Quirky Halloween ghosts tickle me, especially if they are piped out with Seven-Minute Frosting and adorned with googly eyes. But when it comes to Halloween history, in early days, folks weren’t focusing on goblins made with marshmallow-like frosting. No, those ghosts where taken more seriously and were the focus of a Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival in which revelers lit…
A couple of years ago, a chef friend and I dined at Salt and Love, a busy Italian-style bistro in Manhattan Beach, CA. We thought the meal was delicious and both of us were eager to try to reproduce the scrumptious starter that we had shared. It was the Sugar Snap Pea and Burrata Salad, so fresh and tempting it…
BROCCOLINI – Tender-Crisp Yum Broccolini (sometimes labeled “baby broccoli”) is a cross between gai lan (Chinese Broccoli) and common broccoli. The stalks are as skinny as asparagus, the leaves and tender buds alluringly tender. Spicy Sauteed Broccolini (or Gai Lan) with Garlic Yield; 6 servings 1 1/2 to 2 pounds broccolini (sometimes called baby broccoli), ends trimmed 1 tablespoon extra-virgin…
Described as a new-age diner, Toast Kitchen + Bakery specializes in comfort food with a twist. It’s mostly a breakfast, brunch and lunch spot, but currently the eatery is offering “happy hour,” open until 7 PM for early evening meals. Green Tea Soba Noodles were the focus of the video that executive chef-co-owner John Park recently taped with me. Colorful…
Fresh Hatch chilies are available a few short weeks each year, in August and September. These delicious chilies are from the Mesilla Valley in New Mexico, they have thick walls with flavorful flesh – use them fresh or roasted – then peeled, seeded, and if you like, frozen. One of my favorite ways to use them, is to spike a…
In my opinion … there is no better way to feast on roasted sweet potatoes then this approach. The spuds are lightly oiled, dusted with coarse salt/fresh pepper and baked. Easy, right? Then partially split open lengthwise, creme fraiche and snipped fresh chives are added. A little salt. A little freshly ground pepper (white is best, but not essential). Voila!…
A straightforward home-cooked Asian-themed noodle dish is so darn enjoyable. Recipe is only a blueprint. Feel free to sub different cooked meat (cooked turkey or pork is delicious), or opt to include a veg such as finely diced carrots or small pieces of fresh asparagus. Stir-fried noodles, with their semi-firm bite and springy personality, team deliciously with shredded cabbage. I…
It’s been a few years since my third book was published, but the topic seems even more relevant today. The “50 Best Plants on the Planet” focuses on the world’s most nutrient dense fruits and vegetables. One of my favorite recipes from the book is the green bean and tomato salad mounded atop watercress or mixed baby greens. Watercress serves…