A Feast Under the Sun
When my dad—chef, storyteller, and picnic enthusiast extraordinaire—declared, “A meal always tastes better outside,” he wasn’t just talking about the food. He was talking about the experience. The laughter. The …
About Don Nicholas
Don Nicholas serves as Executive Publisher for Food Gardening Network and GreenPrints. He is an active gardener whose favorite crops include tomatoes, basil, blueberries, and corn. Don and his wife Gail live and work in southern Massachusetts surrounded by forests, family farms, cranberry bogs, and nearby beaches.
Articles by Don Nicholas
The Devilishly Good Egg
Summer in California meant more than just long days, golden sunsets, and backyard feasts—it meant picnic season. And no picnic was complete without a proper spread of cold fried chicken, …
The Cold Fried Chicken Feast of Summer
Summers in California meant one thing—picnics. Not just any picnics, but grand, sprawling, shade-under-the-oak-tree affairs. And at the heart of these Summer feasts, nestled between baskets of homemade cornbread, bright …
Three Bean Salad
If you ever found yourself at one of our family’s Summer picnics, you’d quickly realize that my dad, a professional chef and an avid gardener, had a deep and abiding …
An Herb for Every Palate
When faced with a Summer meal featuring crispy, golden-brown southern fried chicken—seasoned to perfection with a chorus of spices—one might wonder, “What salad could possibly hold its own next to …
Orange You Glad?
Growing up in Sacramento, I was surrounded by orange trees. They lined our streets, filled our parks, and, of course, flourished in backyard gardens. As a kid, I simply assumed …
Kennebec Potatoes: The Spud That Stole My Heart
As a New Englander by adoption, I’m fascinated by—and proud of—almost everything New England, including our rich history of potato farming. And when it comes to the king of New …
Nuts About Nuts: A Gardener’s Tale of Tree-Free Indulgence
Once upon a time in the verdant town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, there lived a gardener named Pat. Pat had a flourishing garden filled with vibrant vegetables, fragrant herbs, and blossoming …
Dad’s Cinnamon Peach Pie Recipe
Dad’s Cinnamon Peach Pie was the heart of our Summer gatherings. Made with juicy, sun-ripened peaches from the Sacramento Valley, it featured a spiced filling with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a …
Garden-Fresh Three Bean Salad with Mediterranean Herb Dressing
This three-bean salad is as vibrant as a summer garden, with crisp green and wax beans, tender kidney beans, and a zesty Mediterranean dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, …
