Here in the Southwest, there are so many native plants that provide food for the table. One that has a hidden bounty at this time of year is the barrel cactus. Barrel cactus is the generic term for a number of species of large barrel-shaped cacti. The one with the most edible of fruit isRead moreRead more
Category: Gluten-Free
Barrel Cactus Fruit – Lemony and Luscious Gluten Free Cake

Deer Heart – Corazon Asado con Salsa de Bandera

Monica King here to talk about one of my favorite places: a ranch in Sonora, Mexico. Not the border towns, but deeper into the heart where some of the most beautiful people and country exists. Where life is like the United States was – sixty years ago. Into the Heart of Sonora Our first stopRead moreRead more
Apple Walnut Salad – AKA Charoset

Jacqueline Soule here this week with one last honey recipe for National Honey Month. I learned to make this Charoset salad back about the time we rode dinosaurs to school. My friend Sara’s “Bubbie” (grandmother) roped in us girls to help her in the kitchen. She nailed us because we were playing and giggling inRead moreRead more
Ancient Desert Treat for Today – Chia Honey Banana Pudding

Monica King today to ask you – Looking for a healthy paleo desert? Here is a wonderfully light pudding using chia seeds that fits perfectly into your diet and is extremely versatile. Chia The key ingredient to this dessert is chia seeds. These seeds are hydrophilic, they can absorb over ten times their weight whenRead moreRead more
Time for Some Thyme – Soup

Summer time is an excellent time for thyme soup. Soup in summer is super! As we sweat during the day we lose minerals (electrolytes) and while there are drinks that claim to restore electrolytes, they are sugar-laced and of questionable overall health benefit. Besides, I prefer sipping something savory over sipping something sweet. Finding ThymeRead moreRead more
Smoky Honey Onion Smothered Wild Salmon

Monica King here with a fun and delicious honey recipe using wild-caught salmon. Salmon in the Southwest? Sure! In this era of airplane travel, sometimes friends escape the heat and head to Alaska on a fishing trip. Failing friends with full ice chests, many local stores carry fresh salmon. Wild Versus Farm Salmon There areRead moreRead more
Grilled Zucchini

Uncle Smokey here again in after only one week. I got my arm twisted because August 8 is National “Sneak Some Zucchini on you Neighbor’s Porch Day.” Well, I wish somebody would celebrate this national holiday in my direction! I love the taste of grilled zucchini. It’s even tasty the next day as leftovers, butRead moreRead more
Honey Roasted Lamb Breast

Monica King here to share a new way of cooking an old family staple. Indeed, lamb has been a staple in my family for ages, it replaced many turkeys on the holiday tables. Although I do not raise any on my farm (yet) I always look for US grown cuts at my local grocery storeRead moreRead more
Desert Mistletoe Is Edible

This week, Jacqueline Soule is here to discuss a plant that can be highly useful – desert mistletoe. There are many species of mistletoe around the world, parasitic and hemi-parisitic on a number of trees. The mistletoe plants are all toxic. The berries of almost all species are toxic. The one exception is the SonoranRead moreRead more
Dress Those Greens with Sweetness

Mom used to nag, “Eat your vegetables!” I would gag them down, but my little kid taste buds didn’t like spinach served with a dash of vinegar. Why hadn’t Mom ever served cooked greens with salad dressing instead of plain cider vinegar? Vegetables taste great dressed with something designed to enhance greens! Meanwhile medical researchersRead moreRead more