By now, I am sure you are all well aware of the fact that I enjoy making ice cream (and sorbets, and granite and … more ice cream). So you can imagine my excitement when I was recently gifted a brand new KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker attachment! With so many different flavor combinations racing through…
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Red Quinoa and Roasted Acorn Squash Salad
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,…
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…