I have been a fan of delicata squash for a while now. Initially it was more challenging to find outside of a farmers market or produce-forward store, but now it’s everywhere. The attraction is it’s easy to prepare. It doesn’t require peeling and delivers plenty…
Do you ever want to bring home the flavors of your favorite summer vacation meals? Those special ones that seemingly could not taste better? This is exactly how I feel following an incomparable two weeks on Menorca visiting with my dear friend-since-college, Joan. If…
I recently had the good fortune to meet several “Wine Country Women” who are featured the book “Wine Country Women of Napa Valley at an event at the Kitchen Collective in Napa. Our group was small-ish, so the affair allowed for much tasting, cooking and…
Deep in the midst of winter we’re enjoying plenty of hearty fare – stews and soups, braises and beans. But I also appreciate a lighter side dish, with a salad boasting the flavors of winter. And, dare I say, a nice change up from roasted…
Several years back our friend, Alf, prepared a traditional bhel puri to whet our appetites before dinner. These tangy, spicy bites were such a hit that hubby and I both went after more during the main course. This is no small statement, as Alf is…
The gift of a huge bag of apples, from our neighbors’ back yard tree, sent me straight to searching for new ways to use them whilst they remain at their peak. Throughout the countless desserts I came across, this little salad caught my…
Paula Wolfert is a culinary icon, and one I admire greatly. You’ve seen her inspired recipes from me before, as her focus has been flavors of the Mediterranean; a climate much like ours here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Paula has been…
In the deep of winter, this broccoli salad will surely brighten your plate and palate both. By now I’m hard pressed to face yet another serving of winter greens with much enthusiasm. This salad is a spark to brightness and crunch – and…
Whenever I see an Asian pear, I’m transported back to my youth and the pear farms near my family’s home in southern Placer County. Rocklin, California, to be precise. We were fortunate to have many Japanese friends, who brought Asian pears to the…
New crops of English peas, snap peas and asparagus herald the arrival of spring here in the Bay Area. By the time they hit the farmers’ market scene, I’m ready for a break from winter greens — done 101 ways and then some.…