Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

How to Harvest, Cure and Store Butternut Squash

I’m dreaming of luscious soups, sauces, and savory side-dishes today. Why? Because my butternut squash is begging to be harvested! Here's how to pick, cure, and store this powerhouse of fiber and beta carotene: How to Harvest, Cure and Store Butternut Squash Wanna see butternut squash growing with gusto on...
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How to Harvest, Cure and Store Butternut Squash

How to Freeze Bell Peppers

Why bother to freeze bell peppers in autumn? Well, just think of all the time and money you'll save in winter, whenever you need sliced or diced peppers for pizza, chili, and other cold-weather meals! I tackle the freezing job this way: How to Freeze Bell Peppers Wash, rinse, and...
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How to Freeze Bell Peppers

Molasses Whole Wheat Bread

Moist, light, and aromatic, this Molasses Whole Wheat Bread is THE best "healthy" bread I've ever baked. It's an easy thing to mix and knead. Like my Basic White Bread, all you need is a bowl, a loaf pan, and at least one clean hand! Here's the recipe in both...
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Molasses Whole Wheat Bread

Tuscan Salmon Skillet Dinner

I have three good reasons for sharing this Tuscan Salmon Skillet Dinner recipe with you. First, it's screamingly delicious. The salmon and its sides -- cannellini beans, sun dried tomatoes, and leafy greens -- are cloaked in a fragrant vermouth and cream sauce. Next, it's a one-skillet meal, just as...
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Tuscan Salmon Skillet Dinner

Stuffed Tomatoes Provencal

Yesterday, because I needed a vibrant and vivacious accompaniment for some vegan burgers, I baked up a batch of Stuffed Tomatoes Provencal. Are you familiar with these garlicky gems? They taste (and smell!) as awesome as they look. Here's the recipe for this classic first course or side dish: Stuffed...
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Stuffed Tomatoes Provencal

Simple Lemon Loaf Cake

This Simple Lemon Loaf Cake is one of the lemony-est treats I've ever put in my mouth. Lemon zest and pure lemon extract give the cake its sunny flavor and intense perfume. And nothing could be easier to make. The only equipment you'll need is a bowl, a whisk, and...
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Simple Lemon Loaf Cake

Green Bean Gratin

Looking for a delicious new way to enjoy green beans? Make my Green Bean Gratin! I'm talking about tender beans, a velvety Swiss cheese sauce (a/k/a "Sauce Mornay"), and a crisp lid of buttery breadcrumbs. To turn this sexy side dish into a magnificent main course, just add cubed ham,...
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Green Bean Gratin

Simple Lemon Loaf Cake

This Simple Lemon Loaf Cake is one of the lemony-est treats I've ever put in my mouth. Lemon zest and pure lemon extract give the cake its sunny flavor and intense perfume. And nothing could be easier to make. The only equipment you'll need is a bowl, a whisk, and a … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 21 Comments

Green Bean Gratin

Looking for a delicious new way to enjoy green beans? Make my Green Bean Gratin! I'm talking about tender beans, a velvety Swiss cheese sauce (a/k/a "Sauce Mornay"), and a crisp lid of buttery breadcrumbs. To turn this sexy side dish into a magnificent main course, just … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 10 Comments

Vlog: We Rescued A Sick Feral Kitten

Welcome to my furry world! Last week, when we found a frail feral kitten in our yard, we knew we had to take some kind of action. Our vet told us the little girl had only a 50 percent chance of survival. Can the kitten be saved? Here's what we're doing, on the vet's … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 99 Comments

Emergency Southern Tea Cakes

I made Southern Tea Cakes the other day, and they instantly put a smile on my face. Are you familiar with these crisp-edged treats? They are lightning-fast to make. You can make them in a "gotta-have-something-sweet" emergency, just as I did. And you can mix them … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 17 Comments

Easy Italian Pasta Salad

What to eat when the weather turns insufferably hot and humid? I vote for Italian Pasta Salad! It's healthy with kale and other garden-fresh veggies. It's colorful, too. And should I tell you about the creamy mozzarella pearls that complete the dish? Join me in the … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 7 Comments

Upside Down Skillet Dinner

Upside Down Skillet Dinner is my new favorite thing. To make it, you simply bake -- in a skillet -- some vegetables and meat beneath a layer of cornbread batter. Then you invert the works, all in one shimmering piece, onto a plate or platter.  The finished product … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 21 Comments

Late July Kitchen Garden Tour

What a difference a few weeks makes! When we last visited the Kitchen Garden, the butternut squash was just beginning to ascend its cattle panel trellis. Now the plant has climbed all the way to the top! Check out the riotous vines and more in this virtual late July … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 25 Comments

Woodchuck (Groundhog) Repellents That Work

I'll get right to the point. About a month ago, Woody the Woodchuck discovered my (fenced in) Kitchen Garden. What a destructive brute! Broccoli? Gone. Brussels sprouts? Mostly gone. Woody also devoured several pole bean plants and a heartbreaking number of butternut … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 51 Comments