The recent cold snap, followed by days of atmospheric river rains, have landed me back to the pantry for meal inspiration. Fortunately, I keep a cache of pulses (the edible seed from a legume plant) for just these situations. Channa dal is a type of…
These savory shortbread cookies would be right at home on your cheese board where I’d also nestle a few roasted almonds nearby. We enjoy these from lunch time to cocktail time, anytime the mood strikes. And their salty-sweetness goes dangerously well with a flute of…
Easy enough for a weeknight dinner, these curry cod fish cakes do not skimp on flavor nor appealing presentation (If I say so myself!). Truth be told, we have a version of cod fish cakes on a regular basis. Curry flavors are near the top…
It’s still soup season, although it’s fair to say soup is welcomed pretty much the year round here in the Bay Area. We’ve had record cold days lately and we’re enjoying this simple and satisfying soup, especially at lunchtime. We enjoy it for lunch since…
Fortunately, my pantry is usually well-stocked with baking essentials. Growing up in a family in the restaurant and grocery business, I know the importance of having back-ups on basic ingredients. This month’s recipe was developed during the omicron surge, so my pantry has come to…
Brrrr – This winter is especially chilly, often with a daily temperature range from the high-30’s to high 40’s on several days running. Snow atop the Bay Area’s highest peaks also attest to this fact. This soup can come together using ingredients you may already…
One of our favorite fall and winter fruit combinations is pears and cranberries. This cake speaks of the seasons and is welcomed on a dessert table for brunch, coffee or teatime, and dinner. I enjoy its simplicity but use your imagination on how to serve…
A recent series of dental procedures required I expand my repertoire of soft food dishes. No chewing, so either puréed or very, very soft to eat. I made my way through Chinese jook (rice congee), lentil soup, and this bread soup through the several weeks…
Spring brunch time is nigh, and this “strata” features the classic pairing of ham and sweet potatoes. Technically the method here doesn’t layer the ingredients, thus a strata, but over the years I’ve found the layering process doesn’t make a big difference in the end…
I’ve been on a bit of a scone binge recently, ever since I made a batch of my cream scones with homemade lemon curd from my backyard harvest of three trees. Scones in winter are an easy, one-bowl creation with basic ingredients many of us…