Many people are fearful of making their own dough for pies and tarts, so don’t be.  Pâte brisée is a French term referring to a type of shortcrust pastry used in various sweet and savory dishes. It is a versatile dough known for its delicate, crumbly texture and buttery flavor. The name “pâte brisée” translates […]

Everyone should know how to make a great cheese board.  I love cheese, I always have and I always will.  It is my guilty pleasure.  To this day, I will order it over dessert in a heartbeat.  What can I say: we are who we are.  My older son is the same.  Even without trying, […]

Wrapping up a great trip to Alaska, I thought the salty dog cocktail was an appropriate post–not only because I love dogs, but because I got to visit the well-known Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer.  Located on the breathtakingly beautiful Homer Spit, the Salty Dawg is a historically famous building and one of the first […]

This is my go-to coffee cake. It is easy to make, contains few ingredients, and never disappoints.  The secret ingredient in this basic recipe is the old-school ingredient, Bisquick. Growing up, my mom used Bisquick to make dumplings, which she put in her homemade chicken soup.  My older sister reintroduced me to Bisquick several years […]

I enjoy a good cosmopolitan.  This is my grown-up drink of choice if I order a cocktail.  So creating this recipe for a pomegranate lime cosmopolitan was especially fun for me.  I am also a big fan of pomegranates, which I think are underutilized. I have fond childhood memories of dissecting these juicy fruits, making […]

Fave bean puree is a clean, earthy, and truly delicious summertime treat. Fava beans are simply underutilized in my opinion.  I adore favas, but due to their need for both shelling and peeling, they can be a labor of love.  Fava beans, also known as broad beans or horse beans, are packed with protein and […]

My younger son loves salmon, in part because he likes the taste, in part in part. After all, according to him, they are “smart fish.”  Salmon are typically “anadromous:” they are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean, and then return to freshwater to reproduce.  Folklore has it that salmon return to the exact spot […]

With more than 410,000 Instagram posts, “avocado toast” is no longer just a fad.  Nor are people just eating it for breakfast: it’s also being served for lunch and as a snack and has become a go-to alternative to grilled cheese for kids and grownups alike.  Avocado toast has staying power, most likely due to […]

A Tom Collins is a slightly sweet, tart, and fizzy cocktail that pairs perfectly with warm weather.  Invented in 1876 by “the father of mixology“, Jerry Thomas, this cocktail first appeared in his well-known book titled “How to Mix Drinks or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion.”  This was the first drink book ever published in the United […]

You should eat some asparagus this Spring.  And they can be so much better than a lot of restaurants make them.  April to June is the typical growing season and the best time to eat them–since you can find them with tender stalks and vibrant green colors.  Thicker, older stems produce a woody and much tougher vegetable. […]

Overnight oats have become extremely popular.  I can understand why.  This easy, no-cook breakfast alternative is simple to throw together the night before and can be adapted to meet anyone’s preferences.  Typically, overnight oats incorporate equal parts raw rolled oats and sometimes nut milk, cow milk, or yogurt. You can add your favorite fresh or […]

If you are looking for a lean protein to include in your diet or if you just want a seasonal take on a classic dish, pork tenderloin can be a great option.  Pork loin is low in fat, high in protein, and rich in vitamin B.  It is a relatively inexpensive cut of meat and […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]