There is a very special place for our island’s children in Avon Village. Antoinette Gaskins has converted her retail gallery, Kinnakeet Clay, into a unique not-for-profit, creative, healing space for Hatteras Island’s young people. It began when she realized there were multiple opportunities for our youth to participate in athletics, but not much for those […]

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Years ago, I was warmly welcomed into a large, loving, and very generous Greek-American family. They fed me very well, and Ya-Ya and Annette taught me recipes that I still cherish. Of course, Ya-Ya spoke Greek, but she was deliberate with her actions, so I learned much from her despite the language barrier, and picked […]

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How about cookbook reviews for a change? There are several Indian-American food writers who are introducing Indian recipes for the American cook that deliver the essence of Indian flavors in modern ways, which are far simpler than the traditional ways, but equally tasty. They are accessible to busy Americans who do not have hours and […]

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When Isabel came roaring in, I was in China. I heard there was a hurricane coming at home but CNN said that the Outer Banks had “dodged a bullet.” I called [my husband Ernie Foster] and soon realized that this was not true. He was speaking so fast that I knew he wasn’t in good […]

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It was too hot and too still on the deck most of this summer to enjoy the grill, and I hate to wash dishes. So, this was my solution. Sheet pan cooking is my new favorite – easy to prepare, easy to cook, and easy to clean up since I line the pan with parchment […]

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It is too easy for me when cooking regularly to fall into familiar food choices. This week I decided to go Japanese, a cuisine I don’t usually prepare. I came across a delightful blog by Namiko Chen, a young Japanese cookbook author and recipe curator whose mission was to preserve the recipes her mother taught […]

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My garden plants are a little behind, but have begun producing and soon I will be picking… if the birds don’t beat me to it. In the meantime, I am still dependent on flavorful Campari tomatoes and ripe grape tomatoes, because what is summer weather without tomatoes? This long-awaited warm weather allows for dining on […]

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We did have a few pretty days recently, but not many. They were enough for me to get some gardening underway, but I had to bring some new plants into the house to protect them from the incessant wind. Most survived and are now securely potted, so I can look forward to some fresh herbs […]

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  This column is the result of a project that began last fall, but it is so timely, that I am submitting it now as a tribute to the people of Ukraine and all of Eastern Europe. When I was in Pennsylvania last fall, I came across some lovely oval-shaped purple plums that were new […]

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