In cooking, as in most all areas of life, the hardest part can be the planning. And before you can plan, you have to have ideas. As much as I love to cook, sometimes I feel “out of ideas”. On these occasions, I ask family members what they’re “hungry for”. Making sure I have pantry staples …
Several years ago (around this time of year) my dad bought some shortbread cookies at Costco. They were large square cookies that had been dipped in chocolate on the diagonal…super pretty and incredibly delicious! Over the next few weeks, a couple more packages of these cookies found their way to our home much to the …
The holidays are just around the corner and with it comes extra opportunities to gather with friends and family. These types of gatherings often include traditional sit-down meals. And there’s nothing like food to get the party started…even before dinner is ready. Charcuterie boards have risen in popularity over the last few years. With the …
October thrusts us into the heart of Autumn…the season known for “pumpkin and spice”. Many of us have a special love for pumpkin flavored comfort foods with their sweet, warm spices. Having lived in Virginia where sweet potatoes grow plentifully, I began substituting the deep rich flavor of the bright orange fleshed sweet potato in …
If you’ve never made a homemade spaghetti sauce, you’ll be surprised with how simple it is. It’s easy and it allows you to avoid preservatives and other additives that are found in prepared jar sauces and packaged seasoning mixes. And…it’s delicious. When dining at a famous Italian restaurant in the San Francisco Bay area many …
One of my family’s favorite summertime side dishes is a Cucumber Salad. The salad is at its absolute best when the cucumbers are fresh from the garden. But of course, farm fresh and even store-bought cucumbers will work. Which might be why even at the age of two, while sitting in the market basket, one …
What is the best thing to put in a pie? Your teeth, of course! After that, there’s room for question. But the season is ripe for one of my favorites….Fresh Berry Pie! This recipe works well with raspberries and blackberries. If you live in a “berry friendly” climate you’ll be able to use variations of …
Last summer we had friends stay as house guests for several days. We had an especially wonderful visit…and even sweeter memories. One day we were sitting pool side when Beth announced, “I know what I’m doing for you. I’m getting you an ice cream freezer.” She raved about her Cuisinart countertop appliance. I remembered her …
Give us this day our daily bread. It seems that every culture has its own special form of bread. Tortillas are the well-known bread of Mexico. And as with any bread, homemade is the best. Although we don’t consume tortillas daily, I still purchase tortillas at the store as I can’t keep up with making …
Deviled Eggs do their part to dress up and elevate a holiday spread, an arranged salad, a buffet line or even a gathering of snack items. I always looked forward to seeing my mother’s glass egg tray holding deviled egg halves at holiday meals. In later years, I learned to ponder over the puzzle…why did …
It’s fun to share both my tried-and-true recipes and newer finds. Sometimes it’s challenging to convert some of my favorite concoctions to a repeatable recipe. With many years of cooking experience there are many times I don’t need to consult a recipe, or I only use a recipe as a reference. It’s not surprising to …
Most people would agree celebrating is always better when there are sweet treats to tempt and savor. Valentine’s Day is no exception. Whether it’s cupcakes, cookies or chocolates…there must be something sweet for your sweet! Since I love to bake anyway, baking up a special dessert or surprise treats is right up my alley. The …
