I first experienced the tender stems of white asparagus on a bike-barge tour from Amsterdam to Brussels in April of 2011. Like the gorgeous expanses of flowering tulip fields, white asparagus heralds the beginning of Spring and is revered as the ultimate Spring delicacy in Germany and The Netherlands where the traditional specialty of White […]
Salad
Thai Green Papaya Salad
Thai dishes are known for their sublime balance of all five tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami, usually achieved with palm sugar, lime, tamarind, and fish sauce. About once a month, members of our “foodie family” visit the Buddhist temple Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep in Chino Hills to experience the food court/farmers market they […]
Hello Summer! Strawberry Power Salad with Wheat Berries
Just three ingredients and a simple homemade vinaigrette creates a visually appealing and deliciously nutritious strawberry salad that’s heart healthy and low in sodium when you use one of my favorite salt substitutes – fresh citrus! Trade paradise at the beach in Southern California for a humble abode in Arkansas? Yes, we do. And not […]
Chefs Toys and a Vegetarian Asian Chopped Salad
Eating and cooking at home is essential for any fitness and weight loss plan. If you have ever looked at the nutritional information (required for restaurants with 20 or more locations) you know what I’m talking about. If the calories don’t blow your mind…or your waist line, the sodium content will. The perception that ordering […]
In A French Kitchen – Melon Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette
Muster enough energy to grate a zucchini from the garden and scoop out some melon balls and you’ll be blessed with a gorgeous and refreshing salad perfect for these steamy dog days of summer. Straight from the French countryside of Normandy, Susan Hermmann Loomis shares an array of mouthwatering dishes along with evocative stories, everyday […]
How Grape Thou Art: Grape and Almond Bulgur Salad
Lose yourself to the gorgeous, delicate-skinned, sensually sweet orbs of Jelly Drop™ grapes paired with wholesome, nutty bulgur in this deliciously healthy salad bursting with flavor and texture. Jump to Recipe The Difference Between Table Grapes and Wine Grapes Red grapes, green grapes, globe grapes, and more. There are thousands of grape varieties in the […]
4th of July and a Fast, Fresh + Easy Caprese Salad with Red Walnuts
Independence Day doesn’t get any better, crazier, or more patriotic than the celebrations in downtown Huntington Beach – beginning with the Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade. Not what you would expect from a beach city known for its surf culture, yet the parade is in its 111th year, is the largest 4th of July […]
Rainbow Chard with Couscous from Ally’s Kitchen Cookbook
Wander the world without leaving your kitchen! Popular blogger, chef, and TV personality Ally Phillips shares her favorite recipes from around the globe in this truly unique cookbook. Full of cultural background, delicious recipes, and Ally Phillips’s signature “food branching” ideas, this cookbook is guaranteed to turn your ordinary meals into memorable masterpieces. Join me […]
Tea Eggs for Chinese New Year
It’s Chinese New Year, but is it the Year of the Goat, Sheep, or Ram? In Vietnam, where the celebration is called Tet Festival, it’s definitely the Year of the Goat. Japanese followers of the lunar zodiac have been busy sending postcards heralding the Year of the Sheep. In Hong Kong I saw mostly cute, […]
Fast, Fresh + Easy: Mexican Christmas Eve Salad
A lively, colorful crisp green salad is all you need to round out the groaning sideboard of deliciously rich holiday dishes and desserts, don’t you agree? I met and fell in love with Mexican Christmas Eve salad, or Ensalada De Noche Buena, the Mexican Christmas Eve Salad at Melissa’s Produce last week at a book […]