Call it “Food Foraging 2.0” – when I posted a plea for fresh, culinary bay leaves on our neighborhood social network.  I was “Jonesing” for a pound cake using bay leaves and oranges that I spied in David Lebovitz’ “My Paris Kitchen” cookbook, and had…

     The distinctive scent of hot water poured over flour transports me back to my Poh Poh’s kitchen.  She is my maternal grandmother, who would let me join her in making dim sum nibbles whenever we visited.  These are some of my earliest cooking…

   The culinary cognoscenti have proclaimed flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean are all the rage, and for good reason.  These tasty spice and herb combinations are familiar but with an enticing, exotic twist.  The good news is there are numerous options to procure them for…

   Imagine my reaction when my Piedmont Post editor suggested a bûche de Noël as the topic for this month’s column.  That’s French for yule log cake, a dessert fancier’s way of celebrating Winter Solstice and Christmas that began centuries (!) ago.    It has…

   Recent travels to Spain have my taste buds primed to recreate the flavors here at home!  Our Bay Area climate is similar to theirs, offering the opportunity to share the same flavors using our local bounty.    With most of our time spent in…

     Shorter days and a bit of welcomed rain signal the change of season, and thus my thoughts turn quickly to fall baking projects!  As it turns out, several varieties of apples grow quite well here in Piedmont, CA; and I’m fortunate to have…

   I’ve been buying up pepper varieties every week for awhile now, and in addition to enjoying sweet peppers raw in salads; I’ve been on a “stuffed pepper binge”.  It’s fun changing up the flavor profiles from classic Americana, Chinese, Italian and my current favorite –…

   Green beans and bacon make a tasty pair.  With green beans at the peak of their summer season, I fill a bag of the most slender and tender beans I spy nearly every week.  I keep them interesting week over week by switching up…

  Here in Piedmont, the city loves 4th of July!  The morning parade is a big deal; neighbors begin claiming prime viewing spots along the parade route days before with lawn chairs, blankets and sometimes décor.  Many of those fortunate to have front yards along…

   When stone fruits first begin appearing at the market, I nearly always buy more than I need.  I cannot help myself!   What’s not to love, it’s like a bite of sunshine.   The appearance of apricots in markets is a clear sign the stone fruit…