Author Archives: Lea Barlow

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 pints blackberries
• 2 tablespoons blackberry brandy
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 3 tablespoons honey, preferably berry-blossom honey

PREPARATION

1. Pick over the berries and reserve 1 cup of the smallest and most attractive. Puree the remaining 2 cups berries in a food processor with the brandy, orange juice and honey. Transfer the mixture to a sieve set over a medium bowl. Press the puree through the sieve and discard the seeds.
2. Just before serving, stir in the reserved whole berries.

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Ingredients

• 2 large or 3 medium onions, cut into large wedges
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 bottle pale ale or medium-bodied beer
• 1 cup water
• Fresh seaweed, well rinsed, for layering (optional)
• 1 1/2 pounds small new potatoes (white, red, or a combination)
• 1 pound hot dried chorizo, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• Coarse salt
• 3 lobsters (1 1/2 pounds each)
• 36 littleneck clams, scrubbed well
• 4 ears of corn, husked and halved
• 2 pounds mussels, debearded and scrubbed well
• 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp (about 30), shell-on
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional)
• 2 lemons, halved

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Written by Lea Barlow • 1 Comment

Ingredients

• 1  teaspoon  ground cumin
• 1/4  teaspoon salt
• 1/4  teaspoon black pepper
• 2  teaspoons extra virgin oil
• 12  ounces chicken breast tenders
• 1  cup  chopped red onion (about 1)
• 1  cup  fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
• 1  cup  chopped zucchini (about 4 ounces)
• 1/2  cup green salsa
• 3  tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided
• 4  (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas
• Cooking spray
• 1  cup  (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
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A cardboard box can literally entertain kids for hours.  They find the simple act of just sitting in the box fascinating.  My daughter’s favorite use for a box is to put it over her head and repeatedly run into the wall.  I don’t think I have a doctor on my hands with that one.  Here are a few more ambitious uses for the world’s cheapest toy:

Impromptu sled: Sledding is not just for snow. Cut out the large section of a corrugated cardboard box.  Cut a small hole in either side of the front of your sled. You can just poke a hole into the cardboard with your scissors. Thread rope through each hole and tie it off at each hole to create a pull. Make sure the rope is strong enough to pull whoever is riding in it. Or you can just use the rope to pull an empty sled to and from your launch point. Older kids prefer sledding down grassy hills while the little ones are content with you just pulling them around the yard.

Puppet theatre:  Stand a large cardboard box on end. Cut a big hole in the back for puppeteers to crouch in and a smaller one high up in the front for the stage. Decorate with markers or glue on pieces of fabric for curtains.

Race cars:  Wine boxes are the best size for this activity.  Cut off all flaps except two from the top opening.  Those can be used for a windshield and spoiler.  Let the kids go crazy decorating their ‘cars’ and end this activity with a game of red light/green light.

Make a play castle, tent or fort:  Turn a large appliance cardboard box into a medieval castle. Cut off the top flaps and make battlements by cutting notches along the top. To make a notch, use a utility knife to make a cut on either side of the section you want to remove, then fold the cut section for-ward and cut along the fold. To make a drawbridge, cut a large fold-down opening on one side that is attached at the bottom. Connect the top of the drawbridge to the sidewalls with ropes on either side, punching holes for the rope and knot-ting the rope on the other side. Use duct tape to reinforce the holes. Also cut out narrow window slits in the walls. Let the kids draw stones and bricks on the walls.

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