In this week's version of fridge foraging I think I am getting a little excited about the possibility of fall. I am in Montana for the week and there is a crisp fall feeling in the morning so it has got me craving all sorts of comfort food.
Read MoreHave you ever thought about the first person that dared eat an oyster? Or what about that first person who tried a mushroom and prayed that it wasn’t poisonous? I am not sure why but I think a lot about these people. Probably because I spend a lot of time prepping food and thoughts like these just pop into my head. Like why do we eat arugula but eating dandelion greens (until recently) has been avoided? Or who thought that if you blanch stinging nettles, which literally sting you when you pick them, they would be the most delicious pizza topping? This burning question is especially relevant when it comes to artichokes. Have you ever seen an artichoke plant? They are scary pre-historic bushes and if the artichoke is not picked in time it turns into this crazy gorgeous purple blossom that looks like it could eat you ( a la the man-eating plant in Little Shops of Horrors). Also the plant is so tough that people literally can make furniture out if it. So who in the world was the crazy person to dig deep inside that prickly center and figure out there was deliciousness in there? How did they know if you steam the center and then douse it with butter and serve with a lemon aioli that tastiness awaits? Who? Who? I need to know!
Read MoreSince I cook for a living people often ask me if I cook when I am not working. If you have been following along with this blog it is clear that I cook all the time, I am pretty much always cooking. But it surprises some people that I still have the desire to cook on the weekends, when I am not at work. I know it sounds strange but the more I cook, the more I want to cook. I get in this rhythm that just makes it easy and effortless. It is when I don't cook for a long time that I become a total spaz in the kitchen. I can't explain it but so it goes I guess.
Read MoreHappy New Year! Can you believe it is 2016!? We just got back from vacation. I love vacations but I can’t stay in vacation mode too long. By the middle of a vacation, I crave routine and normalcy. I love exploring new places but need to balance that with real life. For the holidays we drove to Big Sky Montana. The drive from Oakland to Big Sky is about 15 hours, give or take. We drove this year so we could bring the dog. So much of our life revolves around that silly dog. But he is worth it - most of the time.
Read MoreSorry for my absence around these parts the past couple weeks. This past summer was busy! Great busy but still busy. We just got back from an amazing trip to Italy - more on that trip in a future post once I round-up all my photos. But first the important things, like pasta. I have been dreaming of pasta these days. I proved to myself in Italy I could eat pasta everyday and all day – I can’t help myself. Instead of hearty pasta with meat sauce I have been craving easy one-dish pastas that take advantage of the simple summer season and all of its fresh flavors. And yes I still consider it summertime, especially with the 90 degree heat that is hitting the Bay Area. So until the weather changes, it is still summer! In celebration of summer and all of the produce that is at its peak right now, this summertime pasta is just that – a bowl of pasta goodness that is filled with garlic, tomatoes, basil and of course, Parmesan cheese.
Read MoreLuke was out-of-town this past weekend and when he goes out-of-town it is my chance to make all the food that he hates and refuses to eat. One of the foods that he hates are mushrooms. He has a total and complete aversion to mushrooms for some reason. But I love them. So while he was out of the house, I made a big pot of herbed mushrooms over some creamy polenta.
Read MoreThanksgiving is officially 21 days away and I cannot wait. It is my favorite holiday. How could it not be - a day that starts off with the Macy's Day Parade, then it is followed by food, a nap and then more food? So, in an effort to not feel too guilty about the indulgence of Thanksgiving I am trying to eat a little healthier for the next couple of weeks. So in true California fashion I am turning to kale and quinoa. Yep - had you asked me whether I ate those before I moved to SF I probably would have ignored you and maybe even rolled my eyes. (Back then my diet seemed to consist of NY's finest bagels and pizza) But the California sunshine has changed my ways and now even though kale is uber trendy right now, I am a huge fan. What I like about kale is that it is hearty and eating a salad of it doesn't leave you starving, like most salads do for me. But what I am not a fan of is cleaning kale. It is a serious pain. I thought I would share with you the way I clean kale. The trick that I discovered is to take the kale leaf in two hands and softy (this is the key) pull one side and then the other. This should remove the leaves easily from the middle rib. In cooking school I was taught to remove the rib with a knife - but that takes too much time and effort (in my opinion) and if you are going to eat kale, you need to be able to clean it quickly and easily before you change your mind.
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