Eating Hoppin’ John blackeyed peas is a Southern New Years tradition to bring good luck and, with the addition of greens which represent money, prosperity in the new year. According to Wikipedia these “good luck” traditions date back to the Civil War, when Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General Sherman, typically stripped the countryside […]
Honoring Military Moms
“Jennifer is an awesome mom and military wife of my cousin Neil who has served with the US Navy for at least 14 years now. Jennifer has 3 lovely children. She works full time as a controller for a large company, juggles the family schedules with school, Tae Kwan Do classes & tournaments and has […]
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Tamales: Preserving Traditions Through Cooking
Tamales – a Mexican Christmas Tradition In southern California, with its widespread Latin cultural influences, tamales are a Christmas tradition, even for those of non-Hispanic origins. You’ll find families ordering tamales from Mexican restaurants (we ordered ours from Las Barcas, a local neighborhood family-owned restaurant) or from some other inside connection established through a friend […]
Gifts from the Kitchen
For many this year, the emphasis during the holidays is restrained gift-giving and spending time with family versus spending money on lots of presents. Homemade gifts are nothing new, but they’re definitely being more widely appreciated, as is humorous regifting or recycled gift-giving. I smiled when I read Teresa Walker’s article in today’s Orange County […]
Divine Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms
For years I have cooked by haphazardly following recipes, substituting ingredients for what I have in the fridge or pantry and eliminating those that I deem superfluous or simply don’t have on hand, but always, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, simple preparation, and complementing flavors. For my blog, I attempt to measure my wanton […]
Puttin’ on the Ritz with Albertson’s
A group of OC bloggers were treated to a red-carpet holiday event at Albertson’s in Brea this week. Heidi Diller, Corporate Nutritionist, first demonstrated how to make some super easy centerpieces by floating cranberries in water, add a tealight candle and a touch of greenery and viola! A warm and delicious cup of hot chocolate […]
The Perfect Antidote for a Chilly Night
Vegetable Minestrone A hearty, healthy, and tasty soup; makes a perfect weeknight dinner with enough to freeze for a day when you’re too busy to cook. With the Italian trick of cooking a bit of parmesan cheese rind in the soup for added flavor and the variety of vegetables, this minestrone surpasses the bland bean & […]
Preserving Holiday Traditions through Cooking: Latkes for Hanukkah
Having lived in California for 28 years with no family at all to celebrate holidays with, I firmly believe in the importance of creating your own family traditions. But I also find comfort in the past and feel that, especially these days, with family members often scattered far and wide, sharing memories from your childhood […]
My Riff on Chef Priscilla’s Dish
On November 20th, Hyatt Chef Priscilla Willis performed a cooking demonstration to a select group of Orange County bloggers in honor of American Diabetes Month. She prepared a three course light lunch for the lucky ladies. The first course was a Nori Wrap appetizer which I tested and tweeked in the TM Kitchen. The second […]