Origins of the Shirley Temple “mocktail”
“Shirley Temple Black, who as the most popular child movie star of all time lifted a filmgoing nation’s spirits during the Depression and then grew up to be a diplomat, has died. She was 85,” as the Los Angeles Times is reporting. “Black died late Monday at her home in Woodside, Calif., according to publicist […]
Lindsey Vonn’s organic banana bread
4 bananas 1 cup sugar (organic brown sugar is recommended) 1 egg 2-3 big sccops of organic apple sauce 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/3 tsp. salt A dash of nutmeg and cinnamon Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix bananas, sugar, egg and apple sauce in a medium bowl. […]
Hawaii’s Alan Wong is one of President Obama’s favorite chefs — and ours too
We’ve been fans of Hawaiian regional cuisine for many years. We have cookbooks from Sam Choy, Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, among others. We’ve owned Alan Wong’s New Wave Luau cookbook since it came out in 1999. (Ten Speed Press, one of our favorites, is the publisher). In Hawaii over the years, we’ve eaten at […]
Homemade Eggnog (video)
“From Buckingham Palace to the White House to New England homes everywhere, toasting the holidays with eggnog is a custom rich in tradition,” according to KitchenProject.com. “Historically, eggnog is first mentioned in the early part of the seventeenth century as a beverage used to toast one’s health.” National Eggnog day is celebrated every year on […]
New Cowgirl Creamery Cookbook celebrates artisan cheeses
Founded in 1994, Cowgirl Creamery of Point Reyes Station, CA, has fueled the popularity of artisan cheeses in Northern California. Some longer-time cheese makers in California include Vella Creamery in Sonoma (founded in 1931), whose customers have included celebrities such as actor Carey Grant. We regularly eat Vella and Cowgirl Cheeses, among others. In our […]
Artisan Cheese Soup
On a cold day, you can’t go wrong with a fresh loaf of bread and this flavorful and rich soup. Here’s a recipe submitted by Straus Family Creamery. Our favorite artisan cheese shops in the foothills and Truckee-Tahoe include Dedrick’s Cheese in Placerville (and in their “satellite stores” at the Pour House in Truckee, Obexer’s […]
Crusted Top Sirloin and Roasted Garlic Potatoes with Bourbon Sauce
Total Recipe Time: 1-1/4 hours Makes 6 to 8 servings Ingredients: 1 beef Top Sirloin Steak Boneless, cut 2 inches thick (about 2 to 2-1/2 pounds) 1 tablespoon prepared spicy brown mustard 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup soft whole wheat bread crumbs 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Roasted Garlic Potatoes: 2 […]
How to make potato pancakes
Potato pancakes are associated with cuisines of many European and Middle Eastern traditions including Austrian and German (Kartoffelpuffer) and Jewish (Latkes). Latkes are a popular treat during the eight-day Festival of Lights. The oil for cooking the latkes symbolizes the oil from the Hanukkah story that kept ancient Israel lit with a long-lasting flame that […]
Judy Rodgers’ famous Zuni Cafe roasted chicken
Judy Rodgers, the influential chef-owner of Zuni Cafe in San Francisco, died this week. She was 57 years old and had been battling cancer. We were regulars at Zuni for years. Judy was one of the young chefs who were instrumental in creating “California Cuisine.” She inspired other chefs, including Traci Des Jardins, who founded […]
“Original Local” celebrates Thanksgiving recipes from the First Americans
“Local foods have garnered much attention in recent years, but the concept is hardly new: indigenous peoples have always made the most of nature’s gifts. Their menus were truly the ‘original local,’ celebrated here in 135 home-tested recipes paired with stories from tribal activists, food researchers, families, and chefs,” according to Minnesota Historical Press, reporting […]
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