There’s something about salads that usually makes me turn my nose on them. I imagine a limp green salad with shredded carrots and tasteless tomatoes tossed with a generic salad dressing. I’m sure it’s a remenant elementary school memory where the principal at the time made me take a bite of salad that resulted in... Continue Reading →
Fresh Appetizers: Strawberry Bruschetta
There are many things to enjoy about June: the longer days with the sun shining almost until 8 p.m. (at least here in San Diego), warmer weather (but not too hot that it makes me miserable) and a bounty of fresh produce everywhere. This includes one of my favorites, strawberries. While it’s perfectly fine (and... Continue Reading →
Carlsbad’s U-Pick Strawberries: Wear the Correct Shoes
Imagine fields of strawberries luring you in. Imagine rows and rows of juicy, red fruit ready for the picking. And imagine wearing the most inappropriate shoes ever. Well, sandals may not be the most inappropriate (hello high heels), but it is a most unpleasant way to get your feet dirty while picking fresh strawberries at... Continue Reading →
The Place Where The Ice Cream Trucks Go: Circus Man Ice Cream
There’s a place where the ice cream trucks go to stock up on snacks, chips, candy and — of course — ice cream. And it’s in the last location you would ever imagine: National City. During a trip back north from my old haunting grounds in the South Bay, I saw from the freeway a... Continue Reading →
Frozen Avocado Treats: Ice Cream and Popsicles
My mind has been on frozen treats lately. Ice cream, popsicles, shave ice, shakes -- you name it. And with temperatures on the rise, all I can think about are recipes for my ice cream maker and popsicle molds (a discount four-pack I found in the Target clearance aisle). While I’m a fan of the... Continue Reading →
Momisms and Mini Pecan Tarts
"Don't sleep with your hair wet or you'll go blind." "You have carpal tunnel syndrome because you wash your hands in cold water." "Don't eat uncooked rice or your stomach will explode." As ridiculous as these seem, these are just some of my mom's "sage words of advice." I try not to laugh or roll... Continue Reading →
5-Pound Cacao Nib Challenge Part I
Have you ever participated in a Secret Santa exchange? Additionally, have you ever participated in a Secret Santa Exchange where the gift you received was so overwhelming, it took months for you do some something about it? That’s where I am. Sitting in my cupboard is a 5-pound bag of organic, raw cacao nibs I... Continue Reading →
The Hunger Games: Lamb Stew with Dried Plums Recipe
Raise your hand if you read The Hunger Games and are counting down the days until the movie. And raise your hand if the descriptions of the food served at the Capitol made your mouth water. If both your hands are raised, this post is for you. I admit it. I enjoyed the entire series.... Continue Reading →
Tastes Just Like Oreos: Wienerstube cookies
With Oreos celebrating its 100th anniversary today, I'm brought back to last year's cookie exchange with the Geek Girls of San Diego. Among the brightly colored cookies, which included the venetian cookies I baked, were these black as coal cookies. Despite appearances (some attendees mentioned the cookies looked like coal), they tasted almost exactly like... Continue Reading →
Throw-It-All-Together Pasta
There are a lot of things coming up over the horizon that have left me haggard, beleaguered and running around. There's a quick trip to Austin for Staple! The usual work stuff and a super top-secret project. With all that's going on, resorting to eating out all the time is bad for my wallet and... Continue Reading →
My Burning Kitchen... on the road 