Recipes

I love a good “ladies lunch!” A delicate cold salad, nice white wine and a chance to be fancy for a few hours. For the impromptu party last Sunday, I served a curry chicken salad on beds of mache and edible yellow yu choy flowers. The chicken salad was tossed together at the last minute,…

Our 18-pounder from Roberts was an incredible piece of meat. So I don’t know how much credit I can really take for the dish turning out so well. Preparation was very easy: Glazed ham 1 large deli (trimmed of the bone) ham 12 or so whole cloves 1 cup dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon of…

The simplest touches sometimes make the biggest impact at a party. In between all my other prep, I decided to fancy up some butter for the rolls on a whim. Second to the ham, these simple butters got the most acclaim. Honey Butter 1 stick of salted butter, softened 1 tablespoon of good quality honey…

YUM. This is my new favorite salad. I only found out later that the combination is a related to a classic Persian dish. I used packaged beets instead of roasting them myself, makes it so much easier. The raw garlic gives the salad a great zest and the ingredients are super healthy. Beet & Pomegranate…

This was exactly the right thing for a hot Sunday afternoon in San Francisco indian summer! Delicious and super easy. White Peach SangriaServes 41 white peach1 white nectarine3 ample sprigs of fresh mint5 cups of Dole watermelon juice or something equally light and sweet1 bottle of inexpensive dry white wine, chilledFour cups of ice Slice…

This is my favorite thing to cook for dinner when it’s just me. It’s pretty great as a healthier replacement for mac-n-cheese. The lemon is key. Mushroom PastaServes 11 cup of rotini pasta1 cup of sliced crimini mushrooms1/4 cup of slivered almonds1 small pat of salted butter1 clove of garlic, mincedSqueeze of lemon (about 2…

I finally got around to making my own muesli last weekend. So easy! Plus, healthier and using less packaging than regular cereal. The variations are endless, but here’s my first version. Muesli1 box of flake cereal, I used flax seed flakes1 box of multigrain hot cereal8 ounces of sliced almonds8 ounces of dried unsweetened blueberries8…

Bon Appetit hasn’t been able to replace my beloved Gourmet, but I do owe it credit for this recipe idea! My cheater’s version was a smash hit at the party. Salt and pepper chips topped with crème fraîche (I used plain sour cream) and smoked salmon – simple and so tasty. For a larger party…

Kale’s all the rage right now. Allow me to add one more to the recipe repertoire: nachos. Chopped kale is a fantastic addition to black beans, chicken, salsa, green onions, pepitas and shredded cheese topping corn chips. The kale crunches up when baked and makes nachos – a favorite for using leftovers on weeknight dinners…

Inspired by Lizzie, I made an enormous hash for dinner Tuesday. Nothing better than a hearty breakfast meal when you’re hungry on a cold winter night. Pure decadence: Sausage Hash with Fried EggServes three 1 lb of tiny new potatoes3 jalapeno chicken sausages, diced1/4 onion, diced3 eggs6 slices of buttered sourdough baguetteSalted butterPepper Put on…