Shaved Raw Asparagus Salad

 So, here’s something you probably don’t know about me.  I’m obsessed with cults.  I once toured the Scientology mansion in DC just to get a look around and when the Texas Department of Child Services invaded that polygamist ranch, I was glued to CNN.  So when this article appeared in the East Bay Express a [...]

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Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Apple Cider Sauce

I really like gnocchi.  I usually cheat when I eat it, and use a package from Trader Joe’s.  I made ricotta gnocchi once, and while it was good, it was too rich for me to want to eat regularly. This gnocchi recipe, however, is awesome.  I want to make it all the time.    It’s labor intensive, but totally worth [...]

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Arborio rice, without butter or cheese

And it still tastes good! Now, don’t get me wrong.  I love me some risotto.  In fact, risotto was one of the first things I ever taught myself to make, after practicing a risotto recipe in the first cookbook I ever purchased over and over again in my tiny little studio kitchen, using a non-stick saucepan, a non-stick [...]

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Summer Dinner Party, Part I

On Saturday night, we had friends over for dinner.   The farmers market is just incredible right now, with all the wonderful summer produce everywhere, so I had a lot of fun planning out this meal.  Since I tried several new recipes, I’m going to make three posts over the course of this week.  Today, drinks and [...]

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Don’t be afraid

Yes, those are anchovies. Don’t close your browser in digust, it is going to be alright.  Trust me. I stumbled upon this recipe while looking for ways to use the zucchini that is now starting to pour in from my CSA.  I’ve used anchovies before, so I’m not bothered by them.  They really do get [...]

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A busy weekend

On Thursday, my husband finished his first year of business school.  This meant several days of celebrating…parties, Thai food at a fabulous neighborhood restaurant, a trip to the wonderful winery Jessup Cellars, and delicious Greek food at the Oakland Greek Festival.  Yes, we really did all this in three days.  So, when Sunday night came, I [...]

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Can I get a James Beard Award too?

I’ve been curious about Nate Appleman of San Francisco’s A16 and SPQR ever since I saw him battle Michael Symon on Iron Chef.  Now that he just won a James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef, going to one of his restaurants is topping my list of things to do this summer.  In the meantime, [...]

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Laborious Hummus

When Sabra is so good, is it really worth it to make hummus from scratch? I’m underemployed right now, so I’ve got the time to ponder such things.  And I must say, this recipe is pretty damn good.  It’s so creamy and soft, that I’d probably take the time to make it even if I were [...]

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Beet and Beet Greens Salad with Oranges and Feta

I had never cooked a beet before, so I was really excited to find them in my CSA box on Friday. I also don’t think I’ve ever eaten beet greens before, so I really wanted to find a way to use those. This salad turned out fantastic. The original recipe from Epicurious didn’t call for [...]

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Chickpea and Spinach Stew

Nothing in this recipe comes from my farm box, but it just looked so delicious I had to try it. It is pretty simple to prepare, though it does involve a fair amount of spices, including saffron. I recommend the investment, as the dish really is delicious. Again, another recipe from Food and Wine. Ingredients [...]

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