When you think of an ingredient that can enhance many dishes, you might not think of fermented soybeans, but that’s just what we’re talking about today. . .miso! Miso is lauded for its ability to maintain good gut health and provide amazing flavor to any dish. Even Bon Appetit magazine called it “. ….
Odds & Ends
Flavor Punches: Adobo
Synchronicity is amazing. This week, I remembered a delicious meal made by my friend Ben’s mom, Purita. Ben and his family are Filipino, and his mom served lumpia (similar to fried spring rolls), adobo chicken (chicken in an amazing sauce), and pancit (meat, noodles and veggies – sort of like chow mein). I loved it,…
Flavor Punches: Peppercorn Salt
A sprinkle of flavored salt can make dishes sparkle. I’ve got several mixtures in my pantry that I bring out for special touches to meat, seafood or veggies. Each type of salt (sea, Himalayan, Kosher, fleur de sel, Kosher, etc.) offers its own level of ’saltiness’ or ‘brininess,’ enhancing underlying flavors of food in their…
Flavor Punches: Gremolata
Gremolata sounds fancy, but it’s a simple mixture of fresh parsley, garlic and lemon zest – ingredients you probably have in your fridge at any given time or can easily pick up at a market. It’s a classic seasoning that originates from northern Italy (Milan, I believe), sprinkled on soups/stews, braised meats, roasted veggies and…
Flavor Punches: Potlach Seasoning
Years ago a friend gave me Williams Sonoma’s “Potlach Seasoning.” The description on the tin noted the story of Pacific Northwest Native Americans spreading herbs on freshly-caught salmon and fire-roasting it for a feast — the inspiration for the WS blend. Potlach specifically refers to the tradition of celebrating abundance by giving away possessions and food,…
Feed Your Feelings: Golden Milk
It’s a gray day and I feel down – this, on the heels of a week wanting to throw shoes at the TV because of the bad news, and flying off the handle when hubby simply asked what was on my calendar. Maybe you’ve been experiencing similar emotions? Have you ‘lost it’ when your Zoom…
New Monthly Recipe Theme Series!
I don’t know about you, but my last year was filled with stress, naps, comfort food, an earnest desire to sip a cocktail inside an actual bar, and many hours organizing drawers and closets. But a new year brings new possibilities! And when it comes to blog posts, my strategy is to focus on monthly…
2020 Wrap Up
My first blog post of 2020 highlighted no-crust Honeybell pie; my last post was all about raisin pie. I didn’t plan it, but I think it reveals how much I love pie. . . Even when I felt like I was moving through quicksand due to the heaviness of this pandemic-filled year, being in…
Almond-Cranberry Granola
Remember years ago when granola was the stuff eaten only by Birkenstock-wearing, long-haired, herbal tea-drinking folks, or those uber-healthy mountain climbers? They all seemed to really like the stuff that looked like bird food to the rest of us. But, in reality, those healthy specimens were onto something back then, and granola has now (rightly)…
Face Masks by Delicious Dry Goods!
You know that phrase “Necessity is the mother of invention“? It’s a concept that has resulted in some pretty amazing inventions, and it’s also a concept that sparked a new product offering in my business! As I sat with my artist hubby in our studio recently, discussing our small business challenges, we remembered a friend’s…
A Picnic in the Sky
If you’ve traveled by plane recently, you’ve surely experienced the limited array of snacks offered by some airlines. . . In spite of these limited options, why do we still look forward to seeing that beverage cart? Maybe it’s because we’re bored and the anticipated visit from a friendly flight attendant is welcome. Maybe the…
Pumpkin Spice Granola
Yes, it’s time to think about Fall dishes like warm soups, cocoa, roasted root veggies and, of course, all-things-pumpkin! If you love pumpkin, there are endless opportunities to enjoy the Fall-inspired squash and its signature pumpkin spice flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves. You’ll find that magical stuff in bars, pies, cookies, lattes, cold…