Taste Matters – Happy Birthday, America!

Happy Sunday, everyone!  Welcome to “Taste Matters” here at From A Chef’s Kitchen.  I’m dishing up some tasty tidbits, a kitchen tip or two, my current cookbook crush, some menu ideas, recipe roundups and perhaps even speak my mind!

Can you believe June is almost over?  I’m actually not a fan of June going by because it means I will have had another birthday.  Yes, it “beats the alternative” which is what most people say after one expresses dismay over getting another year older.  With every year, I try to think of myself as another year wiser instead of older.

I strive to appreciate the things that truly matter because when I look back at how quickly the years have sped by, I don’t want to spend the time I have left on things that don’t.

I considered shutting down my Facebook account this week; the squabbling was out of control!  I realize we have some serious issues to deal with, but I don’t want to look back in ten years and realize I spent my time fighting or debating someone on social media.  How someone votes does not matter to me; I try to see the person for who they are and how they treat people.

“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers.”    —-Dave Barry

Now onto some lighter things!

This Week’s Menu Inspiration

Chicken Bruschetta with Zucchini Noodles   +

Grilled Pound Cake with Balsamic Macerated Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream

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Skinny Pulled Crockpot Barbecue Chicken   +

Skinny Ranch BLT Avocado Pasta Salad

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Citrus and Garlic Marinated Flank Steak   +

Healthy Parmesan Baked Squash Chips with Lemon Dill Yogurt Dip

Recipe Roundups

• Insanely Easy Weeknight Dinners to Try This Week
• 22 Fun and Unexpected Ways to Cook with Dill Pickles
• 22 Ways Sheet Pans are Changing the Dinner Game
• 13 Slow-Cooker Recipes for a Stress-Free Breakfast
• 37 Delightfully Festive 4th of July Desserts

Current Cookbook Crush

Good Food, Good Life by Curtis Stone – 130 Simple Recipes You’ll Love to Make and Eat  (Affiliate link.)

One of the things I love about Curtis Stone is that each year Curtis and his team pledge to #Commit2One.  They select one great cause and champion that cause for the entire year.  In 2018, they are focusing on helping families adopt children with AdoptTogether, the world’s first and largest crowdfunding platform for adoption expenses.  So far, AdoptTogether has raised almost $13 million to cover adoption expenses and bring children home.  Yay, Curtis!

In Good Food, Good Life, Curtis seeks to inspire readers to turn meal preparation into a joy rather than a chore.  He also shares some wonderful, heartwarming personal stories and he’s cute to boot!

Kitchen Tip of the Week

One of the most iconic pieces of American cookware is the good old cast iron skillet.  Our grandmothers knew what they were doing and an inherited cast iron skillet is a prized possession of many home cooks.  But what if it rusts?  Here’s some great information from The Kitchn on how to restore a rusty cast iron skillet:

• How to Restore a Rusty Cast Iron Skillet

Food For Thought

• Organize a Neighborhood 4th of July Parade
• 8 Fun Car Game Ideas for Kids
• 7 Ways to Keep Dogs Calm During Fireworks
• Tips for Stopping Robocalls
• 15 Patriotic Quotes That Will Make You Proud to be American