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 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. Chicken…

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 …

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…

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 …

Heather Collura, editor of the Summit Patch, leads a double life. When she's not overseeing her site, she's planning her wedding this coming fall. If you've traveled up the hill to Summit, you might have seen her around town with her fiancee, Rick Burchfield, Patch Associate Regional Editor and Regional Sports Editor in Northern New Jersey. The giant Patch stickers on their computers give them away. Sitting at Cafe Mavi, laptops open, always working. It's just so darn cute, but they work hard, and Heather has thrown herself into planning her wedding with that same gusto.  So, what's a girl to…