Southern-Style Buttermilk Cornbread
I grew up on Southern-style buttermilk cornbread. This cornbread is made with white corn meal and is savory, not sweet. We used it also in our Southern-style cornbread dressing. Ingredients 3 T....
View ArticleQueso Patacabra
This is a marvelous aged pasteurized goat’s milk cheese from Spain. It has a smooth flavor and a soft texture. It has mellow acidity, a nice saltiness and a bit of sweetness. It sells for $19/pound and...
View ArticleMontgomery’s Cheddar
I was recently looking for a BIG cheddar to go with a BIG wine, and I discovered this treat from England. It is a raw cow’s milk cheddar from Montgomery’s Farm in south Somerset. It is made in the...
View Article2004 Sinskey Vineyards Abraxas
This is one of my new favorite wines. I love its versatility. It goes well with a number of great cheeses and other foods. The wine is dry, creamy and rich. It is balanced and complex. It is made with...
View Article2004 Laird Chardonnay
This chardonnay is made with grapes grown in the Carneros district of Northern California. The resulting wine has aromas of citrys and vanilla. It has a silky smooth palette and a nice balance of oak,...
View Article2006 Lucia Vineyards Lucy
If you think all rose wines are the same, think again! This wine has aromas of strawberries, watermelon and rose petals. It is light and refreshing with a bright acidity. It is made from Pinot Noir...
View Article2004 David Noyes Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir
This wine came in third out of 277 Pinot Noirs entered into the 2007 Pinot Shootout. It is from the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. This Pinot has generous aromas of ripe fruit and toast. Over...
View Article2004 Venge Oakville Merlot
I really like this wine! It is big and bold in flavor. I love it now and I know that it will get even better with aging. It comes to us from Nils Venge, who was the first American winemaker to score...
View ArticleMarshall’s Farm Honey
Did you know that there is a fantastic artisan honey producer in Napa Valley? I recently met Spencer and Helene Marshall of Marshall’s Farm. I had seen their display of honey at the San Francisco...
View ArticleSilverado Vineyards 2005 Vineburg Chardonnay and 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet
I am often asked my favorite wines for pairing with food. Certainly among my favorites are the 2005 Silverado Vineyards Vineburg Chardonnay and the 2003 Silverado Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet...
View ArticlePizza Dough
Ingredients 2 teaspoons active dry yeast 1 teaspoon sugar 1 cup warm water 1 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil, plus more to oil the bowl later 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt Approx. 2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour You...
View ArticleCaramelized Dates with Roasted Almonds and Fleur de Sel
Ingredients 16 dates, pitted (Medjool, preferred) 16 toasted almonds (optional) 1 T olive oil Fleur de Sel to taste You will also need: Small skillet Tongs Paring knife Serving plate Instructions Stuff...
View ArticleFresh Tomato Tart with Roasted Red Peppers
Ingredients 3 eggs 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup half-and-half ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper 3 tomatoes, cut into ½” thick slices and de-seeded (or use tomato confit) 2 roasted red peppers, peeled and...
View ArticleMushroom and Leek Tart
Ingredients ½ recipe pate brisee or flaky pie dough, chilled 2 large leeks, cleaned and chopped 1/3 cup olive oil 2 cups mushrooms, cleaned and sliced 3 eggs 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup half-and-half ½ tsp...
View ArticleRisotto with Turkey, Mushrooms and Roasted Red Peppers
I typically make this recipe with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. Ingredients About 8 cups turkey stock 1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms 1/2 cup hot water 6 T olive oil 2 T butter 1/2 cup chopped...
View ArticleSpread of Roasted Red Peppers, Walnuts and Pomegranates
Ingredients For the pomegranate syrup: 1/4 cup pomegranate juice 1/4 cup sugar For the spread: 2 cups roasted red peppers, chopped 2 cups lightly toasted walnuts, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 2 T...
View ArticleRoasted Asparagus Frittata with Bacon (optional)
Ingredients 14-15 medium stalks asparagus, washed 2 Tablespoons olive oil 3 strips bacon (such as Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Bacon), optional 2 Tablespoons butter 1/4 cup chopped scallions 6 large...
View ArticleArugula Pesto
This recipe is fantastic for a quick appetizer with bread or for a sauce with pasta. You can substitute a number of herbs and greens for the arugula with great results. Ingredients 2 handsful of...
View ArticleBruschetta with Strawberries, Yogurt and Lemon Verbena
This recipe is quick and easy and healthy, too! Ingredients 4 slices of thick country bread Good quality extra virgin olive oil 1 cup fresh, seasonal strawberries, coarsely chopped About 6 medium...
View ArticleVegetable Paella
There are a couple of tricks to making paella. One is the rice. For beginners, I would highly recommend using Bomba rice from Spain. It has a shorter grain and is more “foolproof”. The other is to...
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