Even though the weather here in LA is still plenty hot, this year’s home gardening tomato season is drawing to a close. Each year I learn a bit more about getting maximum yield from the plantable urban garden space we have. I had an abundance of cherry tomatoes (both gold and red) this year, so…
“There are places you leave. And places that never leave you.” A bunch of years ago, I was on a mission to visit as many islands off the coast of Italy as I possibly could. I was knocking them off as fast as I researched them – Sardinia, Elba, Capri, Aeolian Islands. (I had just…
The island of Capri, located in the Tyrrhenian Sea and off the coast of Naples, Italy, is one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Home to mermaid legends and the famous Blue Grotto, Capri’s delicious local cuisine relies on the waters surrounding it and on the amazing local garden produce, especially lemons. The…
Need a simple refresher for the upcoming holiday weekend? This simple summer sangria (which can be found in our e-cookbook Gatherings that you can download after subscribing to our blog here – shameless plug 🙂 !) is a keeper! Here we used white grapes, peaches, lime juice, mint and basil. Don’t get all worked up…
So…..how the heck is everyone doing out there? Hopefully everyone is weathering this crazy storm with a shred of sanity. I find myself oscillating between #wegotthis (woohoo!) and #getmeoutofherenow (like RIGHT THIS MINUTE); #Ilovecooking (Yay, let’s tackle a market run this morning!) and #Ihatecooking (french fries for dinner); #Ilovecleaning and….wait, those words have never ever…
Well here we are… the beginning of May… locked down and staying safe. But thankfully we have cooking to keep us sane. Fortunately, I also have the garden to keep me occupied. What started off in January as my annual ritual to plant fava bean seeds has morphed into my “victory garden.” With all that…
March 2020 will be one for the history books. Three quarters of Americans are stuck at home and the world has been turned upside down. If there is a bright side, it’s that everyone seems to been cooking at home! Mark and I have faced a few particular challenges that have made this time even…
And suddenly – boom – we have all become full-time home cooks, forced to figure out what the heck to make for dinner for ourselves and our families almost every single night. Some friends are making epic meals, others using up those pantry staples. For me, the kitchen has always been my refuge at the…
I adore lemons. And lemon trees. And the smell of lemons blossoms. Their sunny little faces can brighten a dreary winter’s day. Over the years, I have attempted to grow lemons indoors as my climate is too chilly to leave the little guys outside all year. My first attempt, years ago, resulted in nothing but…
Winter is a wonderful time to hunt for interesting fresh fruits and vegetables. Cabbage, its cousin kale, and cauliflower are all over the markets. All manner of root vegetables, including multi-colored carrots, potatoes, and beets catch the eye. Citrus is at its peak, and if you can nab persimmons for salads and desserts, do it!…