Who doesn’t like banana bread…Especially when those bananas on your counter start to turn brown faster than you can eat them. Its always the perfect excuse to make a loaf. For years my go-to recipe for banana bread recipe has been from the ever popular 1980’s The Silver Palate Cookbook…although I have tried many others, […]
This light and airy flourless chocolate torte is like having a dark chocolate truffle in a cake. The recipe has been in my repertoire since my culinary school days going back 22 years ago. Every time I make it, I’m always amazed at how a simple to make cake with very few ingredients can produce […]
I would often dine at restaurant named Louisa’s Trattoria when I first moved to Los Angeles back in the late 80’s and this dish was inspired by one of the pasta’s on the menu. It is my understanding Louisa’s is no longer in business, however, it was a very popular and successful restaurant with multiple […]
I love starting a Chinese meal with a good hot and sour soup. This soup goes way back to my NYC days in the mid 80’s when I would pick up Chinese takeout on my way home from work. I didn’t eat it for a long time after having a bad MSG reaction when visiting […]
Potato salad, although, eaten year round, is the quintessential American summer food. I often associate it with outdoor gatherings and picnics served along side grilled meats and chicken. To my recollection my first experience eating potato salad was when my brother got married. I was only 12 years old and my family planned a bridal […]
Today’s temperature in Palm Springs reached a whopping 118 degrees. In this kind of heat, I’m always trying to come up with quick and easy meals without creating too much heat in the kitchen. I was craving one of my favorite cuisines, Thai, and was also thinking something salad-like, so I decided to make this […]
Here in Palm Springs the heat has arrived early. With this in mind, I’m always trying to come up with quick and nutritious meals without heating up the house. Here’s one I think you will like. Thanks to Trader Joe’s, their vacuum sealed precooked lentils is a great food hack that doesn’t require any cooking […]
In 2007, while living up in California’s Central Coast, I met these wonderful guys who lived and ran an abalone farm in the quaint little beach town of Cayucos. I was lucky enough to be invited on a tour of the farm and had the most memorable dinner there. Brad made abalone several different ways, […]
I love lemon desserts! I even love just what lemon zest adds to savory foods and baked goods. Lemon adds brightness and a pleasant little extra sumthin sumthin to every bite. Myer lemon are a cross between lemon and a mandarin orange. The skin is fragrant , deep yellow and slightly orange when ripe. The […]
I have tried many carrot cakes, but I must say, this is the one! I have to look no further. Not overly sweet and the frosting is also light, fluffy and not cloyingly sweet. I have often come across some carrot cakes that are just so over the top with texture, density and sweetness. This […]