Late in the day, there was a break in the rain. The drumming of raindrops was quickly replaced by chirps, chitters, and birdsong. I looked up from my computer to see rays of light catching on a small spot of yellow — a lesser goldfinch. He sat stoically while his olive mate foraged for the…
Back in Flight
Thankfully, months of hard work with the right physician, the right physical therapist, the right occupational therapist (and the right budtender) has diminished pain to a manageable stage. And I have brought out the camera again.
Childhood Treat: Oatmeal Cookie Sandwiches
These cookies made us feel like kids again.
Gourmet Go-To: Mixed Mushroom Lasagna w/Red Wine
Gooey mess of mushrooms and cheese –you can’t go wrong.
Dutch-Oven Goodness: Stovetop Golden Smothered Pork Chops
A childhood favorite, smothered pork chops impressed the author’s partner. Instead of baking, a stovetop version was crafted in a Dutch oven, yielding a delightful dish for four (or two with leftovers).
Old School Chicken and Dumplings (soup style)
December 2023 called for comfort food. Plus, we needed to use our new Lodge Dutch oven. I had been thinking about the dumplings of my childhood and thought this fit the bill. We were very happy with the results, and it has that soothing old-fashioned flavor. It tastes even better the second day when the…
Dreaming of Summer: Spicy Gazpacho
Whenever I make gazpacho for my family or friends, I tell them a joke that is older than I am:
A man calls the server over to his table at the restaurant.
Man: Waiter, my soup is cold.
Server: It’s gazpacho.
Man: Ok. Gazpacho, my soup is cold.
Lenten Meal: Vegetarian Black Bean Chili with Chiles and Orange
The Lenten season brings meatless Fridays, inspiring culinary creativity. Using an updated Food & Wine recipe, a flavorful Dutch oven chili was created. With flexibility in its ingredients, the dish is made unique. Pair it with a light Pinot Noir or aromatic ale. This versatile recipe promises a satisfying meal for Lenten Fridays.
Adventures in Education
Part of what keeps me enthused is my value of lifelong learning. And my newest adventure on the other side of the desk includes earning a Teaching English to Speakers of Foreign Languages (TESOL) credential (finally). And it has definitely sparked some creativity.
Rolling in the Dough … and salt
Soft Pretzel Bites In the time B.C.19, I traveled to Pacific Palisades to help wish my niece good travels as she returned to Australia for vet school. One evening, the family visited a neighbor’s home where I encountered a blast from my 70’s childhood: cheese fondue. But it was never as amazing as this. Smooth…
“Inauthentic” Shrimp Po’Boys
Now that you have extra brioche hotdog buns … We all know that hotdogs and buns never come out even. And that is even more true when there are just two people. So here we sat with extra buns. A snoop through the freezer revealed shrimp that we had left over from my mom’s visit….
Dungeness Crab Rangoon
We love crab season. And buying them fresh from our backyard, Monterey Bay, is extra great. And this year, with the quarantine, we really needed a special at-home treat. We grabbed a couple of the largest crabs we could find at the wharf, did a simple boil of water, wine, and salt, and dove in…
Living Life Forté 