Photography by Rebekah Burder for Honeysuckle Life. Have you heard that Emerald is Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2013? No? Are you sure you haven’t seen any of the 13,200,000 articles and photographs? I have. It feels like every…

Photography by Ditte Isager. Ditte Isager’s photography seems like a modern still life version of Vermeer’s work with the dark colors and side lighting. It also helps that Ditte is Dutch-born and takes inspiration from the masters. Clearly seen in…

Photography by Anna Williams for Voracity. My eyes are drinking in the deep and rich colors of this series. t’s exactly the kind of day I want to have. Freshly caught fish served with vegetables from the garden on an…

If I were to teach someone how to grow and use a culinary herb garden, mint would be my second herb of choice. Its usefulness is underestimated. It works well in beverages, pasta, meat, and vegetable dishes. It adds a fresh clean…

A native of China, the peach tree was transferred first to Persia then to Europe, and finally, in the seventeenth century, to Virginia. It is widely believed that Native Americans took the seeds with them and planted them as they…

Photography by Karen Mordechai. Karen Mordechai’s photography always reminds me to slow down and enjoy the beauty that is creating a meal with friends and family. After a season of loss and goodbyes, I’m hoping I’ll learn to slow down…

Because it grows in hot and humid environments, Mexican Tarragon is a perfect replacement for French Tarragon. It’s actually part of the Marigold family, and produces bright yellow flowers. Its taste is stronger than other types of tarragon, so cut…

Photography by Heather Charles for the Chicago Tribune “Best of the Season” A host of useful tips from famers and chefs who use farmer’s markets on a regular basis. I’m going to put them in practice this weekend. I typically…

Photo by The Selby Doesn’t this LA market, Cookbook, look like the best place to shop? Fresh, local, organic ingredients in a locally owned shop. Guilt-free, if you ask me.

Nothing says summer cooking to me more than basil. Part of the mint family, it comes in several varieties. The most common variety is Sweet Basil, used mostly in Mediterranean dishes. It’s a tender plant. Cold quickly turns its leaves…

About The everyday Garden Strawberry is a hybrid of two wild strawberries, and first bred in the mid 1700′s in France, after explorers brought back plants. It is one of the easiest plants to grow, happy in most gardening zones,…

About Whole-grain mustard is brown and white mustard seeds mixed with vinegar, salt and other spices. It’s different from American, deli, and Dijon mustards in that the seeds are kept whole, instead of grinding them to various degrees of smoothness….

One of the easiest ideas for a dinner party is to create a salad bar for your guests. They’ll be able to create a dish they love. Just make sure to include fresh ingredients and enough toppings to make it…

One of the biggest changes we’ve made since starting the Paleo challenge is in how we cook, and what we cook with. Prior to the diet, I knew about coconut products, but they weren’t a staple in our diet. I…

Studies have shown that cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels, helps prevent yeast infections, and reduces the pain of arthritis. Add a teaspoon to your morning oatmeal, coffee, or tea for full benefits.

Fresh, fall apples in computer wallpaper form. Enjoy! Square (iPad size) Wide Large

Such a simple color combination that is always a long, cool drink of water for my eyes. And just like the colors, lemon and parsley pair perfectly together. Don’t believe me? Try Orzo with Parsley and Lemon Zest or grill fish…

{photography and styling by Karen Mordechai, via Sunday Suppers} Grapes are not something I typically use in cooking, outside of summer salads, but these picked grapes and ricotta spread on crostini are making my mouth water.

We picked up a container of Rishi Hibiscus Berry Tea this week at Whole Foods. At $9.99 for 2.8 oz, it costs about thirty cents per cup and is well worth it. Each time I brew, the entire house smells…

  We’ve “discovered” mini watermelons at Publix and Whole Foods this season. The perfect size for two.

“Natural peanut butter is available freshly gound at some health-food stores and, increasingly, in jars at many supermarkets. It keeps, refrigerated, for up to 4 months.” – Real Simple, September 2005. Oh, how the times have changed in the past…

We’ve been focusing on simple foods lately. Easy combinations with three or four ingredients, like blackened shrimp and flounder spaghetti or shrimp, asparagus and pesto pasta. I’ve enjoyed using frozen foods, as not much is in season. Something I missed…

There’s never been a better time to learn about organic wines and their kissing cousins, biodynamic, and sustainable wines – and why they’re important. Why is the organic wine movement important: Grapes are some of the most heavily sprayed items…

One of the basic tenants of true organization is preparation.  Nowhere is this more apparent than in the kitchen.  When I started newlywed life, I had the hardest time knowing what to buy each week.  It seemed that I was…