When I drove to Bommer Canyon in Irvine last Saturday to interview Chef Ryan Adams of Sorrento Grille, prior to the Slow Foods 2nd Annual Bommer Canyon BBQ, I did it because I was curious about the Slow Food organization whose principles mesh perfectly with what I advocate here: cooking at home and sharing meals […]
She's Cookin'
Ad Hoc Blue Cheese Dressing
Tender baby romaine from the garden. What would highlight the vibrant greens? I was thinking a simple presentation with a bold flavor … My taste memory responded with an instant craving for real, blue cheese dressing – rich and creamy with big chunks of tangy blue cheese. The kind that flows and hasn’t been thickened […]
Fried Rice with Spinach, Peppers, and Smoked Paprika
With fresh spinach from our garden, some chopped yellow peppers, and smoked paprika for an aromatic smoky flavor, extra containers of steamed rice from the previous night’s Chinese takeout is transformed into a delicious vegetarian meal. Grilled peaches add a touch of summer sweetness and a lovely contrast to the spicy warmth of the paprika. […]
Glazed Copper River Salmon
♬♩Schooool’s out for summmerrr♬♩And our house was exploding with excitement and euphoria last week, as our offspring graduated from high school with family from distant lands here to celebrate and witness the watershed event. The house has returned to normal – just the three humans and our two canine and feline masters. It’s Monday and […]
From pale to perfection!
Are you trying for a more plant-based diet? Want to include more veggies but grow weary of salads? The abundance of fresh produce at the farmer’s market looks so inviting but always ends up mushy in the crisper drawer? Look no further than your back yard, patio, or balcony! Its grill season, not only here […]
Strawberry Poppy Seed Muffins
Fresh strawberries, yogurt, and applesauce make these the most delicously healthy muffins ever! Muffins may seem a healthy choice for breakfast but so many muffins are packed with fat, sugar, and salt that I had to try my hand at baking a muffin that I could eat without guilt! The food blogging world has revealed […]
Art, Brews, and Bites
Last weekend couldn’t have been more perfect: strolling down The Strand overlooking the Huntington Beach pier, bright sunshine replacing the June gloom of earlier, watching artists conjure beauty from slabs of concrete while sipping cold craft brews and munching on – you guessed it – hot dogs, all for a genuinely worthy cause! This delightful day of […]
Steak Grilling Tips for Fathers Day
Grilling is not just for men! On Father’s Day, you can slay a grill-takeover using these steak grilling tips from the Executive Chef of Mastro’s Steakhouse. What Steaks are Best for Grilling Rule #1 is to start with the best quality steak you can find and afford. Looking for the best steaks to grill? The […]
Mushroom and Spinach Tart
Unlike the rest of my family, I could eat spinach every day with practically anything! Most of the time I sauté it with a bit of olive oil and, of course, red pepper flakes for a bit of zip. But last week, we celebrated the first spinach harvested from our garden in a delicate puff […]
Down-home Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
Another family favorite with roots in the South, stick-to-your-ribs biscuits and gravy. And I don’t mean that in a it-all-goes-to-your-hips way, although this down-home dish doesn’t fall in the health food category, a serving will take you through an active day of outdoor activities or long day of flying and battling airports. Biscuits and gravy […]