Holiday Traditions

I married into a family that is very unlike my family of origin. We are of different races and ethnicities, different religions, different national backgrounds, different cultures. Yet despite these very significant differences, there are some commonalities in our celebration of the Christmas season. My

READ MORE

Mama Likes Meatloaf

As the weather continues to chill me to the bone (50F is cold here in California!), I keep getting the urge to bake. I love the gentle hum of the oven, the warmth it brings to my kitchen, and the delicious food that emerges when

READ MORE

Bacon-wrapped Dates

It’s holiday party time, and many people get stuck eating the same, sad appetizers and finger-foods. Crackers and cheese, crudités and dips, and lots of sweets. Why not spice up your appetizers with something simple and (gasp!) healthy? Bacon-wrapped dates to the rescue! Yes, I am actually

READ MORE

Latkes (Potato Pancakes)

Hanukkah is almost here, bringing with it blue and white store displays with towers of candles, menorahs, dreidels, candies and cookies, and boxed potato pancakes. Latkes are traditional Hanukkah food (the oil they are fried in represents the lamp oil that miraculously lasted for eight

READ MORE

Practical Paleo Review and Giveaway

  **This giveaway is now closed** Perhaps you have heard of Practical Paleo, but perhaps not. Allow me to introduce you! Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo is a 400+-page giant of a book which has spent seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list

READ MORE

Jinga (Shrimp) Curry

I haven’t eaten shrimp in a long time. Let’s just say that many, many years ago, I had an unpleasant experience in a foreign country, and I just couldn’t tolerate the taste and texture of shrimp as a result. Maybe I’ll tell that story someday…but

READ MORE

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

I know, I know, you’ve had Brussels sprouts and you don’t like them, right? They are possibly the world’s most reviled vegetable, but I think they have gotten a bad rap. I have served Brussels sprouts to several people who claimed that they didn’t like them,

READ MORE

Pumpkin Time!

I love fall. The changing leaves. The cooling weather. The holiday festivities with family and friends. And the fall fruits and vegetables, especially pumpkins. Pumpkins remind me of the traditions surrounding the holiday season, and they are the beginning of a busy couple of months

READ MORE

Comfort in a Cup

What comes to mind when you think of comfort food? Is it a particular food that somehow makes everything seem better when you are feeling down? Something crunchy? Salty? Sweet? Fried? Bready? All of the above? In the past, my comfort food would definitely have

READ MORE