it, and of course, can make lots of soups and stews.

Tonight I’m making a family favorite, Portuguese Fisherman Stew. The ingredients sound kind of weird (chorizo and cod) but the taste is beyond belief. Here’s the recipe:

Portuguese Fisherman’s Stew

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, diced
2 ounces chorizo
1 teaspoon thyme
1 pint grape tomatoes halved
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 can canellini beans, drained
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 pounds cod

1. Preheat oven to 425. Coat a 5 quart dutch oven with cooking spray
2. Heat oil in a skillet. Add shallot, chorizo, thyme and cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes and 1/2 of the wine, cook 4 minutes. Add beans and salt, and remove from the heat.
3. Sprinkle the fish with salt &pepper. Put it in the dutch oven, top with the tomato mixture. Pour remaining 1/4 cup wine into pan and cover with foil or with the lid of the dutch oven if it can go in the oven. Bake 20 min.

Enjoy on a cold Sunday night!! (I meant to post a picture, but we ate the stew so fast, all I had left to photograph were the empty bowls!)

Coloring on the Windows

One of my favorite kitchen tools is Crayola Washable Window Markers. These colorful markers are very useful when you are trying to prepare dinner and young kids want to be entertained.

The markers make a great diversion. The kids can draw on the large windows near the kitchen while I prepare dinner. They are within eye (and ear) range. And while one child draws on the windows the other can set the table or help in the kitchen and then they switch places.

I borrowed the idea from my friend Gita, her kids and their friends began leaving notes on her kitchen window when they were in high school. Today, the small panes that border her large picture window are a collage of messages that detail their journey through high school, to college and beyond.

This weekend the grand boys spent the weekend — so we had hours to fill with fun. And yes there is something decadent about drawing on windows knowing that your mother would never have allowed that to happen!

We had a wonderful time practicing the alphabet, drawing various shapes and doodling. Depending on the artistic value of the creation, you can either leave the artwork on the windows for several days or wipe it off with water and paper towels and start again.

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A shout out to our son Andrew who developed a date night idea using the Mama Says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” recipe collection. To decide what to make for dinner, Andrew and his friend Martha divided the recipe cards in the NMFP collection in half; each reviewed the recipes and selected four dishes that they were interested in making that evening. Then they exchanged their top 4 recipe cards, so the other person could select two recipe cards for final consideration. With the remaining four cards they discussed their options and preferences for dinner. On this particular Saturday night Stir Fried Beef was the winning recipe. Andrew also offered a helpful hint: use the printable grocery lists on the Mama Says website to jump start your shopping list. It can be downloaded to your PDA, iPhone, etc. and you are off to the grocery store.

Keep in touch. We like to learn about how your kids or the new cooks in your life are enjoying the Mama Says recipe collection. Thanks for joining us in the kitchen, Lynn

One of my favorite kitchen tools

There’s only one peeler worth using – the OXO Good Grips Serrated Peeler.

It not only peels skin off slippery and waxy fruits and veggies, the sharp serrated blades skim back and forth over whatever it is you’re trying to peel. It’s quick, it’s easy to hold, and it goes right into the dishwasher. And it’s got this cute little pointy end that you can use to easily dig out little rotten places in your fruits and veggies.

And it’s only $6.99 on Amazon.com

You can’t beat that with a stick (or with an other peeler).