Thanksgiving in my family usually means 2 full days of driving from one corner of the city to another, in order to see the whole family. So as much as I love turkey, dressing, and mashed potatoes, by the end of the second day I am pretty much burned out on it. (At least until […]

This past weekend was my son’s birthday. The rule in our house is you get whatever you want for your birthday, no questions asked. And my food snob in training asked for lobster. Tails, specifically, but I talked him down to lobster mac and cheese. Needless to say, it was a pricey meal, so the […]

There’s that saying about the road to hell being paved with good intentions. I prepare a lot of food from scratch, and in large batches, to put aside for days when I don’t have a lot of time to cook. I also like to freeze seasonal fruits and veggies to use throughout the year. You […]

You’ve probably noticed by now I use chicken broth in like, every. single. recipe. I consider it a basic need-right up there with shelter, water, and wine. Bone broths are a foodie “buzz word” right now, but the fact is they’ve been around a loooong time. And for good reason. They use up waste, they […]

You might be thinking, “Why cranberry sauce? No one ever eats that stuff anyway, just open up a can!” But I assure you, this is different. More like a preserve or a compote vs. that horrible, canned, gelatinous stuff. It’s bursting with cranberry flavor and just the right balance of sweet and tart. And it’s […]

I could not figure out how to photograph this dish so that it didn’t look like a circa-1970 cookbook photo. Fitting, since that’s where the first version of it I ever tried came from. I vividly remember that 1979 edition Betty Crocker cookbook, Betty on the cover smiling in her red sweater vest and blouse. […]

Every fall I make these cookies. They are INSANE! The kids go nuts for them. I’m going to make them again this week with pomegranate craisins instead of cranberries. I also make a powdered sugar glaze on top. Yum! Recipe: Pumpkin Cranberry Cookies Ingredients 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla […]

Some people can dance, some people are great at sports, some people sing or play an instrument, some people paint or draw. I can’t really do any of that, so I cook. A lot. The kitchen is the main place where I really express myself creatively, and one of the most fun ways to do […]

I loooooove cheese. It’s a total obsession. If I had $10 left in the world, I would spend it on some good Manchego, and hope that I had a generous friend to provide the wine! I also have an obsession for making things myself, that most people would just buy. Especially stuff that involves fun […]

‘Tis the season for all things pumpkin flavored! It’s my favorite time of year, for sure. Not only is pumpkin crave-worthy, it’s actually pretty good for you too. Versatile, and packed with fiber, vitamins C and E, alpha- and beta-carotenes, it really is a Super Food! Now I love pumpkin bread, muffins, pies, and lattes […]

There’s not many things better than coming home to a warm pot of soup on a chilly fall evening, and bean soups are especially filling, nutritious, easy to cook, and budget-friendly. Problem is, they’re not always tummy-friendly. But luckily, I recently learned a little trick. Adding about a teaspoon of baking soda to the soaking […]

One recent afternoon, I was doing my bi-monthly Costco trip and there was a large sample table set up to promote what the signage promised was the “best green chili”. A born skeptic and self proclaimed connoisseur of all things green chile (see my previous ode to this culinary wonder), I was doubtful yet curious. […]