Browsing Articles Written by

Cathy Thomas

Easy Cucumber Salad, Yes It’s Sunomono

Uncategorized By September 14, 2023

Grocery shopping has its challenges. I try to strategize so that I get everything thing I need once a week. That usually means that at week’s end, all the lettuce has been consumed. So, I plan on end-of-week salads that don’t require lettuce. Japanese-style cucumber salad is one choice: it’s a light and refreshing side dish or starter. One of…

Ligurian Lemon Cake – So Scrumptious

Uncategorized By September 4, 2023

Are you ready to fall in love with the sweet side of lemons? Renowned French pastry chef Pierre Herme will win you over with his Ligurian Lemon Cake, a cake that shows off fresh raspberries and a crown of lightly browned meringue. It is delightfully moist, boasting both butter and extra-virgin olive oil to give alluring flavor and texture. Hungry?…

Hummus for Breakfast? Scrumptious!

Celebrity Interviews, Chefs, Cookbooks, Cooking, Melissa's, Produce, Recipes, Videos By July 7, 2023

After our interview, I tried cookbook author Mark Bittman’s recipe for Turkish Breakfast, a cinch-to-make hummus paired with sliced tomatoes, cucumber, olives and whole-wheat toast. I added a slab of watermelon and served it for a luscious eat-every-bite dinner. Better yet, I tried it for breakfast. Delicious. Much – so much – more flavor-packed than my lonely egg. Turkish BreakfastYield:…

Green Bean Shangri-La, Asian Sauce Gives Sweet-Sour-Spicy Personality

Cookbooks, Cooking, Melissa's, Produce, Recipes, Videos By June 13, 2023

Green beans cooked to perfection, somewhere between hard and soft, are delicious tossed with a sauce made with Asian-style ingredients. Oyster-flavored sauce, that bottled oh-so-tangy condiment, adds umami to the mix. Mirin, rice vinegar and sugar balance out the flavors with sweetness. Toasted sesame seeds add a gentle crunch and welcome nuttiness. In Chinese restaurants, a version of this dish often…

Strawberry Clouds – Peak of the Season Irresistibility

Melissa's, Produce, Recipes, Uncategorized By April 14, 2023

Yes, it’s strawberry season! Perfectly ripe, brimming with perky sweetness, they are delicious eaten out of hand. But I love to use them in a wide variety of desserts, including these alluring pillows dubbed “clouds.” For the absolute best results, start with strawberries that are ripe and flavorful. For never-fail berries, I love to use Harry’s Berries. Founded in Oxnard…

Roasted Pepper Salad Royale with Burrata – Appetizer or First Course Yum-Oh-Lah

Cooking, Melissa's, Produce, Recipes, Videos By April 14, 2023

Roasting bell peppers adds a sweet, slightly smoky flavor. You can buy roasted peppers in a jar, but it’s so easy to do and the flavor is so much better. More delicious. I love them napped with vinaigrette and served with burrata and toast/ On small plates it’s a first course, on a platter it’s a scoop-it-up appetizer. To roast,…

No Cream Mushroom Soup – Smooth and Scrumptious

Cooking, Melissa's, Produce, Recipes, Videos By March 31, 2023

This low-calorie Cream of Mushroom Soup with Green Onions is quick to make. Each serving is only 60 calories. The dark brown caps of cremini mushrooms add a delightful earthiness to the pureed soup. The concoction is frothy like a steamy cappuccino, especially if you use a handheld immersion blender to puree it. CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP WITH GREEN ONIONS…