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Chubby cheeked and tired of smooshy food, my oldest son was wanting something a little more interesting for dinners after getting his wisdom teeth removed. With lots of potatoes on hand and a sage bush in the backyard, I just kept thinking about making gnocchi. I’ve made ricotta gnocchi (Gnudi) many times before, and had [...]
As I may have mentioned, we have a big move coming. In less than two months we are packing up our little hybrid with two big boys, a dog, Kyle and myself and taking a 4 day journey to Texas. While I’ve loved immersing myself in the food and wine culture of Napa Valley and Northern [...]
I have now officially found the easiest roasted chicken recipe ever. I used to roast a chicken once in a while, and now I roast one once a week. Every Week. With this method and one 5 pound chicken I go from this: to this: in one hour. Perfectly crispy skin, juicy flesh and everything [...]
A few weeks ago, I posted this Road Trip Breakfast. In order to continue checking off our bucket list we have gone on almost weekly road trips so with the success of that portable brekky, I wanted to see what else I could make portable. After buying a two-pound package of ground turkey, I had recently made Italian [...]
Taking Cook What You’ve Got on the road is a fun pasttime for me. Implementing my philosophy of having a well-stocked pantry, fridge and freezer (using The List – Subscribe and you’ll get it for FREE) and using seasonal produce, I have created a series of cooking classes for the everyday cook. We laugh, cook, [...]
Every day after school my kids run for the kitchen and start looking for “treats”. Somehow the food culture has infiltrated my house. I’ve fought it fiercely at home and there was once a time when any sort of sugary treat was just that, a “treat” – meaning once a week at most. Now, [...]
We live in a remarkable place. In less than two hours we can be in Chinatown or The Mission, on a beach, or at a winery (or a hundred). These are all reasons we made the crazy decision to drop everything and move to wine country with no jobs and no place to live. Six [...]
How can you not like something that uses basic ingredients readily found in any kitchen AND makes creative use of leftovers? A small chunk of cheese, a few pieces of ham and jar of jam? Crepes Monte Cristo. A handful of chocolate chips and a banana? “Monkey’s Favorite” Crepes. Broccoli and Cheese? “Trees & Cheese” [...]
Pretty much any vegetable from the cruciferous family combined with a little sweet (raisins or sun-dried tomatoes) and a little spicy (red pepper flakes) is close to heavenly. Add a little salty from olives and pair it with polenta and it’s the best of all worlds. The word Polenta refers to both a coarse meal [...]
Salsa and salad dressings are two things I NEVER buy pre-made. Most of them have some sort of sugar or preservatives and dressings many times have gums or starches to thicken which give them a fake viscous consistency . Yuck! They are both super easy and totally fit the CWYG philosophy. Today’s focus, Salsa! (My [...]
We’re going to Disneyland!! (Wondering what eggs have to do with it? Read on.) Yes, we are road tripping to the happiest place on Earth. In the vein of saving a little bit of cash on the front end of our trip, we’re taking breakfast along with us in the car. I had wanted an [...]
Closing my tired eyes for a few minutes yesterday afternoon, I was rustled out of the haze with the sound of my son opening a box. When I asked him what it was, imagine my surprise when he said “Oh, it’s Endive!” And get this, he said it correctly: “On-deeve” is the proper way to [...]
Lemons. Growing up a Texas girl, the only time I ever saw an actual piece of a lemon was in iced tea or should I say on iced tea. I promptly removed the small, yellow wedge to the table before drinking since as far as I was concerned, they had no place in that glass. [...]
As promised, here’s another Asian recipe. I am in no way claiming this is authentic. I’m acutely aware that it’s more accurate to say “Asian-inspired” , but for the tastebud-grabbing characteristics of this cuisine and an easy weeknight meal, it’s perfect. Not too far off from any ordinary American standard taco, you have a ground [...]
It’s an odd week! I’m almost out of veggies and it’s only Tuesday. My typical meal planning strategy as outlined here and here but these both depend on having fresh veggies to start with. Today, I am having to amp up the creativity a bit to avoid an early grocery shopping trip but still put [...]
I LOVE Asian food. The balance of sweet, salty, sour and umami is a dichotomy. It really satisfies, yet I can’t ever get enough of it. Sushi, not so much a fan. I should be, I know, but no matter what I’ve tried, even veggie rolls, I just don’t like it. Give me a bowl [...]
So I’ve determined this is my transition week. I had intended to make it my “kids are back in school, time to get back to reality and not eating my body weight in sugar” week. That was to follow up my “It’s the day before kids go back to school, I should make one more [...]
I have a culinary bucket list. It started in my mind a long time ago. Go to France to experience the bistros and markets. (1998) Check. Stay in an apartment near a market in Paris so I could create meals from uber fresh ingredients. (2002) Check. Visit Napa Valley. (2004) Check. Live in Napa Valley. [...]
Happy New Year! I have such anticipation for this year! I hope you do,too. We made it through all the predicted Doom’s Day dates successfully, right. So there’s got to be something on the other side now. I have long been a proponent of going after your dreams. I’m a hopeless romantic in that sense [...]
