Spring

Rustic Portuguese-Style Kale and Potato Soup with Sausage

Rustic Portuguese-Style Kale and Potato Soup with Sausage

This recipe can be the start of many improvisations on its theme.  I always appreciate an easy, mix-and-match, recipe that’s built for flexibility depending upon what might be on hand. By now we have grown accustomed to making swaps to recipes, old and new, based…

Chocolate Coconut Tart

Chocolate Coconut Tart

It’s early September in Piedmont and it is rough going outside for myriad reasons.  There’s the pandemic.  Unhealthy air quality due to the wildfires.  And an excessive heat wave with record-breaking temperatures.  If there was ever a time when I had to rely upon preparing…

Diana Kennedy’s Arroz a la Mexicana

Diana Kennedy’s Arroz a la Mexicana

Diana Kennedy is one of my culinary s-heroes.  Back in May when I learned of the opportunity to watch the documentary film Diana Kennedy:  Nothing Fancy from my pal Gabrielle, I ordered the movie rental that day (via Rafael @ Home) and signed up for…

Roasted Carrot Soup with Ginger and Turmeric

Roasted Carrot Soup with Ginger and Turmeric

One of the things I miss dearly from sheltering in place and physical distancing is not going to our local farmers markets.  I’m of the age where it’s better if I maximize caution in venturing out.  So, I’ve left shopping and selecting to others, most…

Apricot and Almond Tea Cake

Apricot and Almond Tea Cake

This is a bonafide pantry cake!  It was created as “Plan B” to my original idea for this month’s blog since the main ingredient for “Plan A” was not available due to restricted shopping and limited options.  It’s apropos to these days of sheltering-in-place with…

Korean-Style Spicy Chicken

Korean-Style Spicy Chicken

We’ve been sheltering in place around the Bay Area for several weeks.  I think there’s no time like the present to bring spice into our days that are blurring one into the next.  This chicken packs a spicy punch for a “Blursday” dinner and will…

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Blondies – Gluten-Free & Keto

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Blondies – Gluten-Free & Keto

I flirt with the idea of a ketogenic diet.  I appreciate the health benefits from eliminating sugar and refined grains, but still am not prepared to fully commit.  This, after successfully dropping several L-Bs nearly ten years ago on a keto diet.   Back then…

Easy Chicken Adobo

Easy Chicken Adobo

My first, and fortunate, taste of home cooked Filipino food was prepared by my friend, Erlinda, about 25 years ago.  She and her husband, Amador, are skilled in their kitchen, and over the years I’ve enjoyed their lovingly prepared dishes. Just ask me sometime about…

Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo Bars

Could Nanaimo Bars be having a “moment”? If you are not familiar with this treat originating from the British Columbia city bearing its name, it’s not too soon to start thanking me now. These no-oven-required sweet treats have been a family favorite for years. Decades…

Brazilian Collard Greens Salad

Brazilian Collard Greens Salad

It’s nearly spring and time to welcome local, young greens back to our farmers’ markets! I look forward to the changing of the seasons as it brings new varieties of produce into our markets and onto our plates. Soon after purchasing these tender, baby collard…