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…
Author: LivingLifeForté
Shutterbug. Half of a couple who cooks together. Freelance wine geek. Local food enthusiast. Partner in a garagiste winery. University lecturer.
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.
“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….
Rolling in the Dough … and Salt: 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 raclette cheese was…
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…
Fridge Diving: Turkey Pot Pie in an Au Gratin
@lecreuset has small au gratin bakeware that are just the right size a turkey pot pie for 2. But I make 2 this size so we can each have our own leftovers. Pretty take on what we had in the fridge and freezer. #quarantinecooking Makes 1 large or 2 small pies Pastry Cut butter into 1/4″ cubes…
THE Madre’s Soft Cream Jumbles
Few remember “the year of the cut-out cookie debacle,” in which I spent months trying to make a decent sugar cookie. Tears were shed, cookie sheets thrown into a snow bank, Martha Stewart cursed. Finally, I sought out THE Madre, who led me step by step through her Soft Cream Jumbles and to success. The…
Then I Saw Her Face
Then saw her face
now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I’m in love
In Sync
We have been through a lot of late. But here they are.
Touch of Grey
Grey vireo holds a wisp of moss … or is that one of my grey hairs?
León marino
We took the little dog to see the sea lions. She was not impressed.
Living Life Forté 