Grilled Teriyaki Chicken

Plant pansy pots - check. Scrub patio - check. Set up patio furniture - check. Fire up the grill - check, check, check. This gorgeous past weekend gave us an opportunity to get a jump start on our spring yard work, and of course, grilling season!

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken and sauteed veggies on a bed of brown rice

Kick start your barbecue with this sweet and savory marinade for Teriyaki Chicken. Add a heaping helping of sautéed veggies and a side of rice and you’re good to go.

Steamy, sauteed veggies - snow peas, shredded carrots, broccoli, water chestnuts and red bell pepper.

Teriyaki Marinade
¼ cup lite soy sauce
1 cup water
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
5 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1-2 tablespoons honey

Minced chives for garnish

In a small bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 

Pour over chicken and allow to marinate for two to three hours. Grill and serve with sauteed veggies over brown rice and sprinkle with chives.

Make it a great week!

Discover the small town charm of Tecumseh, Mich

Need an excuse to break up with your weekend routine? Head 35 miles northwest of Toledo to the quaint town of Tecumseh, Michigan. The town’s hub is easily accessible -it’s situated right on M-50 or Chicago Boulevard as it is known locally. There you’ll find charming eateries; boutiques; antiques shops; a winery, brewery, bakery, and ice cream parlor; and a history museum all within walking distance of each other plus hiking and outdoor adventure nearby.

Antiques shops are abundant in Tecumseh.

Upon arrival, visit Lev’s Bakery, a Tecumseh institution. Rumor has it that their donuts and soft, German pretzels (only available on Saturdays) are all the rage, but get there early in the day to indulge as they sell out quickly.

A stroll along the boulevard reveals a plethora of shops, eateries and small businesses.

A stroll along the boulevard provides a healthy dose of shopping opportunities. Visit Antiques & Vintage on the Boulevard and Hathaway Antique Emporium to scout out treasures from the past. For unique gifts, peruse the floral arrangements, candles, linens and home décor pieces at the DG II gift shop. Into hobbies? Browse the thousands of plastic kits, train sets, die cast cars, and accessories offered at J-Bar Hobbies.

The Boulevard Market

The sign at The Boulevard Market says it all – wine, chocolate, cheese. Owners John and Erika Aylward craft their own cheeses with fresh local milk and create chocolates using Sicilian chocolate-making techniques. 

The market also carries specialty foods and offers the best selection of boutique wines in the area. If you feel like staying in Tecumseh longer than just the day, reservations and $89 will get you an overnight stay in one of the three hotel rooms located on the second floor of the market.

Wines, chocolates and cheeses are available at The Boulevard Market.

Speaking of wine, Tecumseh boasts not one - but two wineries. Pentamere Winery is an urban venue and tasting room right in the heart of downtown, and J. Trees Cellars is an industrial-farmhouse style tasting room housed in the historic Hayden-Ford Mill, a short drive from downtown.

Evans Street Station

When you are ready for a bite to eat, the options are abundant. Enjoy a relaxing lunch of farm-to-table fare at Evans Street Station. Check into The Dog House for an all-beef hot dog embellished with one of their creative combos like the Junkyard Dog and the Frito Pie Dog, or design your own. 

Sample the many craft beer varieties along with a cheeseburger and tots at Tecumseh Brewery. For soups, salads and sandwiches with a side of espresso, look no further than The Daily Grind.

Tecumseh Area Historical Museum

After lunch, visit the Tecumseh Area Historical Museum, located in a former church, and learn how the community has developed since it was first settled in Lenawee County in 1824.

Indian Crossing Trails Park

Up for a little outdoor recreation? Drive a mile or so east of downtown on M-50. Indian Crossing Trails Park is a 130-acre park with several walking paths. The one-mile main trail winds along River Raisin. 

For a bit of adventure, visit the adjacent Satterthwaite Park where kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and row boats can be rented from the Tecumseh Paddling Company beginning on weekends in May.

Peruse the many antiques for sale in Tecumseh.

With so much to offer, Tecumseh’s inviting personality and close proximity to the Toledo area will beckon you to make a return trip, or two.

In the Scone Zone

Not long ago, I took a little excursion up to Detroit to visit Sister Pie bakery and get some shots for a column I was working on. While there, I was just enamored by the unique combinations of ingredients used in their muffins, scones, cakes and pies. Ingredients like kale, parsnips, radishes and leeks – ingredients I would have never thought about adding to baked goods.

Intrigued by this, I asked the owner how she came up with such incredible combinations. She told me that you just have to have a good, basic recipe, and then you add what’s in season. “It comes naturally after a while,” she added.

With that inspiration in mind, I decided to try my hand at scones. Now, I do realize that cheddar cheese and chives are not exactly unusual ingredients; however, having never made scones before, I thought the cheddar and chives would be a great addition to the basic scone recipe that I found in a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. Here is how I made them.

Cheddar and Chive Scones
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons chilled butter
2 tablespoons chives, chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 beaten egg
½ cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon half-and-half

Heat oven to 400 F. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. With a pastry blender or fork, cut in butter. Lightly stir in cheese and chives. Combine egg and ½ cup half-and-half; add to dry mixture. Stir just until moistened.

Turn dough onto a floured surface. Knead 10-12 strokes – don’t overdo it. Pat dough into a circle, about ½ inch thick. Cut into 8 wedges. Place scones 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush tops with 1 tablespoon half-and-half. Bake for 12 – 14 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Enjoy warm.

Here’s to coming up with new and unique combinations!

Discovering Santa Fe - the City Different

It’s spring break season and time to escape our chilly Midwestern temperatures. If you’re looking for a getaway that is rich in art, culture and adventure, look no further than Santa Fe, New Mexico, aka The City Different.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is located near the Santa Fe Plaza.

Nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, Santa Fe is over 400 years old and is the oldest capital city in the country. The city boasts 325 days of sunshine a year, majestic 360° mountain views and a captivating blend of Spanish and Native American cultures that is reflected in everything from the its food and fashion to its art and architecture. 

A certain spirituality exists throughout the region as the area is dotted with centuries-old adobe structures and churches that are filled with religious folk art and stories of the past.  

Handcrafted Native American jewelry is displayed outside of The Palace of the Governors.

Santa Fe’s mild spring temperatures will beckon you to spend time outdoors and enjoy the city on foot. For starters, head to the historic Plaza district, the city’s heart and soul, where shopping and eating are abundant and designer cowboy boots call your name. Dozens of distinctive boutiques, galleries, cafés and museums will entertain you for hours. 

For a lesson in area history, visit The Palace of the Governors, the oldest continuously occupied government building built in the early 1600s. Spanning an entire block of the Plaza, the Palace is also a hub for local Native American artists to sell their handcrafted jewelry. For turquoise aficionados, it doesn’t get better than this.

The original Frito Pie is served at Five and Dime on the Plaza.

Santa Fe enjoys its distinction of being the 3^rd largest art market in the country and hosts world renowned events like the Traditional Spanish Market and the Indian Market which are held in the summer months. A trek up and down Canyon Road will reveal historic adobe architecture, fine restaurants and over 100 galleries showcasing contemporary and old-world arts.  

When you’re ready for a bite to eat, you’ll find no shortage of eateries in Santa Fe to help you sample the best of New Mexican cuisine. A notable culinary feature of the state is its ability to smother almost anything in red or green chile – if you ask for Christmas, you’ll get both red and green. Yes, please.

Enjoy margaritas, live music and barbecue at The Cowgirl.

Enjoy the outdoor patio and a cheeseburger topped with green chile at The Shed off of the Plaza, warm sopaipillas with honey butter at Tomasita’s in the Railyard, or venture off-the-beaten path and savor the El Salvadoran Pupusas at Tune-Up Café. And for the best barbecue and live music in town, an evening at The Cowgirl is a must.

Chile peppers are abundant at the Santa Fe Farmers Market in the fall.

If you happen to be in town on a Saturday morning, visit the Santa Fe Farmers Market in the bustling Railyard district featuring fresh baked breads, artisanal cheeses, locally grown produce and handcrafted items. Arrive early so you don’t miss out on the breakfast burritos ladled with, of course, red or green chile.

My husband braves the Box Canyon trail ahead of me at Ghost Ranch.

Pack in some adventure with a day trip to Ghost Ranch retreat in Abiquiu, about an hour’s drive from Santa Fe. A day pass will give you access to miles of hiking trails with glorious mountain scenery. 

Horseback trail rides are available for all skill levels – the Sunset Ride will take you to where artist Georgia O’Keeffe found her inspiration, completed several paintings and owned a home.

Mariachi Buenaventura performs on the Santa Fe Plaza.

All of these ideas are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. There’s so much to experience that you’ll want to return again and again. I know the feeling well as I just made reservations for a seventh trip there.

Wake up to Easter brunch

The robins are chirping, Peter Cottontail is hopping down the bunny trail, and your guests are on the way. Make your Easter brunch egg-stra easy by setting the table a day or so early, and relax with this make-ahead brunch dish to share with a few family members or with a crowd. 

Cheesy Sausage and Croissant Casserole
Prepare this rich and substantial casserole the night before, pop it in the oven in the morning, and it will be hot and bubbly by the time your guests arrive.

Serves 9
½ pound crumbled, cooked sausage, mild or spicy
1 ¼ cups shredded Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 green onions, sliced
18 mini croissants, torn
Vegetable cooking spray
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
5 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese

In a large bowl, toss together the sausage, Parmesan, salt, onions and croissants and arrange in a 13 x 9 baking dish, coated with cooking spray. 

Whisk together milk, cream and eggs and pour over sausage mixture. Cover and chill eight hours. 

Heat oven to 350 F. Uncover casserole, and sprinkle with Gruyère. Bake 45 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

(Recipe adapted from Southern Living)

Have a wonderful Easter!