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Does our quest for personal well-being have to result in a degradation of the environment? There are many ways we can cut down our impact on the environment, keeping both ourselves and our planet healthy. Illustration by Kiara Sanchez. Once the holiday celebrations are over, many of us tend to focus on healthy personal habits when the New Year arrives. We strive to lose weight, drink lots of water, floss more and eat plenty of vegetables. Personal health, however, inflicts co

Oleo-saccharum is literally oily sugar. The sugar extracts the oil found in citrus peel and the resulting liquid makes a flavorful addition to cocktails. Photo by Sean Kelly Conway. Makes 1 cocktail Ingredients For orange peel oleo-saccharum 4 oranges 1 cup sugar For cocktail 1-1/2 ounces gin 1-1/2 ounces lemon juice 1/2 ounce orange juice 1 ounce orange peel oleo-saccharum 1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur About this recipe Learn to use all of an ingredient. Before juicing citru

If you love bourbon and if you love pickles, this cocktail with smoky salt on the rim will not disappoint. Photo by Nick Hogan. Makes 1 cocktail About this recipe As the name suggests, this cocktail is my love letter to the standard pickleback shot, which is simply 1 shooter of whiskey followed by a swig of pickle juice. This highball captures the flavor profile of the traditional pickleback, complemented by herbal green Chartreuse and saline-forward Manzanilla sherry. It als

Serves 4 Ingredients ½ Florida papaya, peeled and seeded 2 Florida oranges, peeled and segmented (plus slices of orange for garnish) 1 cup Florida sprouts or microgreens 2 tablespoons roasted Florida peanuts, chopped 1 tablespoon crunchy chili garlic oil ½ lime, juiced (plus wedges of lime for garnish) Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Instructions Using a vegetable peeler, shave the peeled and seeded papaya into thin ribbons. Arrange the papaya ribbons and m

Peas have a short growing season during the cooler days of spring. If you don’t have any fresh peas on hand, organic frozen peas can be used as a substitute. Photo by Amy Robb. Makes 2 cups Ingredients 1/4 cup tahini 1 garlic clove 1 lemon, zest and juice 2 cups shelled, blanched shocked* peas (or use frozen and defrosted) 1 sprig mint 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped 1/4 cup olive oil Black pepper and sea salt, to taste Instructions Puree tahini, garlic and lemon juice

Steak or a hearty fish like tuna can be substituted for lamb. For added crunch, top with toasted pistachios or candied pecans. Photo by Wesley Parsons. Serves 4 Ingredients 4 tablespoons salt 1 tablespoon black pepper Leaves pulled from 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary 8 lamb chops 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 blood oranges cut into ¼-inch round slices, peel removed* 2 avocados, halved and sliced 1/4 cup good olive oil 1 pound mixed baby kale, mizuna, arugula or other brassica fam

Take advantage of the local Brussels sprouts harvest and serve these mini cabbages as a side dish during the holiday season. Photo by Lexi Mire. Serves 6 Ingredients 1-1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts 1 pound applewood-smoked bacon (or your favorite bacon) 1/2 pound radishes, quartered 1/2 small yellow onion, thinly sliced 1 pint cherry tomatoes (washed and cut in half) 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese Salt and pepper to taste Instructions Clean Brussels sprouts by washing and removin

A member of the cabbage family, Brussels sprouts are a delicious alternative ingredient when making traditional slaw salads. Horseradish adds a refreshing bite to this side dish. Photo by Lexi Mire. Serves 4-6 Ingredients For the dressing 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon horseradish 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar Salt, pepper and sugar, to taste For the slaw 1 pound Brussels sprouts, cleaned and washed 1/2 pound carrots 1/4 pound radishes, sliced thin 1

Try this variation on oysters Rockefeller using locally grown onions and spinach and a bit of a kick from pepper jack cheese. Make the cream sauce the day before for easy assembly when ready to serve. Photo by Cole LoCurto. Makes 3 dozen Ingredients 3 dozen fresh oysters, shucked 1 cup pork belly or thick cut bacon, diced small ½ cup Vidalia onion, diced small 10 ounces fresh spinach, torn into small pieces 1 quart heavy cream 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese 2 cups panko b

Thoughts on life on the river Scott Meyer on Trout River at Congaree and Penn. Photo by Stefanie Keeler. I wasn't born on the bayou. But I learned to waterski there, my older cousins pointing out alligators as I teetered past them on wobbly skis. My maternal grandparents were Hubba & Boop. Their house on Bayou Lacombe was a place where my family would come gather during the holidays and summer. I remember when too many blue crabs were stuffed into a boiling pot in the kitchen

Northeast Florida's rivers inspire a zealous commitment to regionally unique pursuits Ben Williams walks an oyster reef in the GTM Reserve. Photos by Gunner Hughes. When we asked local lensman Gunner Hughes to put together a photo feature celebrating our rivers’ most zealous devotees – the kinds of folks who dedicate a good portion of their free time to chasing seafood around our region’s inshore waterways – it was understood that he’d need to keep both his aperture and sched

For local brewers, Northeast Florida waterways offer a fount of inspiration Marsh Sessions, the beer inspired by Marsh Fest and its audience of river devotees, was unveiled in 2024 with a release party held in the parking lot of Ink Factory’s taproom. Photo by Gunner Hughes. As muse and metaphor, rivers have a notable history of inspiring creative output. Van Gogh’s “Starry Night over the Rhône” depicts the artist’s view of the famous European tributary, while John Everett Mi

A variety of culinary delights await along Northeast Florida's inshore waterways Photos by Jesse Brantman There are more than 80 waterways crisscrossing Northeast Florida, offering a cornucopia of opportunities to find solace in the timeless beauty and restorative influences that only nature can provide. In addition, locals will tell you that a few drinks and a well prepared meal adds significantly to the overall experience. When you consider the handful of restaurants that h

Perfect for potlucks and large gatherings, you can customize this easy dip by using different varieties of local smoked fish, like sheepshead or trout. Photo by Amanda Rosenblatt. Makes 1-1/2 quarts Ingredients 2 pounds smoked fish, skin and bones removed 1 roasted red pepper, diced 2 stalks celery, finely diced ½ bunch parsley, chopped 8 ounces cream cheese ¾ cup mayonnaise 3 lemons, juice and zest 1 tablespoon Texas Pete hot sauce 2 teaspoons paprika Salt and pepper, to tas

Datil peppers bring the heat to this chowder. (Be sure to wear kitchen gloves when dicing the fresh peppers.) Look for clams in juice at local fish markets. Photo by Amanda Rosenblatt. Serves 8-10 Ingredients ½ pound bacon 3 large onions, diced 3 green peppers, diced 4 stalks celery, diced 1 quart chopped clams, juice 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes Salt and pepper, to taste ½ (12-ounce) jar Minorcan Mike’s Datil Pepper Sauce ½ teaspoon dried thyme 2-3 fresh datil peppers,

This one-pot seafood stew is best served outdoors on a paper-lined picnic table, making it easier to eat the meal with your hands. Use your favorite seafood seasoning to customize the flavor of the dish.

Serves 4 Ingredients For the charred Florida tomato dressing 1 medium-sized Florida tomato, cored and quartered 1 teaspoon fresh garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning blend (such as Everglades) ½ teaspoon smoked paprika ½ lemon, juiced ¼ cup olive oil ½ cup plain Greek yogurt 3 tablespoons quality vinegar (Champagne, white balsamic, etc.) 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, rosemary, etc.), chopped fine Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to tast e For the crou

Women play a vital role in building and sustaining our local food community in Northeast Florida.

This creamy corn chowder, using coconut milk, freshly shucked corn, local produce and peanut butter, packs a sweet and spicy curry kick. Warm up the season with this hearty meal in a bowl. Photo by Sarah McCartan. Serves 6-8 Ingredients 2 tablespoons coconut oil 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 bell pepper, chopped 1 spring (green) onion, chopped 2-1/2 cups coconut milk 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 2 cups corn (5 ears) 1 cup water 1 yellow squash, sliced 1 tomato, chopped 3/

Don't be nervous about using the tail meat and bones of a cow in any of your favorite stew recipes. Photo by Lexi Mire. Serves 8-12 About this recipe Obtaining offal and rare cuts to use in the kitchen at home can be a bit of a challenge. Although fewand far between, traditional butcher shops like Tillman’s Meat & Country Store on Old St. Augustine Road stock some conventional frozen offal, but the high-quality organic stuff can be harder still to find. According to Mike Stow