When I lived in California, so many people had fig trees. This time of year was replete with this biblical fruit. Not only are figs fiber and calcium rich, they are also natural humectants making them ideal for use in energy bars. Pressed fig almond cakes are the proverbial first energy bars. These huge cakes originated in Spain. They are made […]
Archive | SAVORY
Recipe Round Up – Fresh Sage
Here’s a sampling of web, TV and print recipes featuring fresh sage: From Bon Appetit: Chicken Saltimbocca with Lemon Sauce, a recipe by the 1,2,3 Cook, Rozanne Gold. From Food and Wine: Lemon Glazed Roast Pork with Sage, a recipe by the acclaimed chef and restauranteur Laurent Gras. From Gourmet: Tuscan Beans, a recipe by Faith […]
What to do with a GIANT turnip?
Following a lovely weekend at the coast in Castine, Maine, we returned home with what I believe is the largest turnip that I have ever seen. Let’s face it, turnips can be a tough sell, but Lollie and I were up to the challenge. Ultimately, we decided it would be pickled. Of course, I turned to […]
Ratatouille, Roasted & Reconstructed
This dish was inspired by the beautiful, amethyst eggplants from Abbondanza Farm at the Boulder Farmer’s Market. Abbondanza specializes in heirloom varieties of vegetables and seeds. Their stall is always a joy to visit. Somehow, I wanted to showcase these beauties. I wasn’t able to achieve that goal because the stunning purple faded during cooking. Instead, what I ended up […]
Tastes of the Season – Fresh Sage
As the temperature starts to cool, the way we cook begins its seasonal shift. Bright red tomato salads give way to brilliant, roasted butternut squash. The grill gets used less often and we re-introduce ourselves to the oven. Sage is one of my favorite fall herbs. It is pretty in the Autumn garden and it lends itself […]
Queen of Schmootz
I hope that when I’ve long left this earth, I will be remembered for my purees, mashes, or quite simply put, schmootz’s. I love to experiment with different ingredients and never tire of creating new combinations. The dip on the left has its origins in one of my favorite cookbooks from the fabulous Greek restaurant in […]
Radish Lovers Take Note
It happened last week at Whole Foods; I found a vegetable new to me! I LOVE when this happens. It feels like striking gold on the clearance rack but instead of something to wear, it’s something to eat. What is the remarkable vegetable in question? Watermelon Radish. These stunning roots are an heirloom variety of daikon radish. Watermelon radishes do […]
Potato Harvest 2008
My seven year old son, Maverick*, grew potatoes this year. For two years, he has been a single crop farmer. Last year, he grew corn in his 3×4 foot patch of earth. Planting seed potatoes was fun: Prep the soil. Make little mounds. Insert seed potatoes. Water and watch for potato worms. Harvest (late summer/early fall). […]
Spice Girl
Savory Spice of Colorado is my favorite place to buy spices. The Johnstons’ opened their first store in Denver and recently opend a second in Boulder. Fret not, they also have a fantastic website that features wonderful recipes and all kinds of ways to use their concoctions. One of my favorites is Capital Hill Seasoning. I […]
Glorious Garden Tomatoes
When I was little, my dad, grandfather and uncle had an annual competition to produce the first garden tomato of the summer. It was a very cut-throat contest that involved seedlings, secrecy and a year’s worth of boasting for the winner. To this day, my dad eats garden tomatoes with a thin layer of Hellman’s […]