I’m not Japanese, I don’t claim to know anything about Japan.  I do watch Iron Chef, but the only things I learn from that are how to make fish ice cream and brain pudding.  You will not find these things in my posts.  I do, however, dabble in very Americanized Asian cuisine. A few years ago I found an easy recipe for teriyaki sauce, and since then, I have modified it, made it a dozen times and experimented with it on various meats.  Some have been successful, others have not, and... more

So, I realize that some of the things we do for meals may seem more involved than you want to get on your average weekday evening. Have you seen the Make-Ahead Meals section? Trust me. We have those nights too. In fact, we have those nights an average of 5 out of the 7 days in any given week…so we plan for them by alternating the involved with the less involved. However, some things that seem difficult are not. For instance, if you think guacamole takes a long time to make, you are mistaken.... more

There is a place in my heart that is occupied by a Chipotle burrito (or a bol). It’s a large place on account of the size factor, so it’s hard to miss. In fact, I don’t know that there are many days I would turn down a Chipotle burrito if it were offered to me. The appeal of Chipotle to me is the stretchy tortilla, the fragrant lime and cilantro rice, the guacamole mounded right near the end just before wrapping…the fact that I don’t need to get chili-corn salsa.... more

I have a relatively large backyard for living in an urban area, yet my herb gardens live in pots. There are many reasons for this, but I first became a believer in the potted herbs after my first attempt at growing them. I had purchased seedlings and planted them hoping to serve more flavorful dishes to my family without handing over $3.00 every time a recipe called for fresh herbs. It was going well, my plants were growing, and then June appeared and brought with it a rash of thunderstorms. ... more

It’s May! Where did April go? I remember when I was planning for our snowboarding trip the first weekend of April, and now here we are in May, already preparing for summer. This has been a busy weekend full of gardening, baby births (welcome, Baby Wales!), bridal showers and benefit concerts. I have barely had a moment to think, but I did get my herbs planted, and Ole got our new garden area finished. Now it’s time to fill and plant. Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo, and we’ll be... more

Photo by kretyen Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo, and while it is not the Mexican Independence Day (that’s September 16) and it is celebrated more in America than in Mexico, it’s a chance to make whatever your favorite Mexican dish happens to be and raise a glass in honor of your Mexican American friends. Here are a few of our favorite Mexican dishes from some of my favorite food blogs. Pico de Gallo – The Pioneer Woman Grandma Salazar’s Tamales – Delicious Days Beef Empañadas... more

I just wanted to thank Jessica Chapman at the City Pages for her write-up about my blog. For those of you that had a hand in making that happen (you know who you are), you are incredible. Did you see she called me personable AND useful? I don’t know that anyone has ever called me personable before, but it ain’t for lack of trying. I’ll admit I blushed from the sheer excitement of it all. It also made me think of what I’ve accomplished here since I launched in March. ... more