Recipes
Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie
Strawberries are one of the first summer fruits to ripen. They are also my favorite. The most cultivated berry in the country, strawberries are grown in every state, with the majority coming from California and Florida. The long growing season runs from January through November. But peak strawberry season is April through June, so don’t […]
Pappardelle With Wild Mushrooms
Pasta served with a shallot white wine sauce is much lighter than the cream-based alternatives that permeate Americanized Italian food. Paired with mushrooms, the sauce has a rich, earthy flavor. Pappardelle with wild mushrooms is as simple as it gets, but don’t be fooled by its simplicity, it’s delicious. I served this dish recently at […]
Vegan Coconut Curry Red Lentil Soup
There is a growing trend toward vegetarianism and veganism among young people. I recently read that in the past several years, vegetarianism has increased substantially among those under 25 years old. My anecdotal experience is similar. My friend’s eleven-year-old decided to become a vegetarian at the age of six, despite no one else in her […]
Blood Orange Margarita
This is a twist on a traditional margarita and it is delicious! The simultaneously sweet and tart freshly squeezed blood orange juice helps intensify the flavor of the fresh lime juice and eliminates the need for added sugar. You can increase or decrease the amount of blood orange juice in this recipe to adapt it […]
White Chocolate Raspberry Trifle
It’s almost Memorial Day–a holiday honoring those who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. It is a patriotic day for those in the United States. But Memorial Day has also come to represent the unofficial start of the summer season. With this, you have vacations, family gatherings, camping adventures, pool parties, and […]
Frosted Carrot Cake
When I was little, I strongly disliked cooked carrots. I still don’t love them, but their sweetness makes them an incredibly important vegetable in the cooking world. And when it comes to baking, they are one of the only vegetables to have their very own cake. I came to enjoy carrot cake later in life. […]
Kale And Quinoa Salad
Kale and quinoa salad is one of my favorite salads. For those who are local to the San Francisco Bay Area, this is my version of the kale salad at Palo Alto’s Calafia Cafe. Chef Charlie Ayers, originally from Brooklyn, New York, was the former Executive Chef for Google. His food style got national recognition for […]
White Wine Sangria
Everyone needs a great sangria recipe in their life. Considered a “punch” by definition, this delicious and refreshing white wine sangria recipe is perfect for a casual warm weather get-together. My recipe is fruity, light, and refreshing with just a touch of sweetness. Many ask for recommendations on what type of wine works best for […]
Shrimp Ceviche
I recently traveled to the Southwest, the Arizona desert to be exact. For only a few short days I was celebrating two very different, yet wonderful things: a milestone birthday of a parent and 26 years of friendship with a remarkable group of women, #solidsix. It was an emotional trip, to say the least, filled […]
What To Do With Quail Eggs – Trulffled Quail Egg Toasts
Quail eggs have long been considered a delicacy in many parts of the world including Asia, Europe, and North America. Surprisingly, in other countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, a hard-boiled quail egg is not unusual or considered exotic. In those countries, quail eggs can even be seen as garnish on a hot dog. […]
Molten Chocolate Cake
If you are a chocolate lover, keep reading. There is nothing more delicious and decadent than a molten chocolate cake. It is simple but delightful. A molten cake is a combination of two things, a flourless chocolate cake (often referred to as a decadence cake) and a soufflé. Its name refers to the lava-like chocolate […]
My Favorite Breakfast Protein Shake
Smoothies (a category that includes protein shakes) are thick beverages made from blended raw fruit or vegetables with other ingredients such as water, ice, dairy products, or sweeteners. I was late to the smoothie fad. While smoothies were popular in the early 1990s, they have been around a lot longer than that, in particular on the […]
The Ultimate Veggie Burger
It’s called “The Ultimate Veggie Burger” for a reason, not just for vegetarians. It’s for anyone who loves a great veggie burger every once in a while, my husband included. Melissa Clark’s recipe for “The Ultimate Veggie Burger” was published in the New York Times a few years ago and I’m thankful to have found […]
A Grown-Up Brownie (Mexican Brownies)
[Updated Recipe] Almost no one turns down a brownie. Honestly, why would they? Brownies are a delicious, easy-to-eat, simple pleasure. Limitless variations of this classic treat exist: from dense, gooey, fudge-like squares, to light, cake-like frosted treats. Although the brownie supposedly was created in 1893 by The Palmer House Hotel, the first well-known brownie recipe […]
Hawaiian Poke Bowl
I wanted to write a post about Poke bowls because of their current popularity and also because Poke (pronounced POH-keh) will always remind me of Hawaii, a special place and the home to my uncle Ben, who passed away unexpectedly last week. I must confess, it’s been a sad week for me. Loss is always […]