Gluten-Free

I recently learned that potatoes originated in South America and that although they were brought over to Europe in the early 1500s, it actually took a few hundred years for people to get over their apparent distrust of this strange new food. Fascinating. Fast forward to current times, potatoes, in any form, are considered a […]

This is a lovely recipe from Ian Garten’s Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That? cookboo that I have been making for years. My husband first introduced me to this effortless shrimp dish years ago after having it at a friend’s house. Now, it’s considered a staple in my weekday meal repertoire. Ina Garten is a well-known […]

Despite my boys being back in school, technically, it’s still summer. This has always been a strange thing for me to accept. In New York, school started after Labor Day.  Even after so many years living on the West Coast, that still seems “normal“. With August winding to a close, Northern California is still seeing […]

Even with all the amazing ice cream flavors out there, chocolate and vanilla remain two of the most popular flavors around. Not a huge surprise to me, but then again, I’ve always been a fan of the classics. Chocolate has always been a favorite of my boys. Straight-up, no toppings, the richer the better. While […]

At my kid’s suggestion, I kicked off summer this year with a new Cuisinart ice cream machine. Seriously, best decision ever made. The motivation; is our family trip to Copenhagen last Spring. The food scene in this charming little city is truly amazing. From fine dining to street food, the Danes are absolutely killing it. […]

I’ve always loved artichokes. A simple steamed artichoke with a side of melted butter is a true indulgence.  My mom made them for me like this as a kid, not all that often, but when she did, they were a real treat. Artichokes are themselves a very versatile vegetable and can be used to make […]

Buddha bowls, as they are often called on social media, are everywhere. Typically presented in a Zen-like fashion, these brightly colored, artfully arranged bowls consist of a cornucopia of vegetables and/or proteins that are eye-catching at first glance. If you ask me, Buddha bowls are works of art that can make you feel healthier just […]

Who does not love marshmallows?  My kids are huge fans for sure. Homemade artisanal marshmallows are now seen in gourmet stores everywhere, and they can often be rather pricy.  Classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry are often available, but more adventurous ones like malted milk, caramel, toasted coconut, lavender, Kahlua, Irish Cream, and Espresso […]

Chocolate pecan turtles are one of my favorite chocolate treats. My association with turtles goes way back. My dad loved them and used to get them when we went skiing in Colorado. As a young kid, I almost always opted for the larger sweet treat at the chocolate shop (a caramel apple), but my dad […]

Everyone has their favorite comfort foods, truffle polenta fries are one of mine. Totally serious. I have always been a big fan of polenta; the simple addition of truffle oil is a game-changer. Polenta served in the form of “fries“, is a fantastic way to incorporate an earthy grain into your winter meal without much […]

This baked zucchini “noodle” is my low-carb “lasagna” alternative that my husband and I have come to prefer. Don’t get me wrong, I still love lasagna now and again as it reminds me of my childhood.  But a reduced-carb option is always good to have. My mom, who is originally from the Midwest, made a […]

Apparently, Christmas jam is a thing. As a chef and a food blogger, I had no clue. This is a fine example of the food world today, chances are, the idea (recipe) is out there long before you came up with the recipe, and the only hope is you make it better. Jam is something […]

Winter is a wonderful time. Earthy, hearty, beautiful root vegetables are in abundance. But what to do with them?  I say roast them. I love slightly browned roasted vegetables lightly toasted in olive oil. Straight-up, as a side dish, or here, mixed together in a hearty winter salad. This roasted winter vegetable salad hits the […]

Thanksgiving is so close I can almost taste it. All those wonderful, familiar, harvest comfort foods together on one table. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday by far, centered around what I love to do most: cook and eat. Thanksgiving first began in 1621 with a shared meal between the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians. It […]

My family and I are obsessed with Din Tai Fung, a famous Taiwanese restaurant in at Santa Clara outpost that we frequent.  My husband is the only one of us who has been to Taiwan, which is partly how this obsession began. Once a restaurant opened in our area, we quickly became frequent visitors. For […]