by amvandenhurk | Oct 7, 2018 | dinner, slow cooker, slow cookers
A Fresh Classic Beef Bourguignon Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is simple and elegant While I use my slow cooker year round, the fall and winter are the perfect times to use the slow cooker. And the perfect time for the French classic of bistros, Beef Bourguignon.... 
by amvandenhurk | Jan 12, 2018 | dinner, healthy eating, Meatless Mondays, vegan, vegetarian
Turkish Eggplant Tomato Casserole One of my favorite vegetables is eggplant. I am always looking for new ways to cook eggplant. I can never eat enough of Turkish cuisine. It is one of the cuisines I hope to explore more of in the future to cook. So when I came... 
by amvandenhurk | Jan 9, 2018 | sides
Yes, Perfect Roasted Potatoes. Growing up with an Irish mother, roasted potatoes were served on a regular basis along with boiled potatoes. Bisto Gravy was a must in our house. Getting perfect roasted potatoes can be very difficult. I know since growing up, I had... 
by amvandenhurk | Jan 7, 2018 | dinner
One-Pot Chicken Dinner? Looking for a one-pot dinner to serve on a cold winter’s night? Braised Chicken Tomato Red Lentils fits the bill. It is a healthy and hearty. And an easy dish to make within 45 mins. Doable on a busy weekday. Since moving to Newport,... 
by amvandenhurk | Nov 13, 2017 | breakfast
Years ago, a friend made me granola. It was amazing and she shared the recipe. I made it a lot then life got busy and it had quite a few ingredients. I just couldn’t keep up with keeping the ingredients in the kitchen and making it. I abandoned it. Fast forward... 
by amvandenhurk | Nov 12, 2017 | travel
The summer of 2017 was a life experience where for the month of August we were roaming nomads. It is a polite way of saying we were without a home for 30 days as we moved from Tarboro, North Carolina to Newport, Rhode Island. It was not planned that way, but when life... 
by amvandenhurk | Aug 25, 2017 | travel
Disappearing Tangier Island Tangier Island is a small island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. It is disappearing due to a change in climate. This post is not about climate change, but the loss of a unique community and culture. Tangier Island has a rich history... 
by amvandenhurk | Aug 21, 2017 | travel
Boiled Peanuts are an NC specialty. Unless you are from eastern North Carolina then you most likely have never heard of boiled peanuts. They are a well-kept secret. It is a very seasonal and local specialty. You know it is that time of year when stands pop up all over... 
by amvandenhurk | Aug 5, 2017 | small town life, travel
Brake for Farmers Markets I know I do whenever I get a chance. I spent the morning wandering through a farmers market on the Northern Neck of Virginia. In our move up the East Coast, I am enjoying the regional food culture of wherever we are staying. The Northern Neck... 
by amvandenhurk | Jul 31, 2017 | Meatless Mondays, vegan, vegetarian
Farm Fresh for Eggplant Okra Curry During the summer, local fresh produce is abundant like eggplants and okra. Perfect for this simple eggplant okra curry dish that’s vegetarian. As I am traveling up the East Coast of the US on my way to our new home in Newport,... 
