I knew the day would come when unfortunately, those words became, “umm, you know I don’t like cheese anymore. It makes me gag. Or bananas. I don’t like them either. And by the way, I’m really tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.” It used to be that almost every time I made dinner or
February 1, 2011
Short URLcooking, family, food, menu planningIn the Kitchen, Inspirations
Dear Martha Stewart Living People, Last week Madison (that’s my lovely niece) and I whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies and I decided to conduct a very un-scientific study in my own kitchen. Just before Christmas, I found a new and very peculiar paper product in the aisle at my local grocery store
January 25, 2011
Short URLbaking, cookies, cooking, family, foodIn the Kitchen, Tools
Boy has my cooking come a long way…… Just recently Madison discovered one of my very first cookbooks – Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Cookbook. Last week as I was working in the kitchen and she was lying on floor flipping through cookbooks – a girl after my own heart – she announced that she would
January 20, 2011
Short URLbread, cooking, dinner, family, food, menu planning, protein, recipes, seasonalDinner, In the Kitchen, Ingredients, Recipes, Seasonality
For a short period of time each winter, English Peas are in season here. Unlike their cousins, the snow pea and snap pea – which are available year-round, are much smaller and can be eaten whole – English peas are what you think of when you think pea – perfectly round, plump and bright green.
January 11, 2011
Short URLcooking, dinner, family, food, seasonal, vegetableIn the Kitchen, Seasonality, Winter
Yes, I know. I’ve heard the rumors of people ordering the three chili special and then sweating profusely or running to the nearest bathroom at breakneck speed but to be honest every time I’ve cooked with curry I’ve thought to myself, “What’s the big deal?” Um, yeah well that was until I used fresh curry
January 6, 2011
Short URLcurry, dinner, family, food, indian food, ingredients, success and disasterIn the Kitchen, Ingredients, Lunch
Yes, I know the holidays are over, but I received an email a few weeks ago from a friend who is always baking with her kids and posting the pictures on Facebook. (Love it!) Anyway, I asked her to send pictures and maybe a little story about her Christmas baking and guess what? She sent
January 5, 2011
Short URLbaking, butter, cookies, cooking, family, food, ingredients, recipes, seasonalDessert, In the Kitchen, Ingredients, Recipes, Winter
Was it just me or were the holidays a little weird this year? I kept finding myself going through the motions of creating holiday cheer but not actually feeling it. So, for me, New Year’s arrived with a sigh of relief. This year, my dear friend Rob came for the weekend and my parents ended
January 4, 2011
Short URL12 days of christmas, baking, beverages, christmas, dinner, family, food, success and disasterIn the Kitchen
Even though Christmas Eve dinner was lackluster, by Christmas morning, I was back on track. Over the years the composition of my Christmas morning menu has changed according to taste and adapted according to schedule. I used to make a killer raspberry coffee cake – until I lost the recipe. In fact, just the other
December 30, 2010
Short URL12 days of christmas, brunch, family, food, menu planning, seasonalBeverages, Breakfast, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Seasonality, Winter
From a food standpoint, Christmas Eve started off badly. In short, I committed the cardinal sin of farmers market shopping – making a list. I think I’ve mentioned before that I am able to purchase roughly 70% of my weekly groceries at the Vista Farmers Market – one of the best markets in North County.
December 29, 2010
Short URL12 days of christmas, bread, cooking, dinner, family, food, ingredients, menu planning, seasonal, success and disasterDinner, In the Kitchen, Ingredients, Menu Planning, Seasonality, Winter
Every year since I was four the Christmas Elf has come to visit on December 1st, (well not every year – there was that 14-year stretch when there weren’t any kids around.) But for the past three Christmases, the Christmas Elf has come to visit on December 1st. During my childhood he would usually leave
December 16, 2010
Short URL12 days of christmas, baking, christmas, cooking, dinner, family, food, frosting, recipes, seasonalDinner, In the Kitchen, Ingredients, Lunch, Recipes, Seasonality, Winter
Cooking For Madison 