A brioche cinnamon roll enhanced with the tartness of early season apples happened in our kitchen today, and Shaina wasn’t even home. Shaina is off today. Not by choice, but by force. Currently she is traveling around the West Coast promoting her book and talking to people and attending the International Food Bloggers Conference. Traveling though, doesn’t normally keep her from working. Shaina is known for being just as productive on the road as she is at home. Unfortunately, this time a... more

A recipe for ginger plum preserves turns into tasty crostini appetizers with thinly sliced and toasted baguette, capricho de cabra goat’s cheese, and fresh plums. Stone fruit season is one of my favorites. Coming at the end of summer, I wait patiently all year for its arrival. As the heat of summer reaches its peak, the stone fruits turn and ripen. They promise the arrival of fall. You can almost hear them singing a farewell to the searing summer sun and welcoming the cooler autumn air. They... more

Creamy risotto topped with a good helping of roasted radishes, cipollini onions, fresh beans, and any other seasonal vegetables your heart desires. I’ve been a bit turned around lately, where my head is moving in one direction, but my body just sits there, unresponsive to the wills of my brain. It feels a bit like there is an imp using my heart as a dais, bouncing up and down on his little platform with just enough force to make it feel as though my heart isn’t pumping freely. The... more

This recipe for baked arancini where leftover risotto is stuffed with fresh mozzarella balls, herbs, and bacon, breaded and baked is a meal you’ll be happy to invite your family over to enjoy with you. Sunday dinners worked like clockwork when I was growing up. They were spent at my grandparents’ home, wrestling on the floor with my uncle, eating black olives off our fingers, and for me, silently sitting in the kitchen watching my grandma fuss over the meal. Her hair would be pulled... more

Deep purple mulberries grace the top of this almond cream frangipane tart. Best served warm with a drizzle of honey, it’s a recipe for contentment wherever you may be. Home. I walked to the baggage carousel last night, and just as I approached there were squeals from their small bodies as they barreled towards me, their sun-streaked hair flopping around on their tanned heads. I smiled as they hit my knees, wrapping small arms around and hugging them tightly with grins spread wide across cherub-like... more

Beat the heat with these Vietnamese-style shrimp spring rolls, with honey-soy marinated shrimp. Fresh, cold, and crunchy, they make an ideal hot weather food. I hope you’re in a forgiving mood. It’s Thursday. The week has flashed by in a flurry of phone calls and well-laid plans gone wrong. It rained on the one day I needed it to remain dry, and it was hot and unforgiving as I hid out in a hospital room, holding the hand of my daughter as she had a golf ball that isn’t actually... more

Looking to switch up your grilling routine? These pork chops are stuffed with brown rice, sweet peppers, and oregano and grilled for a two-in-one meal. It’s no secret that we love to grill around here. Many who visit often comment at my grill and smoker collection (which grew by one yesterday). Sometimes I use charcoal, sometimes I use hardwood, but most often I use gas to fuel our outdoor cooking. While gas is quick, easy, and consistent, it can sometimes fall a little short in the flavor... more