There is a slight Goldilocks’ attitude to my preference for a summer time cake featuring fruit.  Not too dense and not to light, but a medium textured, moist cake that seems just right for a satisfying sweet treat during our late summer heat.   If…

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…

     It’s time to get the grill going!  We’ve got birthdays and Father’s Day cookouts planned at our house – and I’m hoping for a few fog-less evenings so we can enjoy a dinner al fresco.  (Warm nights are not guaranteed here in the…

     A walk around my neighborhood tells a tale of bumper crop lemons.  I am only seeing front yards, and they are laden with lemons!  This quick loaf cake recipe uses only the lemon rind, leaving you with options for using the juice.  I…

     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…

     THIS dish is the star every time we sit down to our spring time, corned beef dinner.  Yes, we all appreciate the corned beef, but these potatoes, aka colcannon, are what my family love.  Homey comfort food in the spotlight.      My…

     Cookies are the favorite dessert in my house.  No question.  Hands down.  My family certainly enjoy other desserts; but when asked, they want a big plate of cookies set at the center of the table.  And dishes of ice cream for good measure.…

     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…

     Did you know California accounts for about half of the nation’s nuts?  (Yeah go on, have a giggle with the double entendre…)  And tree nuts are the number one export for our Golden State.  A short drive outside of our Bay Area urban…