Recipes

Our first dinner in Hawaii was a make-your-own rice bowl feast featuring flavors of the island.  Inspired by one of my favorite dishes at Pacific Catch in San Francisco, this is a healthy and easy way to feed a large group with the help of a few prepared dishes: Each bowl starts with a base…

Every family seems to have that one dish that stands out as special holiday ritual to prepare. A dish that often seems unappealing for those outside the tribe. Mothers often inherit them from mothers-in-laws – which results in a lot of the dishes having a decidedly 1950’s flair. All across the country these jello salads…

By request, here’s the recipe for the easy summer bruschetta salad I made for dinner on Sunday night. Bruschetta is one of my favorite things to eat during summer. The smell of fresh basil never fails to make me nostalgic for trying out recipes at the beach as a kid. This pasta version of bruschetta…

A giant ham is the traditional centerpiece of our holiday brunch party. This year’s was a doozy – 18lbs of boneless “deli” ham from Robert’s Corned Meats down on Bryant Street.  We served 30 people with this guy at the brunch, and then another 12 people the next day at a small party for my…

I can’t get enough of this easy summer bruschetta. We’ve had it for dinner, for snacks…breakfast. I’ve probably made 10 lbs of the delicious mix this month alone. The garlicy vinaigrette is my secret powerhouse that makes everything delicious. Slice a pound of really ripe tomatoes in half. Squish out the seeds before chopping. Mince a…

Margaret and I made pickles on Sunday afternoon. Farmer’s market had tiny cucumbers on sale for $0.50/pound!  The exact recipes can vary a lot depending on your taste and are fun to experiment with. Fill each of your quart jars with 3 or 4 sprigs of fresh dill, a smashed clove of garlic, 1/2 a…

Mmmm…Have you had thin crust pizza with broccoli rabe and spicy sausage? It’s a delicious combination that inspired this easy weeknight pasta dinner. Choi sum, with bright yellow flowers, is easily found at most asian markets or farmer’s markets in the Bay Area through the summer. It’s actually the young rapeseed plant, aka canola. I…

Filling individual pea pods with herbed cheese is a laborious task that delivers very special results. Sure, you could just dip the peas in the cheese spread and save a lot of time, but parties are about showing your guests how much you like them! Spring Stuffed Peas Serves 2/4 A dozen shelling peas 1/4…

We ate so much delicious food in Carmel last weekend, but one dish stood out far above the rest: the mushroom pizza at La Bicyclette. Thin crust baked in a wood oven, topped with a truffle pesto, chanterelles, parmesan, mache lettuce and lemon. The meyer lemon makes it! There’s a ridiculously easy way to try…

Having an ice cream maker is such a cheat! You can throw almost anything in there and make an amazing gourmet dessert. Over the weekend, Jackie’s parents gave us each about 5 lbs of kiwis fresh off their trees. Last night I made a simple kiwi sorbet with the spoils, served after a spicy curry…