FAST FINDS
Beyond Cabs and Zins
Last Friday, I had the pleasure of returning to Ridge Vineyards for the 2nd Edition of their Wine Bloggers Tasting at the Monte Bello tasting room. If you recall the monumental tasting from last March, you may be wondering how this tasting could possibly surpass…
Read MoreIf You Like Pina Coladas
…then you’ll love a POM-Pina Colada! Kick off your weekend and National Pina Colada Day (ah, bet you didn’t know that today is a holiday) with a frothy, creamy blend of pomegranate juice, fresh pineapples and coconut. And rum. Can’t forget the rum. For Week…
Read MoreIcebox Treats
Temperatures are rising, so these days, I try my hardest to avoid firing up the oven. But my cravings for baked goods never go away (darn), so that means I try to plan my baking better. If I can, I time my baking for early…
Read MoreSpicing up the Simple Things
When we’re grilling up some fantastic steaks – whatever the style – sometimes there’s nothing better on the side than hearty steak fries. It satisfies that meat-and-potatoes, stick-to-your-ribs craving, and when you prepare them on the grill, it’s a healthier alternative to the deep fried…
Read MoreSummer of POM
Not too long ago, I shared a recipe for a POMegranate-Soy-Garlic Marinade that I had created when POM Wonderful sent me a case of their tasty pomegranate juice. Since then, I have been cooking more and more with the juice; pomegranate has found its way into so…
Read MoreBaking 101
Even though I am home full time raising my family, we are still so busy that I don’t often get an opportunity for quality kitchen time with my children. Particularly for my daughter, we hardly get a chance to play together when cooking or baking.…
Read More
Bubbling with Sweetness
Thank goodness the melons are in season. Come summer, they become a major food group for my daughter — she and her best friend can devour a whole cantaloupe in one sitting. For once, I can’t argue. It is a fruit, after all. Not only…
Read More
Doughnuts for Dads
If you follow this blog fairly regularly, you probably expect that we grilled on Father’s Day. We did. My husband spent part of Saturday giving his dearest grill some extra loving care, getting it all nice and clean and shiny, prepping it for a day…
Read MoreBack of the Pantry
As the end of the school year drew to a close last week, I [naively] thought Great, the kids are on summer vacation! No more homework, no need to pack lunches, no alarm clocks! Time to rest. Aaah. Wrong. I forgot a few details. Like…
Read MoreVelvet Sunshine
I think I can safely say (fingers crossed) that Summer has finally arrived in the Bay Area. We had our first heat spell over the weekend, nothing too terrible, really, but enough to crank up the air conditioning for a few hours. The timing was perfect,…
Read More
Beyond Guacamole
When you see an avocado, what do you think of? I know. Let’s think beyond guacamole. I see avocados as an integral part of California cuisine, and falling in love with avocados is one of the many fringe benefits of my relocating to California. I…
Read MoreWrong Side Up = Oh So Right
Just over a month ago, my husband celebrated his birthday. He’s not one to be sensitive about his age, but just in case, I won’t actually spell out how old he is. Besides, I like to joke that despite the fact that he is getting…
Read MoreAnd The Winner Is
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation Napa Valley ticket giveaway! I can not express how touched I was by all of your warm words, whether it was a comment, a tweet or a message offline, and…
Read MoreShare our Strength by Playing the Name Game
I am a mother. You probably know that by now. Every day, I do my best to make sure that my daughter and son have the healthiest food possible. I work hard in the kitchen not only because I love it, but because I want…
Read MoreThe Easy Way to Eat a Pomegranate
There’s something alluring about pomegranates. On the outside, you have a beautifully flushed skin, and on the inside, gorgeous, crimson seeds that glisten. What a unique fruit! Would you believe me if I told you that I wanted pomegranate centerpieces when I was planning my…
Read More