the cook & the garden — Recipes & Stories

Radish Leaf Remoulade

Dairy Free, Dinner, Lunch, Salads, Summer, The Garden, VegetablesCathy ClearyJuly 31, 2020pesto, pickles, salad, zucchini, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, cucumber salsa, salsa

Food Waste Solutions Recipes

Appetizers & Snacks, No Waste, Vegetables, Winter, Summer, Gluten-FreeCathy ClearyNovember 13, 2019Food waste, potato, eggs, fritter, salsa, tomato, herbs, remoulade, Spanish omelette

Cucumber Salsa

Appetizers & Snacks, Summer, The GardenCathy ClearyAugust 13, 2019cucumbers, herbs, fresh herbs, salsa, appetizers, spicy, peppers

Summertime Savory Squash Pie

Appetizers & Snacks, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Summer, The Garden, VegetablesCathy ClearySeptember 4, 2018summer squash, zucchini, savory pie, eggs, toaster oven

Eggplant Expertise

Appetizers & Snacks, Summer, VegetablesCathy ClearyJuly 26, 2018Eggplant, baba ganoush, smoked, Steve Goff, Hanan Shabazz, Sarah Decker, Morgan Decker

Visit Farms and be Inspired!

A visitor checks out the flowers at Flying Cloud Farm in Fairview. Flying Cloud is one of nearly two dozen area farms participating in the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's 10th annual Farm Tour. Photo by Colin Wiebe

Off the Grid - Pedal to Plate

It takes just the right kind of person to enjoy spending an entire Sunday riding up and down steep mountain inclines with bicycle pedal power in order to see small farms in action. I guess I fall into that “right person” category because I had a ridiculously good time at Pedal to Plate in Madison County.

Polenta Tomato Pie

I have a friend (identity not revealed) who hides the leftovers in the back of the fridge when she makes this pie. It’s so easy to make that I don’t bother hiding the leftovers I just make more. It’s a great entrée to serve if you have a gluten-free friend, because it’s gluten-free without trying too hard.

Dinner, Gluten-Free, SummerCathy ClearyAugust 8, 2017tomato, tomatoes, pie, gluten free, cornmeal, cheese

Blueberry Waterfall Birthday Cake

It wasn't my idea to run 14 miles through the woods scaling ridges and fording slippery rocked streams to celebrate our birthdays. We can blame that one on Elizabeth. Luckily I am a glutton for punishment and I can't think of a better way to spend a day.

Free Cookies

I have a lot of experience making cookies, but not so much experience with political activism. My safe estimate is over 100, 000 cookies baked, and probably 30ish rallies and protests.

Bloody Mary Mixer or Virgin Mary

I was invited to be on a neighborhood garden tour one summer. I had declined the invitation for a few summers in a row, because my garden is often more about production than beauty. But this particular summer I decided to take on the challenge.

Fried Zucchini Pickles

County Fairs are a big deal in our neck of the woods. Folks bring out their biggest pumpkins and prettiest pigs to show off, pies are tasted and judged, and handmade patchwork quilts are on display. Fair food is almost always fried. These pickles remind me of fair food, and the best part is they are delicious even if you don’t want to fry them.

Disappearing Deviled Eggs Dilemma

I have done an informal survey asking folks what disappears first off the buffet table. It is always the deviled eggs. Spanakopita triangles come in close second. It seems the most labor intensive, time consuming dishes disappear the fastest.

Stuffed French Toast

MMMMMMMM. French toast for 2 people or a crowd spending the night. You can use any type of bread – Challah makes the best French Toast because the bread itself made with lots of eggs, but most any bread will be yummy with this filling in it.

Breakfast, Desserts, Autumn, Fruits, Spring, Summer, WinterCathy ClearyDecember 5, 2016challah bread, eggs, vanilla, milk, cream cheese

Toaster Oven Brown Betty

These days most folks have air conditioning in the south, and don’t think twice about turning on the oven in the middle of a heat wave. Well I am one of the hold-outs. We don’t have air conditioning and so I have come up with creative ways to bake without heating up the whole darn house! Of course you can make this in a regular oven, but if you want to save energy find a pan that fits in your toaster oven and give it a try.

Desserts, Spring, Summer, FruitsCathy ClearyNovember 8, 2016toaster oven, brown berry, cathycleary.com, berries, lemon juice

Dad's Cheesecake

I grew up going to parties and potlucks, and my dad would often bring this incredibly good cheesecake. Everyone always oohed and aahed over how good it was and asked for the recipe. Then he would laboriously write the recipe on an index card for them. He kept it pretty simple and straightforward with this classic sour cream topping.

Scones

Who doesn’t love a scone? They really are not hard to make, the trick is to not overwork the dough. It takes some practice to get all the ingredients incorporated without over mixing. You will know if you have done it right because your pastries will be light as a feather, tender and flaky.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the easiest cookies in the world to make, and I've never met a chocoholic who could resist them. The variations are endless. Try some of the ones listed or make up your own.

Desserts, Autumn, Spring, Summer, WinterCathy ClearyAugust 7, 2016double chocolate chip cookies, cookies, baking

Pad Thai Style Salad

This salad is great for a light spring supper and it is a pot-luck crowd pleaser. Feel free to adjust the spiciness of this dish by cutting back (or ramping up!) on the sriracha sauce.