tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71299929456427713652012-01-15T21:30:55.913-08:00"You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces - just good food from fresh ingredients." Julia ChildAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.comBlogger3541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-59833851899342072342011-12-02T18:59:00.000-08:002011-12-06T09:07:40.699-08:00

I'm moving....Thanks so much for your continued support over the years! I've just started a brand new blog over at wordpress. Because all of the recipes will be gluten-free, I've decided not to move my blogger posts over to avoid confusion. There will still be plenty of wonderful recipes for everyone to enjoy, regardless if you are gluten free or not. Please join me at my new blog,

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-71917999584375947452011-09-13T17:43:00.001-07:002011-09-13T18:36:46.918-07:00

Today I went for my endoscopy. It was a mildly unpleasant experience--and thankfully a brief one too. According to my doctor, the endoscopy is the gold standard for diagnoses of Celiac Disease and one was necessary to confirm the results of my blood panel.And confirm it did. Parts of my duodenum were smooth, where there should have been folds. The classic villi pattern was absent, and instead

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-22032501142254490392011-09-06T17:23:00.000-07:002011-09-07T09:01:36.270-07:00

Back to School has been more of a new year to me than the first of January since I was a little girl. It marks the end of a usually long and rather lazy summer with a return to schedules, and bedtimes, and yes, homework too. It means my house stays a whole lot cleaner...but also that I do a lot more driving around town...especially between the hours of 3 and 8 p.m. And it means, for me, more

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-42270414518267991622011-08-30T08:00:00.000-07:002011-08-30T08:00:11.059-07:00

I realize that the days of cherries may have passed us by...but I did manage to score a lovely package of organic cherries the other day and tried this salad, inspired by a recipe from the lovely Heidi Swanson. When it's this hot outside (and by this hot I mean waaaay into the 100s), I cannot eat hot food. In fact, it's hard to eat any food at all. But I was inspired by the colors of the bright

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-20429335333476485622011-08-25T09:52:00.000-07:002011-08-25T10:06:04.158-07:00

I thought I would be fine--after all, I've never been a huge fan of bread or other items made with wheat flour. And then, quite inexplicably to me, I found myself crying softly in the pasta aisle, mourning the loss of something I never really liked anyway. My doctor told me she would call early this week if there was something really crazy in my blood work, otherwise, I'd get the results in

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-73241080656723642192011-08-09T20:55:00.000-07:002011-08-10T14:03:08.671-07:00

Hello! Hope you all are enjoying these blissful (dog) days of summer. The weeks have flown by and we have returned home to California after a clustercuss of events that made life somewhat unbearable, even as we summered on the Cape. I was, unfortunately, crippled by a certain gastric distress that rendered me unable to eat most things for weeks, I discovered that I have a shellfish allergy (so

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-89289952769447327832011-08-05T17:19:00.000-07:002011-08-05T17:23:09.512-07:00

Hello dear blog readers! I just wanted to reassure you that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but I am experiencing some technical difficulties. As of now, we are lacking a camera (left it in a taxi in NY) and my laptop has breathed its last breath. Sigh.Please hang tight until I figure things out.In the meantime, I do hope you are having a beautiful summer.Best wishes,Alison

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-67441737824670309902011-06-29T12:05:00.000-07:002011-06-29T12:38:34.384-07:00

Those who know me well know that I am not an early riser. During the school year, mornings come painfully early and the only thing that gets me out of bed most days is the mug of coffee my husband hands me. Summer is my bliss...I'm allowed to sleep in much of the time (if I'm lucky enough to sleep through the early birds who start chirping at sunrise), and everyone is so much better off because

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-73732123184798242422011-06-22T12:11:00.000-07:002011-06-22T13:16:45.274-07:00

Happy summer! We've been busy settling into our summer digs and visiting all our favorite haunts. I've already been to the Bass River Farmers' Market, Tuckernuck Farm to pick up our CSA basket, and Miss Scarlet's Blue Ribbon Farm to pick up 113 pounds of piggy that my in-laws purchased. We visited this property (drool), and fantasized about starting a little farm of our own here on the Cape,

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-43967035944172942012011-06-01T11:56:00.000-07:002011-06-06T11:24:10.637-07:00

I'm just popping in to say hi. This week is a crazy one as we are wrapping up our lives here in California and preparing to make our annual summer trek eastward. No, we are not driving again...that was a one-time deal. But there is still a heck of a lot of preparation involved. Whew.So I'm spending my week packing and going to each and every play, recital, choir show, meeting, team party, class

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-91161519836269139442011-05-20T08:00:00.000-07:002011-05-20T08:00:03.888-07:00

I've been obsessed with these teeny fingerling potatoes ever since my sister-in-law served them up on Easter Sunday. They are, arguably, the best roasted potatoes I've ever eaten with their exquisitely crisp exterior and tender, fluffy middle. Spiked with a hint of fragrant rosemary and pungent garlic and sprinkled with a touch of sea salt, they taste like the best french fries ever--even my

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-6001487408089170922011-05-19T11:00:00.000-07:002011-05-19T15:09:46.372-07:00

I keep explaining to my newly-minted vegetarian daughter that those who choose this lifestyle must eat a lot of whole grains and vegetables as a part of a healthy and balanced diet. Heck, we all do! But despite the fact that she used to eat just about anything, she's not only eschewing meat...she's become extraordinarily picky and learning the hard way that when you don't eat what I've prepared

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-74231455452786901962011-05-13T14:23:00.000-07:002011-05-18T09:45:10.224-07:00

Sometimes, nature makes runts. In the barn, in our family (is it rude to call my preemie a runt?) and yes, in the garden. I don't know if it was lack of sun, or overcrowding, or both...but the fennel I had planted in my winter garden was a little on the lean side. Instead of the usual plump bulbs, I had supermodel-thin ones--long and leggy, with a glorious green and frilly crown. What they had

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-32885496159666176182011-05-11T11:18:00.000-07:002011-05-11T11:58:01.830-07:00

On the Ides of March, my contract with my biggest freelance gig was terminated (six months early). Though it was no fault of my own (I fell victim, like so many during these difficult times, to "restructuring" and new management), it has been a bit of a blow to my ego. No longer can I claim that I work in recipe development...rather it has been relegated back to the hobby category. A hobby I am

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-53848149998568863912011-05-04T13:55:00.000-07:002011-05-04T14:37:32.645-07:00

If you love your mother, then make her this cake for brunch on Mother's Day. It will make up for all the times you sassed her, threw temper tantrums, upchucked on her pants, left sippy cups of milk to spoil under the car seat, told your teacher you were pretty sure she was 57 (when she was 30), kept her up all night nursing, kept her up all night wondering why you had broken your curfew, rolled

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-75601580532055813082011-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:002011-04-20T06:00:02.922-07:00

First of all, I'd like to welcome new folks visiting from Bob's Red Mill! And dear readers, make sure you check out the wonderful collection of gluten-free, casein free recipes they've compiled in honor of Autism Awareness Month.Secondly (and I realize without a proper segue), I'd like to just get to business and say that the soup I made the other night (also gluten free, by the way), is the

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-8048915100074044072011-04-19T08:29:00.000-07:002011-04-19T09:23:35.262-07:00

What do you do when you have piles of strawberries and rhubarb leftover from jam making (because you forgot to bring the recipe to the market and therefore erred on the side of caution...)? You make strawberry rhubarb compote of course! It takes almost no time to whip up and has an outstanding flavor. You can serve it over pancakes, ice cream, crepes (pictured below) or even lemon cake (I did

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-90995531284459173022011-04-13T11:23:00.000-07:002011-04-18T15:44:55.778-07:00

Strawberry rhubarb jam is arguably the best jam that I make. It's a perfect mash up of sweet and tart and its glorious ruby red hue looks so lovely on top of a cream biscuit, or a vanilla scone...or even a plain ol' slice of toasted bread. We go through gobs of the stuff every year, my own homemade supply supplemented with jam from the Green Briar Jam Kitchen in Cape Cod.Jamming is simple (really

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-38442026459572874212011-03-22T07:55:00.000-07:002011-03-23T17:02:11.320-07:00

This is Bodhi doing what Bodhi does best...enjoying long naps in his cozy bed of hay. You should hear him sigh contentedly, and you should hear the way he saws logs--puts my husband's snoring to shame.Bodhi lives at The Gentle Barn an animal rescue farm that takes in severely abused animals and rehabilitates them with medical care, massage, acupuncture, good eats and lots and lots of love.Perhaps

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-1564359676134732452011-03-18T09:29:00.000-07:002011-03-18T10:01:59.654-07:00

I promised you a recipe for leftover risotto. And I thought I'd drop by and share it with you before I trot off and enjoy my 36th birthday. I don't have much planned...just a quiet day with my loves. I was greeted in bed with some homemade cards (aren't those the best?) and some hot coffee too. And now I'm enjoying the peace of the morning, sitting at my sunny kitchen table and listening to my

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-18524395362218935712011-03-17T13:26:00.000-07:002011-03-17T14:20:33.358-07:00

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! If you've been around this blog for any amount of time, then you know that we love to celebrate just about anything. Saint Patrick's Day is no exception--after all, who couldn't use a little luck of the Irish every now and again? And there is a wee bit of Irish blood in running through our veins too...just enough to make it official. (And I've heard somewhere that my

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-9462255731852272432011-03-16T14:05:00.000-07:002011-03-16T15:57:11.965-07:00

A season of change is upon us. My rose bushes are in full bud, the peas are ready to harvest, and the days are longer and warmer and sunnier. I love this time of year--the time when I can open the windows and let in the breeze which smells of jasmine, cut grass and citrus blossoms. The birds feel it too and are a mass of righteous chirping in the trees (and pooping on my window box).Spring is

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-57750257240858864212011-03-15T09:07:00.000-07:002011-03-15T11:32:40.701-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to take a carload of 13 year old boys to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. Not only did we see a fantastic exhibit all about tracing one's family history, but we also had a brilliant "only in LA" moment as we were walking to a nearby park to eat our picnic lunches. Two men who lived in a small house that was nestled between giant apartment buildings, had

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-91789464620576397202011-03-06T15:12:00.000-08:002011-03-08T16:48:44.519-08:00

I like my sweets with a touch of salt, and apparently I'm not alone. Salted desserts can now be found just about everywhere, and for good reason--salt rounds out the sweetness of baked goods and other treats. Chocolate dipped pretzels, salted caramel ice cream, and bacon topped cupcakes abound, each a study in contrasting flavors.I've made salted desserts before. One of my favorites is the

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-24098114212354355482011-03-04T14:36:00.000-08:002011-03-04T15:01:22.929-08:00

Everyone should know how to make chicken stock! Do you? It's the simplest thing, really, and the perfect way to use every last scrap of chicken from the one you roasted the other night. You do know how to roast a chicken, don't you? Good, I thought so.Homemade chicken stock is so very much better than the stuff you can get in a carton or can. So! Much! Better! It actually tastes like chicken (

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-71415997488334536832011-02-22T08:59:00.000-08:002011-02-22T13:21:11.917-08:00

Seems like my oldest (who is thirteen) is revisiting toddlerhood, in behavior certainly, and also with illnesses. Every other week, he is down with a fever or cough or runny nose. And this time, he shared it with the entire family (save my husband, who has had the great pleasure of spending the long holiday weekend digging holes in the garden and nursing four family members back to health).I

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-3901511003600602602011-02-18T11:59:00.000-08:002011-02-18T13:22:36.780-08:00

Do you know how to boil an egg? I mean perfectly boil an egg, so that the yolk is cooked through but still creamy yellow--and most definitely not covered with that nasty gray film?I loved boiled eggs. Deviled, turned into egg-salad, sliced and added to spinach salad or just eaten on its own, dipped in a little salt and pepper, boiled eggs are a nutritious and easy snack. But I cannot stand them

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-15051452243959347722011-02-14T10:27:00.000-08:002011-02-14T10:38:56.866-08:00

Sigh. We had a little incident last night. My daughter made brownies, dipped them in chocolate and lovingly dusted them heart shaped sprinkles. We wrapped them up, tied them with a red ribbon and topped them with hand-cut hearts. She declared that this would be the best Valentine's Day ever....and that her friends would just love her for giving them the best Valentine's Day treats ever.And then

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-46028715840971110452011-02-11T17:11:00.000-08:002011-02-11T17:16:20.593-08:00

Random.org has selected comment #15 as the winner of my give away! Congratulations to Celeste who said, "We inherited a lemon tree when we moved into this house and i use lemons for my water, iced tea and to freshen up the garbage disposal. I even will use lemon and baking soda to make a paste to scrub stubborn stains!"Please contact me via email (link is in my profile) with your mailing

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-11710891373536177602011-02-11T16:41:00.000-08:002011-02-11T17:07:25.210-08:00

Happy Friday everyone! What a fun filled week this has been...and I'm looking forward to a wonderful weekend too. Guess what? It's cocktail o'clock! Because I've been featuring lemons all week, I've decided to create a cocktail using them too. Reminiscent of a lemon drop martini, I've fancied it up a little by infusing a lemon simple syrup with rosemary.Simple syrup really is simple to

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-13616585573165839572011-02-10T19:01:00.001-08:002011-02-11T08:56:06.644-08:00

There is something fundamentally unsexy about raw chicken--it's cold and pink and flabby. But thankfully, it's not hard to make something so unappealing absolutely delicious...especially when you've got lemons hanging around. A simple dish, fragrant with garlic, rosemary and yes, lemon, I was able to throw it together in the morning so the chicken could soak in all the lovely flavors before

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-6875583671728827872011-02-09T11:52:00.000-08:002011-02-09T13:37:29.406-08:00

If sunshine was cake, it would taste just like this. The bright flavors of lemon marry with butter and sour cream to create an amazingly tender and moist crumb. I wasn't kidding when I said that butter and lemon were made for each other--just like chocolate and peanut butter...Sonny and Cher...cat hair and black pants. If you aren't in Southern California like me, chances are that you are very

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-66950772816757905322011-02-08T09:34:00.000-08:002011-02-08T11:14:59.359-08:00

I heart lemon + butter. They were made for each other--a perfect duet in both sweet and savory foods. For the latter, I add some garlic and chopped herbs to bring the flavor right up over the top. Simple food doesn't have to be boring, and just because this meal takes literally ten minutes to put together doesn't mean it won't make your mouth sing.I would eat this for lunch every day....but

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-90095445508256307872011-02-08T09:27:00.000-08:002011-02-08T09:31:19.584-08:00

Clean your kitchen sink without scrubbing by filling it with hot water and adding a splash of bleach. Let it soak over night and when you wake up your sink is clean, fresh, germ free and shiny--and you hardly had to lift a finger. That's my kind of cleaning!

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-57224352637181760252011-02-07T14:16:00.000-08:002011-02-07T14:47:21.416-08:00

Oh my goodness, January came and went in a flurry of school and work, sporting events and birthday celebrations, and most notably, the loss of a beloved grandmother. In these situations sometimes just getting through the basics is a lot to ask. Yes, the house got cleaned, the laundry washed and the kids fed....but what I was slapping on the table (with a sigh each night) wasn't particularly

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-70279128544464433482011-01-25T08:55:00.000-08:002011-01-25T10:05:12.181-08:00

As I write this, my sweet Nana is on her deathbed. What was once a lovely, vibrant and always dignified woman, is now a tiny, shrunken creature, almost not visible beneath her bedsheets. She can no longer eat or drink on her own, and her fate, and the manner in which she will achieve it, seems especially cruel considering the fact that she loved to eat good food, and cooked and served it with

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-39042688793888236662011-01-02T19:56:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:16:25.794-08:00

I had very big plans to share all the craziness of the last few weeks with you. I was going to tell you tales of the flu (all 3 kids down for over a week), of our birthday celebrations, of our holiday parties and of all the good food we've eaten. Tales of games we've played and fun we've had spending time together as a family.But then it started snowing. A lot. And where we come from, that

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-31818619672251712172010-12-13T08:34:00.000-08:002010-12-13T19:56:58.539-08:00

Good morning and happy Monday. I had one heck of a weekend...and am still suffering its effects. We hit the ground running on Friday with our annual trip to Disneyland, which was the happiest (also the crowdedest) place on earth. Saturday was my dear friend's wedding (I baked her cake), and Sunday was my son's birthday party. Whew. I need another weekend to recover from my weekend, but

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-45948521483396556102010-12-09T06:00:00.000-08:002010-12-09T06:00:09.734-08:00

I can't think of a more cozy and nourishing way to begin a holiday meal than a rich and flavorful soup made from...inexpensive onions. Gourmet? Perhaps not, though it's amazing what a long slow simmer will do to the most pedestrian of root vegetables. And the blanket of molten cheese on top makes it even more glamorous. As you know I'm participating in Share Our Holiday Table to raise money

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-80219372424244673542010-12-08T08:37:00.000-08:002010-12-08T09:36:25.522-08:00

Some nights call for a warming chile-infused dinner. I would argue that most nights call for chiles, but there are times when the wind is howling around and all you want to do is curl up in front of the fire with a bowl of something cozy. This is that meal. Though this chile lacks the chunky tomatos and beans that are found in most recipes, let me assure you that it is as full-bodied as it gets

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-67456791121869491942010-12-07T09:31:00.001-08:002010-12-07T09:55:58.039-08:00

I have a running joke with a girlfriend where she asks me how I'm doing and I answer, I'm hongry!!! (in a growly bear voice). That statement is usually spot on as I'm often hungry, famished....starving....and I spend a great deal of time thinking about what I'm going to cook, and more importantly what I'm going to eat--and when!But real hunger is no joke. And sadly many children in the United

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-89379986761077931802010-11-30T06:00:00.000-08:002010-12-15T19:33:15.813-08:00

The name is long, friends. And so is the taste. It kind of swirls around in your mouth like hot cocoa that's been swizzled with a peppermint stick. However, my spell check is not a fan, of the name at least. In the world of computerized grammar, chocolate and chocolate are not meant to go together apparently. But in my world, and in my kitchen, they go together just fine. In fact, chocolate

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-2741252733907165452010-11-29T11:40:00.001-08:002010-12-01T16:45:08.540-08:00

The holidays are here, whether we are ready or not. Thanksgiving Day marks the end of "fall" and many people jump both feet into Christmastime the day afterward, like so many children into piles of autumn leaves (which are still blowing freely around my neighborhood). Admittedly, I too am eager to make the transition, clearing my mantle of gourds and pilgrims and really dusting (for the first

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-67256000494526085112010-11-25T09:46:00.000-08:002010-11-25T09:50:50.614-08:00

Wishing you a day filled with family, friends, and gratitude. Also great food. And drink. We have much to be thankful for, don't we?

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-15458079913011715932010-11-22T13:49:00.000-08:002010-11-23T08:22:01.262-08:00

I just hate it when a recipe I love gets bad reviews (especially recipes I've written). Jeesh. People need to get a grip and stop being so harsh...and learn how to cook for goodness sake. And if you modify a recipe, adding or subtracting or, god forbid, substituting ingredients then you can't really say whether the recipe as it was written was good or not, can you? Do these people actually

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-54517025573004662642010-11-21T11:36:00.000-08:002010-11-21T14:09:53.451-08:00

This year, Thanksgiving has crept up on me like so many holidays do. I knew it was coming, I've been posting about it for weeks, after all. But for some reason, in my head, it seemed like that far-off holiday, the thing that is coming sometime way in the future. Well ready or not, it's here. And in my family Thanksgiving is the jumping off point into crazy-town, filled with birthdays, parties

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-74411257036834296492010-11-19T09:02:00.000-08:002010-11-19T09:32:14.356-08:00

Most afternoons we find ourselves in the kitchen together, snacking, chatting, cooking and completing homework. My kids prefer to do their homework at the kitchen table, rather than at their desks in their bedrooms. I'd like to think they want to be close to me, but they probably just want to be close to the pantry. But for whatever reason, here we converge just about every day.At the

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-37941673222535761072010-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:002010-11-18T06:00:10.978-08:00

We had a little chat the other day my facebook page (do you like me yet?) about whether a food processor or stand mixer gets more use. I rattled off some nonsense about how my kitchen is too small to drag out my appliances (I store them in the garage) and about how I'm too lazy to wash them anyway so I just use my knives for chopping and my hand mixer for mixing. However, since that

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-79107806626501691892010-11-17T08:35:00.000-08:002010-11-17T09:27:34.196-08:00

Do not fear the turkey, my friends! It's not as hard as you think. In fact, roasting a turkey is one of the simplest holiday meals to prepare (except for the dishes...ugh). Sure, you've read all about brining versus dry brining, roasting versus frying, stuffing versus...well, not stuffing. But truth be told, you can make your turkey prep as complicated, or as simple as you like. I'm not

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-70944792921324860342010-11-16T19:17:00.000-08:002010-11-16T20:07:07.996-08:00

It's not every night that we have French fries for dinner, especially those that have been fried...well, baked rather, in duck fat. But then it's not every day that a new Williams-Sonoma opens in your hometown that carries jars of said duck fat. And it's not every day that your ten-year-old begs...begs...for you to buy it, especially when he learns that french fries can be made out of it. So

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-79473108174765549232010-11-10T16:30:00.000-08:002010-11-11T10:28:06.229-08:00

Ah....soup. I love you so. I love the way you warm my belly on a cold night. I love the way I can make a big batch of you and freeze the rest for nights when I cannot muster the energy to cook. I love the way you smell while you are simmering away on the stove. I love the way you never turn out exactly the same as you did the last time I made you.Do you love soup too?This soup is a seasonal

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-39016286331915387682010-11-02T12:13:00.001-07:002010-11-03T09:03:51.902-07:00

Microgreens were all the rage awhile back. And you can still buy them in baggies at the farmers market and some specialty grocers. But you can also get them for practically free if you grow a garden from seed. You see, microgreens are simply sprouted seeds. These I've thinned from my winter garden that I planted a few weeks ago. I have broccoli, radish, fennel sprouts right now. In a few

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-23310193560442745142010-10-28T09:47:00.000-07:002010-10-28T10:03:51.339-07:00

It's been awhile since I've shared a cocktail recipe. And I think that this one is especially appropriate for the upcoming holiday. It's a devil of a drink, sweet and sour upon first sip, with a heat that slowly builds in your mouth and on your lips that just makes you want another sip...and then another. Before you know it you're gulping down martini number two. Honestly, you should stop

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-32213728711240883582010-10-27T21:40:00.000-07:002010-10-28T11:57:18.801-07:00

Traditions are what hold a family together. They make memories and create a tribal sense of unity because each family does something in a way that no other family does it. Sure, hundreds if not thousands of folks visit the pumpkin patch each year, but each tribe does it a little bit differently, with their own unique twist.As our own family propels itself ever forward, faster and faster it

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-37391080777907566422010-10-15T09:37:00.001-07:002010-10-15T11:12:40.993-07:00

Hey all! I am the happy recipient of my very first "blog award" given to me by Jessi over at the Juici Life. Please check out her very cute, stream-of-consciousness blog about anything and everything. (She has some great recipes too.) Here are the rules for this award...1. Thank the award giver.Thank you Jessi!!2. Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using 5 words.I

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-24832340935180660572010-10-13T11:20:00.000-07:002010-10-13T11:54:44.647-07:00

We were lucky enough to be treated to a very-much-needed weekend away recently. Without kids. So while my mom and sister kept the home-fires burning and kept my little tax deductions alive and well--we rested, and took long walks on the beach, and ate an obscene amount of food, and drank and even more obscene amount of wine. And in between all that wining and dining, we snuck away to this place

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-81322975946105281092010-09-29T20:59:00.000-07:002010-10-13T10:52:48.368-07:00

In my mind, there are few things more lovely than hot apple pie. I like mine with a crisp crust and extra thick crumb topping, made just like the apple ranch where I used to work when I was a young teen. That was the place I learned to work an old fashioned cash register (and had use math to make change), identify apples by variety and purpose (snacking, cooking, long storage etc.), and sweep

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-217009437827688942010-09-26T19:25:00.000-07:002010-09-26T20:18:12.420-07:00

Today was ungodly hot. It was hot enough to kill people, literally. I am not made to live in weather like this, where the sun's so fierce the arid hills literally self-combust, as does my mood.But remarkably, I held it together today...and my sweet husband was the one who volunteered to mind the grill, as we roasted the remaining chiles in our 25-pound box before they turned to mush. The heat

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-29249793523903017442010-09-25T21:10:00.000-07:002010-09-26T09:58:44.596-07:00

It was too hot to pick apples...too hot to do anything really. But we went anyway. And despite the heat, and the dust, and the crowds...and despite the fact that I nearly fainted from the elements (and scared the crap out of the kids with my tears...er, of joy), we had a terrific time!Really.And the best thing of all is that I have about 50 pounds of apples (and pears!) to do something with

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-14036280403322116322010-09-24T16:21:00.000-07:002010-09-24T16:22:16.095-07:00

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-90207732881170291352010-09-24T08:58:00.000-07:002010-09-24T16:15:21.264-07:00

When I heard that the season for Hatch (New Mexican) chiles was perilously short this year due to searing summer heat, I freaked out. So much so that I bought a 25 pound box of them, just in the nick of time, it seems. Picked early Monday morning and shipped that same day, they arrived on Wednesday, filling my kitchen with the smoky, almost sultry fragrance of the scorched desert from which

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-60276405133238534862010-09-22T13:36:00.000-07:002010-09-22T14:24:39.604-07:00

Don't tell anyone, but I'm not crazy about figs...at least the fresh kind. They are good enough, I guess. But I usually find that I never use them up, though I have very good intentions when I buy them at the farmers' market. Quite honestly by the time I get around to using them, usually in a salad, they've gone moldy and turned to mush.However, occasionally motivation strikes me, especially

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-43706497853539505102010-09-13T09:09:00.000-07:002010-09-17T16:53:54.417-07:00

So folks, I got a new camera, which has been good and bad--good for obvious reasons, and bad because I'm still trying to learn to work the darn thing. It has so many mega-pixels that Blogger can't handle the photos,and consequently, I've had many things I've wanted to share with you, but couldn't due to technical difficulties. Thankfully, I finally figured out how to make the necessary

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-78904092083148579042010-09-01T10:21:00.000-07:002010-09-01T11:11:04.006-07:00

Well hello friends! Long time no blog, eh? I've been desperately clinging to the last bits of summer, trying to soak it all in. But alas, the first days of September mean kids are back in school, fall sports are in full swing and summer is officially over. Here comes the homework, school projects, fund raising, volunteering and the nights of shuttling to practices, classes and games, (and many

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-65474030527660852552010-08-12T09:54:00.000-07:002010-08-16T13:16:15.192-07:00

Watermelons, while great for snacking, also make a fantastic beverage. Especially when it contains vodka...or rum...or tequila. Because they are so very watery (they are called watermelon after all), it's extraordinarily easy to drinkify them. A simple blitz in the blender will do, though I also like to strain out any rogue seeds and pulp. Add a few extra ingredients for flavor and you've

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-75646205812951301382010-08-03T10:56:00.000-07:002010-08-03T11:30:02.297-07:00

When we got home, not only were we greeted with a whopper of a zucchini, but also 7 tomato plants that were bursting with gorgeous tomatoes. Home-grown tomatoes are a bit like crack. One bite is simply not enough....nor is one tomato. I have a tendency to overdo it when it comes to tomatoes and often the roof of my mouth ends up raw and peeling from all the acid. But so much pleasure comes

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-35705149713935682912010-08-02T14:50:00.000-07:002010-08-03T15:19:43.387-07:00

Home-grown zucchini are sort of like home-grown kids. One minute they are tender and young...quite delicious, really. And the next they are pubescent pre-teens who are as tall as you, weigh (20+ pounds) more than you, and are growing hair on their upper lip. Okay, perhaps I was referring to my son and not the squash, but you get the point. In the blink of an eye, they are totally,

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-29930141459493720442010-07-21T14:12:00.000-07:002010-08-06T17:14:33.894-07:00

Remember Mr. McNeedham's garden? Well it hasn't stopped growing. In fact, every day there are surprising discoveries, like giant cucumbers hiding under dense vines. And what does one do with said cukes? One makes margaritas, of course!The recipe for these unbelievably refreshing adult beverages is really too easy--cucumbers are sliced up, then blitzed in the blender with a squeeze of fresh

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-52110808040522585292010-07-17T08:34:00.000-07:002010-07-20T13:13:28.897-07:00

Native corn is here...and it's sweet and juicy and so very tender. We love to eat it on the cob, dripping with butter and sprinkled with salt and pepper. But when we've had our fill, and want to mix it up a bit, we eat it this way--creamed, spiked with slivers of spicy roasted chiles, and smothered with cotija cheese.You may think that it's a bit sacrilegious to eat Cape Cod corn prepared in

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-76847740112359380962010-07-10T06:17:00.000-07:002010-07-10T12:38:25.668-07:00

Once upon a time, a man built 3 large garden boxes for his wife. He filled them with good soil, seeds and seedlings, and gave them lots of water and attention. The wife was very happy, and so was the husband.Every day the man went out to the garden and watered it well. Petra Rabbit and her sisters stayed far, far away, because of the cats Mama, Kebo and Cali, who patrolled it with great

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-38136802309406641002010-07-05T19:14:00.001-07:002010-07-06T14:30:26.421-07:00

Summer is where the girls go barefoot and their hearts are as free as their toes.Hope you enjoyed celebrating your freedom this weekend too!

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-89471310986323059232010-06-27T20:00:00.000-07:002010-06-28T10:37:16.629-07:00

This gorgeous slaw, came from a strange orb, that looks not unlike a UFO...but is even more bizarre because it sprouts tentacle-like arms from all sides. It tastes sort of like radishes, but it's not spicy, and sort of like broccoli stems, but it's not sulfurous, and sort of like cucumbers, but it's not watery, and sort of like jicama, but it's not starchy. It is cool, crisp, moist and quite

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-28684828759640045602010-06-27T06:58:00.000-07:002010-06-27T07:05:24.667-07:00

Summer afternoon - summer afternoon;to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.~Henry James

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-18125230695615938992010-06-26T14:50:00.000-07:002010-06-26T15:38:24.010-07:00

The tomatoes to your left, were picked off my tomato vines in California with only their first blush of red, carefully tucked in my carry-on, and placed on the window sill here in Cape Cod to ripen. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to transport tomatoes in a bag onto an airplane? Well, it is! Not only are there heavy books and magazines to contend with...but also feet....and beverage

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-21739443195524831042010-06-25T19:20:00.000-07:002010-06-26T08:24:04.679-07:00

Friends, it's on! Summer is here, and with that comes amazing things out of the garden. And everything, it seems, is on steroids this year. Here on the Cape, things usually get a slow start....but sunny weather and warm temperatures, coupled with a mild spring have made produce large and in charge. There are armfuls of lettuce, tomatoes the size of melons, squash (already!), and pea vines, 10

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-74187592919285506152010-06-20T08:18:00.001-07:002010-06-20T13:44:02.551-07:00

So if you've been wondering where I've wandered off to, it's here....to what is quite possibly the most wonderful place on earth. Here, there is a rambling house, on the water, with a dock, and lots of kids, lots of fun, and lots of mosquitoes. Here we unwind, and do a lot of swimming, a lot of reading , a lot of cooking and a lot of sweeping up sand. There are outdoor showers under starry

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-47584177850617736852010-06-07T08:00:00.000-07:002010-06-07T09:15:07.646-07:00

To be perfectly honest, I don't really care for this fruit. Though they represent the literal first blush of beloved summer stone fruit, they are always a bit dense and slimy. And I don't particularly enjoy the flavor either. Peaches, plums and nectarines, I love in an obsessively passionate way. But as for apricots, I've never really been a fan.That said, when these little, orange-hued orbs

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-54051344227589036982010-06-06T16:14:00.000-07:002010-06-06T16:56:11.552-07:00

In my humble opinion, this quite possibly the best martini ever. The first sip is an intriguing combination of bright citrus followed by a slow burn, brought on by the serrano chiles that are muddled in the bottom of the cocktail shaker. We tried it at Katsuya, the uber fashionable, sushi restaurant in Hollywood, which is the kind of place where faces are tight, heels are high, and waists are

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-1795206679657892202010-06-02T10:10:00.000-07:002010-06-02T10:46:07.171-07:00

Have you made whoopie pies before? Surely you have at least eaten them....especially if you live in New England. Though Mainers and folks from Pennsylvania both argue that whoopie pies originated there, the general consensus is that it is a recipe from Amish country. According to tradition, Amish women would bake these to pack along with their husbands for lunch. When the hungry farmers

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-69454831475818724192010-05-27T23:08:00.000-07:002010-06-02T10:02:36.377-07:00

When I was a kid, I loved to go get the mail, in hopes that there was something there for me...a letter, a magazine, a package. The possibilities were endless! But in becoming an adult, one quickly realizes that going to get the mail is not so much fun...it's always the same--bills, junk mail, and solicitations.Unless....your husband's cousin's wife is kind enough to send you a new cookbook....

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-59458322062178716402010-05-20T08:48:00.000-07:002010-05-20T10:26:47.217-07:00

Despite the fact that I truly believed that I hated legumes when I was a girl (influenced, perhaps, by my mother's distaste for them), eventually, I realized their goodness. And not being one to be put off by soft and mushy textures, I indulge frequently.One bean I have rarely eaten, however, is the fava bean, or broad bean. Known for their creamy and meaty texture, most chefs consider them the

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-59170073696001854822010-05-19T08:02:00.000-07:002010-05-19T11:19:48.008-07:00

One of my very favorite rides at Disneyland is the Haunted Mansion from October through December. During that time, two holidays, Halloween and Christmas, collide, creating something that's more than slightly bizarre. But I happen to think that it's a wonderfully creative and delicious interpretation of Tim Burton's movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I definitely appreciate how

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-41012671324822119532010-05-17T08:00:00.000-07:002010-05-17T08:01:35.678-07:00

The garden at the White House....

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-10970462236844778362010-05-13T11:15:00.000-07:002010-05-13T11:57:10.140-07:00

Meet Salted Caramel Cupcake. She is my new best friend...my new lover...my new drug. Her soft white belly with perfectly moist crumb can just barely withstand the weight of the rich caramel frosting, but that doesn't matter to me at all. Because after my first bite, I'm pretty sure that I lost consciousness for awhile. When I came to, I devoured the rest of her greedily (well, okay, I shared

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-19234779107328658322010-05-12T20:18:00.000-07:002010-05-13T09:06:09.941-07:00

This is my view most days from my cutting board. Meet Cricket, my vacuum, my perpetual kitchen companion, and the one who comes running when she hears me flip-flop my way into the kitchen. Always eager to snap up rogue hunks of cheese (or better yet, meat) that may go falling in her direction, she was quite disappointed by tonight's offerings of crook-neck squash and parsley. In fact, she left

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-11158922240790211402010-05-09T17:00:00.000-07:002010-05-09T17:26:12.453-07:00

And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see -- or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read. - Alice WalkerOn this Mother's Day, I'm so thankful for all the things I've learned from my beautiful mother (and her mother too).Here's

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-28083798203791829752010-04-25T21:01:00.000-07:002010-04-27T15:39:53.037-07:00

We spent most of today working on my son's 4th grade Social Studies Project. One of the options was to create a Governor's Ball menu using only California grown ingredients, and quite frankly, the hardest part about that is narrowing down the choices!Here are the fruits of our labor. Locavores rejoice and Jamie Oliver look out! I must say that Owen is exhausted and has a LOT more respect for

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-38069916524956750402010-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-22T06:00:08.327-07:00

Our year-old tomato in a pot...still producing!Baby cabbages....so cute.One of our newbies....an heirloom.Uh...our shaggy dog, hunting lizards....Our tomatillo plant....blooming and rearing to go!We're still getting carrots...they are so very sweet!Crookneck squash...Have you planted your summer garden yet?

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-28043806927960955182010-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-21T06:00:07.192-07:00

I've learned the hard way that lemon basil doesn't sit around and wait for you to decide what to do with her...especially on a particularly hot and sunny day. She doesn't care if you give her a cool spritz of water, or trim her stems, or give her some nice water to drink in a pretty little vase. Here today, gone tomorrow...more like here this morning, gone by this afternoon. She's a pretty

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-15738986795359172722010-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-20T06:00:00.763-07:00

I tend to think of green tomatoes as being an end-of-season treat, a treat borne out of necessity to rescue what's left of the crop from blight, or frost....or both. Kind of like the gardener's way of making lemons out of lemonade. But here in California, we see the occasional box of green tomatoes at our farmers' market year-round. Though I'm from the south...okay, I was born there, but moved

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-15106819137149385662010-04-19T09:37:00.000-07:002010-04-19T09:54:14.546-07:00

What's growin' in your neck of the woods?

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-73128394798985815542010-04-10T11:33:00.000-07:002010-04-12T16:38:56.063-07:00

Sometimes pictures say more than written words can. They can paint a clear picture of a perfectly simple meal, made in a hurry, by an exhausted person who'd spent her day unpacking and readjusting to life at home after a vacation. A person who is much too tired to write....almost too tired to eat. Almost.Luckily, there were fresh young zucchini in the fridge, and some heirloom cherry tomatoes

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-90150055962930948742010-04-09T16:28:00.000-07:002010-04-09T16:47:50.253-07:00

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-84477490753080948412010-04-01T08:48:00.000-07:002010-04-01T09:47:17.349-07:00

Shrimp, salsa, sun, sand, Spanish....all of these wonderful things come from our neighbor to the south, our neighbor who provides us with so many good things in the off season like watermelons, tomatoes and zucchini. And our neighbor who also provides us with some not-so-good things, like drugs and its related violence that spills over the border. Being in California, I sometimes think that

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-23179596745534201362010-03-31T17:44:00.000-07:002010-03-31T21:49:18.259-07:00

I read a lot of blogs...and by a lot, I mean about eleventy hundred! And I find many to be so beautiful, so inspiring, and so delicious looking...however, I have yet to come across a recipe that blows my mind so much that I immediately jump off the couch...off of my cozy heating pad (where I do most of my blog reading and writing)...and head to the kitchen to immediately whip up whatever I have

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-68499036967425584522010-03-24T14:41:00.000-07:002010-03-24T16:23:02.136-07:00

So, I don't know about you, but I'm pretty into this whole spring thing. The rains in Southern California seem to be over for the most part, leaving in their wake lots of green grass and one heck of a happy garden. The tomatoes have suffered a bit, I'm sad to say. But who gets tomatoes in March anyway? (We do....shhh). But other than that, signs of happy, healthy life are everywhere!

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-3847021539678091362010-03-19T11:29:00.001-07:002010-03-19T11:35:45.227-07:00

Easter brunch is a mere TWO weeks away. Are you ready? Check out some of my delicious brunch recipes that are included in this gallery at Disney Family.com!

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-48716594602031669512010-03-15T08:57:00.000-07:002010-03-15T10:02:18.498-07:00

Whether you know it by the name cavolo nero, dinosaur kale, black kale, lacinato kale, or Tuscan kale, I think you'll agree that it is some of the best kale you will ever try. Increasingly common at farmers' markets, you can identify it by its blueish green and wonderfully crinkled leaves. Most kale is too bitter for my taste, and must be cooked to soften both its texture and flavor. But

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-43377997815502074462010-02-26T16:15:00.001-08:002010-02-26T16:20:05.444-08:00

Another of my recipes was just added to Disney Family.com! Click here for the entire gallery featuring ground turkey, and here for the stuffed pepper recipe.Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129992945642771365.post-20136461403921227672010-02-24T10:55:00.000-08:002010-02-24T16:07:19.698-08:00

One of my favorite things about our local farmers' market is that there is a vendor that carries all kinds of interesting greens, herbs and vegetables used in Asian cooking. They usually are gone from Christmas through the month of January. But this year, they didn't make their return until last Sunday. Their long absence was slightly traumatizing, to say the least, so when I saw them again, I

Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10798295696444126099noreply@blogger.com0