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…

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…

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…

There is so much to love about this chewy, chocolate-y, colossal cookie!  It whizzes up quickly in the food processor with a few ingredients you are likely to have on hand.  Following a quick shaping and baking, you are happily munching a warm cookie –…

Are you thinking of a January reboot?  Now is a perfect time for this satisfying soup.  It’s cold outside and also an ideal time to lighten up our meals following weeks of power-eating over the holidays.   Like many Asian soups, this one comes together…

Piedmont persimmons are a thing.  In my short block of the neighborhood there are trees of two common varieties, Fuyu and Hachiya.   The Fuyu variety are the short, squat shaped ones meant to be eaten when still crisp.  They’re sweet and delicious out-of-hand, used…

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…

Crisp autumn air means the start of baking season for me, although I can rationalize a quick baking project on even the warmest summer days.   In our house cookies reign.  I saw this recipe in a recent newsletter feed and it got me thinking…

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…