Exotic Mushroom Risotto

We went to this fancy dinner event last weekend and listed on the menu was “Wild Mushroom Risotto,” which made me salivate, and I started developing expectations for how it would taste. Well, then it arrived and I tasted it – flavorless! For shame! So what’s a girl to do? Go to the fancy grocery [...]

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Savory and Sweet Stuffed Bell Peppers

Here is a bell pepper stuffed with chicken apple sausage, bread, rhinette cheese, Roquefort, fennel, pecans, marjoram, mushrooms, and a few dried cherries. It’s baked in a wine bath with caramelized onions (shown on top of the bell pepper), and served with a salad. This was another exercise in “what do I have in my [...]

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Farfalle with Fava Beans, Pancetta, and Mushrooms

Fava beans are in season! And they are still tender enough that you don’t have to do that thing where you par-boil them and then peel them a second time. That’s tedious, and who has time for it, anyway? Also, in honor of Hannibal Lecter, since this dish has fava beans in it, I recommend [...]

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Smoked Ribs and Barbecue Sauce

Dan smoked some ribs yesterday, and they were DELICIOUS! I can’t really take credit for anything but helpful comments such as “So what if that’s what the recipe says? We don’t need to do it that way” and “Um, no, we’re not using store bought barbecue sauce. We’re making our own.” Sorry, we don’t have [...]

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Minestrone for Everyone!

Back in my working days, I used to make a pot of this minestrone each week and eat it for lunch every day. It really is delicious, and it turns out a little bit different each time. This recipe can be made vegetarian- and vegan- friendly as well and still maintain the deliciosness of the [...]

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Quick “OMG, I only have an hour before people show up for coffee and I need something to feed them!” Scones

I was in a hurry and remembered reading this yummy looking recipe from Edible East Bay, but didn’t quite have what I needed to make them, or the time to make them. So I improvised: 2 cups white flour 2 Tbsp brown sugar 2.5 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp salt 1 [...]

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Citrus, Avocado, and Pistachio Salad

This refreshing salad is yummy. That is all. Salad Lettuce (ideally, a small head of butter lettuce, or 1/2 bag of pre-washed arugula) 2 navel oranges, peeled, sectioned, and sections halved 1/2 large avocado or one whole small avocado handful of pistachio meats (maybe 1/4 cup) Dressing 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 to 1 tsp pepper, [...]

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Pasta Pizelle, the Creamy Mushroomy Kind

NO! I did NOT say anything about canned cream of mushroom soup. Ew. Take a deep breath and clear your mind of that grossness. OK, so what I’m talking about here is the Chicken Sicilian sausage from TJ’s, portobello mushrooms, onions, garlic, peas (organic, of course), and MASCARPONE. Yummy! “Where did this notion come from?” [...]

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Anna’s Working Person’s Chili

This recipe originally came from my good friend Anna, another culinary genius who I am lucky to have in my life. We sometimes meet for lunch exchanges since we are frugal and don’t like to pay other people to make our lunches. This is a quick and delicious chili that you can even whip up [...]

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Cocoa Nib, Chocolate, and Citrus Dacquoise

This weekend, I made two ganache-covered desserts because I am now obsessed with ganache. Why? Because it’s delicious, especially when you have extra and you dip fresh strawberries in it. The following recipe is what I made for my cooking group yesterday. Text was yanked from Epicurious, and the recipe is originally from Bon Appetit [...]

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