Autumn is my favorite time of the year. Although I no longer get to enjoy the beauty of the changing leaves here in San Diego, I still get to enjoy new fall fashions and seasonal ingredients. Around this time of the year, I usually trade in my whites, linens and shorts for darker neutrals, tweeds,…
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Roasted Chicken Sandwich with Fennel Mustard
To help combat the temptations of eating out during the week, I am always on the hunt for new dinner recipes that are quick and easy yet substantial and palate pleasing. A “gourmet” sandwich is a simple and satisfying meal that can come together in a matter of minutes if planned properly. This Roasted Chicken…
Cold Tomato and Tarragon Soup
Licorice is one of those flavors that I strongly disliked growing up. I would always steer away from the black licorice bites in the candy dish and grimace in disgust when I got an unexpected mouthful of anise from an Italian Christmas cookie. Over the past year, my tastes must be changing, because I have…
Kosher Dill Pickles
Pickling is one of those culinary processes that I’ve always wanted to dive into, since I find myself eating pickles at least once or twice a week. I just love crisp dill pickle slices on top of a juicy burger or spicy pickled green beans submerged in my Sunday morning Bloody Mary. I’m actually not…
Salted Brown Butter Rice Crispy Bars
When I first saw this recipe by Smitten Kitchen, I didn’t know how I felt about tampering with the classic Rice Krispie Treat (one of my childhood favorites). Several weeks later, I decided to test the recipe at a dinner party (appropriately, a modern spin on the classics dinner party). A perfect balance of gooey,…
Pluot Sorbet
You are probably wondering… what the heck is a pluot?? I know I certainly was when I spotted a huge pile of speckled, plum-like pluots at the Farmer’s Market recently. A pluot is a complex hybrid of a plum and an apricot. Both sweet and tart, pluots are a juicy stone fruit that exhibit a…
Coconut Red Lentil Soup
If you have never smelled or tasted toasted curry powder before, you must give this recipe a try. Heating curry powder in a dry skillet over low flame releases such a wonderfully complex aroma (that my friend mentioned he could smell all the way from the street!). This Coconut Red Lentil Soup combines toasted curry…
Harissa
Harissa is a North African chili sauce that is typically associated with Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Recipes for Harissa can vary greatly from region to region; however most recipes have chili pepper, garlic and olive oil. This Harissa features a combination of California and Guajillo chili peppers, lemon, garlic, tomato, olive oil and a slew…
Julia’s Lemon Bars
I know there are countless recipes out there for lemon bars; however, I have yet to find one that I really, really enjoy. Most lemon bars that I have encountered are either too lemony, too sweet or have a strange consistency. Recently, my friend Julia kindly shared her recipe for lemon bars. Let me tell…
Champagne Grape Granita
It seems like Summer has finally arrived in San Diego with temperatures rising into the low 80’s. Over the weekend, I was enjoying the mid day heat in my backyard (in the company of several darting humming birds) when I started to crave something cold and refreshing. This Champagne Grape Granita immediately came to mind…