September is a good month in the Currie household. It happens to be my husband, Jim's birthday. It's not a big deal that he's a year older, but on his birthday whether it falls on a hectic weekday or an even more hectic weekend, we always celebrate with sour cream chocolate birthday cake. It's the same cake that he's had each and every birthday, first baked by his mom and now baked by yours truly. This old, family recipe has been celebrated for lots of birthdays and other special occasions. Although it's everyone's prerogative to have their birthday cake of choice (carrot or vanilla, tied in …

Weekends are very telling in towns all over New Jersey this time of year. As sure as the leaves will change, the game is on TV and the snacks are flowing. As we get more technologically savvy, our options are many. Almost every NFL and college game is accessible whether it's on TV, the computer or a smart phone. Even the local football teams are current thanks to immediate Patch reporting and posting. We also can't forget the stands watching the old fashioned way, tweeting and texting scores seconds after the play is made.   Of course all this football watching requires sustenance, so when …

Now that our feet are firmly planted in September and the ovens are humming along cranking out dinner on a regular basis, it's time to spice up the menu. Before anyone has a chance to say "what's for dinner" in that I'm-not-going-to-like-it-anyway tone, wow them with a new twist on an old favorite.   Asian chicken meatballs hit the mark on so many levels. Healthier mild ground chicken is combined with assertive Asian flavors like soy sauce and sesame oil taking the beloved meatball in a completely different direction. Add a spicy peanut dipping sauce and you just might find little fingers …

Sometimes the best recipes come from the most unlikely places. Several weeks ago, I was watching tennis at the U.S. Open in Queens and started chatting with the woman behind me about, of all things, cooking. Tennis is one of those etiquette sports where chatting with your neighbor is a no-no and even more so at the granddaddy of tennis events. But, home cooks just can't help themselves and our tips, trials and tribulations in the kitchen were flying as fast as the young American superstar, Donald Young, was whacking the ball. The recipe that stuck with me was her twist on banana bread. …

Nancy Silverman wants you to know something. As summer winds down and school gears up, you might notice signs and painted bikes popping up all over for Jake's Ride.  Jake is Nancy's 15-year-old son and he was diagnosed with Dystonia in fifth grade when he was just 10. Before Jake's diagnosis, Nancy, like most of us, led a typical life not knowing much about the disease at all.  Dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, causes painful spasms in one or more parts of the body.  It was a long year of tests and doctors visits when they finally got the diagnosis and subsequent treatment for Jake…

It doesn't matter who you are, we all need a vacation.  Whether it's a day, a week , a month or the whole summer, a little R & R and TLC is just the ticket to remember how much we love our jobs or going back to school or just sleeping in our own bed.   It was a once-in-a-lifetime (and not all the time) vacation for the Currie's as we headed to Italy for two weeks in Tuscany.  The vacation that I'd been dreaming about as long as I can remember became reality in the charming tuscan farmhouse we rented in the tiny town of Buonconvento somewhere between Siena and Montalcino and far, far from …

It's hard to believe that Amy Currie has let us into her kitchen for almost a year. So 11 months and 47 recipes later, we take a look back at some of the best, and most popular, recipes Amy has shared with Summit Patch readers. Entrees Apple Cider Braised Pork Tenderloin: One of our earliest dishes, Amy showed us how to make a tasty and aromatic fall dish. Anything cooked in Apple Cider is sure to please! Skillet Chicken with Apricot Mustard Sauce: In my house we call this simply "Apricot Chicken" but whatever you call it, this dish was far and away one of the most popular we have ever done. …

One of the best kept secrets known to New Jersey locals are the miles and miles of beaches from one end of the state to the other.  The fact is, our shores are some of the most beautiful in the world with sugar white sand and waves even the most seasoned surfers love. Lucky for us, a trip to the beach can be a day trip or a long summer vacation. Just an hour of cursing traffic on the Garden State parkway and paradise is all ours.   Jersey shore crab dip captures all that beachiness on a cracker, perfect with a cocktail and a spectacular sunset.  Crabmeat, with it's bright, fresh flavor is …

Run, don't walk to your local market to grab a pint of blueberries. Right this very minute fresh Jersey blueberries are at their peak. Not only are they big and beautiful, they're plentiful, so the price is right. Seeing the price of blueberries go down as the thermometer soars is your telltale sign to stock up because they are just as good in pies and muffins as they are in salads, smoothies or cereal. If the thought of cooking in the middle of July leaves you wilted, don't despair. Blueberries freeze beautifully and will last for months that way.  If you do feel like like throwing together …

This time of year, as the sun blazes down on us and the humidity rises, the fruits and vegetables all over New Jersey are basking in all this summer heat and growing to juicy perfection.  With the season as fleeting as a summer vacation, this is the perfect time to go to the farmers market or pull over at a road-side stand for some fresh Jersey produce.  What could be better than tossing all that local goodness in the food processor for the quintessential summer cold soup: gazpacho. Gazpacho, a cold tomato-based soup has been around for hundreds of years.  Originating in Spain and Latin …

Some of the best memories of summer are made right in the kitchen. Not necessarily the cooking part, but what you make for all those summer activities out of the kitchen.  Half the fun of being in the great outdoors, whether it's the pool or the park is what comes out of the picnic basket.  The wicker basket of yesterday has now become a monster cooler with wheels, but what's inside is as old fashioned as you'd like it to be.  Who knows who invented the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, but its a flavor that's memory-worthy right along with all that fun in the sun. Peanut butter …

I met Carolyn Hough many years ago when she moved to Summit with her husband and three kids.  My mother-in law in Chicago was friendly with her mom and she suggested I  give her a big Summit welcome.   With 6 kids between us, we just couldn't find any time to meet and weeks turned into months before we finally sat down for a cup of coffee.  I remember walking into her house, slightly harried, and feeling guilty that she wasn't exactly new to Summit any more.  But, its funny how friendships start and to my complete surprise we became kindred spirits over, you guessed it, our passion for …

As the lazy days of summer usher themselves in, it's not a bad idea to have a recipe in your head that can easily translate to a great dish. With July 4 just days away, and all the eating that goes with it, this is one of those dishes. Greek pasta salad with shrimp nails it when it comes to big bold flavors that can feed a crowd or just your family.  The combination of shrimp, tomatoes, scallions, salty olives and fresh dill with a lemony vinaigrette gives the humble summer pasta salad new meaning at a cookout. Even better its some serious competition for the burgers and dogs.   It's also a …

If you're looking for a summer cocktail while your kids are at camp, why don't you have a Hummer? In case you haven't heard, it's the drink du jour at lots of swanky places down South.   Strictly for adults, it's a simple concoction of vanilla ice cream, Kahlua and dark rum whirled together like a milkshake and consumed as an after dinner cocktail. It's a perfect warm weather drink and far better than waiting in line for ice cream or fighting for a spot at a crowded bar. So, back to the kids being at camp and out of the house.  After all, it might be confusing for them to see their parents …

There's always a little bit of mothers day in Father's Day. The holiday honoring dad all day long typically starts with breakfast, preferably in bed.  So while dad's enjoying his special day, its up to mom to organize the troops, keep the peace and help make and serve breakfast, seamlessly. Its fun, of course because kids love to give back and with a little guidance, they do a great job. With Mother's Day long forgotten about, this is like a second mothers day.  Sure, there's no R&R, but nothing's better than a chance to make your kids shine while having a little quality time with them in the…

My mom knows me so well.  She's of a certain age where she spends her days playing bridge, lunching with the ladies and travel (oh, and yoga, that's new).  So, when she told me she was taking a cruise up the coast of Alaska, I was so excited for her and a little envious, too.  But, one thing I know for sure, wherever the road may take her (in this case the Pacific Ocean), she never forgets about me.   She's great with a computer, too, so she sends us daily emails of her adventures whether its all about the local market for me or a bit of local history for the kids.  In this case it was videos…

Friday night in Summit is like a collective sigh of relief.  Kids are buzzing about town, some hauling their backpacks, some with cleats and uniforms, all with happy weekend faces. Adults too, wrapping up the week and switching gears for the two-day respite we fondly call the weekend.  But, all this R&R doesn't bode well for the time and effort it takes to make a home-cooked dinner.  The alternative, take-out, is so been there, done that.   With a mild apology to the pizzerias in town, it is possible to make your own pizza and make it exponentially better.  You still need a little help from …

It seems like just yesterday we were wondering if winter would ever end. But nature is our friend again. The grass is lush, flowers are blooming and that grill out back, once looking like a big ski mogul, is begging for  attention. With Memorial Day just around the corner, its high time to crank up the grill and get out of the kitchen. Beer marinated flank steak is a winner on a busy holiday weekend because the do-ahead marinade requires minimal prep. It's company-friendly too because grilling a big piece of flank steak involves a one-two flip and it's done. Not only is flank steak more …

If you see interior designer and "picker" Jen Wyckoff in town, you might blink and she'll be gone.  Patch's newest blogger not only has a brand new interior design business (and new blog), but she's a mom of three active boys and always on the run. When she's not dashing around downtown Summit, she's picking items at various flea markets, estate sales and the like. Once she spies a great find, she cleans it up and resells it. Her company, Design on a Dime sums up her business perfectly; to create high-end decors at discount prices. But, she still has to eat, not to mention her three growing …

What a bland world it would be without the humble onion.  A vegetable we take for granted because it compliments almost any savory dish, is abundant year round, reasonably priced and lasts for months in the fridge.  But, look a little closer and there are so many varieties to choose from.  Before the "sweet" Vidalia onion came along, onions were all "hot" or sharp and spicy in flavor.  Then, in the 1930's,  a farmer in Georgia figured out how to make onions flavorful, but mild and sweet.  So now onions are in two categories, hot and sweet.   My choice time and again is a big georgous sweet …