Please join us in welcoming our newest Guest Blogger Liza Bennett Gyllenhaal. Liza is one of those cooks who eyeballs a recipe and immediately starts experimenting. The results are fresh, simple meals we hope will entice you to veer from the printed page too. This time of year especially, Liza’s kitchen inspiration comes from the organic vegetable garden she tends behind her summer cottage.

This soon-to-be familiar garden is nestled in The Berkshires, also the setting for Liza’s new novel, Local Knowledge. Her blog post on chives is her first on Kitchen Scoop but if you’ve followed Desperation Dinners over the years, you may already be familiar with Liza’s cooking style. Several of her creations have appeared in our cookbooks, and many meals at her gracious table have influenced our columns. (Liza also is Beverly’s sister-in-law. Even if she weren’t related we’d still be honored to host her here on The Scoop.)

Lisa and her husband divide their time between The Berkshires and New York City. You can find out more about Liza, her new novel Local Knowledge (New American Library, buy from Amazon) and message her directly at www.lizagyllenhaal.com. Watch for Liza’s insights on eating fresh from the vegetable garden throughout the growing season. Her subjects and timing will depend on what’s ripe.

To be sure you don’t miss Liza’s posts, subscribe to our “RSS” notification which will email a blog summary and “hot link” as we update topics here on the site. The RSS sign up is available in the lower right-hand portion of our Home page. Just lick on the small orange square and follow the instruction prompts. Thanks for tuning in!