I can't remember the last time, if ever, I strolled down Half Moon Bay's Main Street. In recent years I've popped into the Ritz Carlton on the cliffs, have had the occasional lunch near the beach and visited one of the two large nurseries to pick up ceramic flower pots for my backyard but it ... Read More
Homemade Spinach Pasta with Basil-Parsley-Cashew Pesto
I attempted to keep a secret from my husband this past week…and failed. It's not my modus operandi but I wanted to preserve my reputation as a decent homemaker. In a moment of laziness last weekend I dumped leftover vegetable soup down the disposal, about 2 cups worth--a big no no around ... Read More
Fennel, Sausage and Tomato Pasta with Rosé
Want to know a secret? When I planned to make this dish there was a small part of me that imagined this might end up in the trash, uneaten. Earlier in the week when I visited the farmers market the fennel bulbs looked so crisp and fresh that I couldn't resist picking up two bulbs. A ... Read More
Europe 2012, Part 2: Italian Riviera (and Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Anchovies)
(This is the long-overdue continuation of my Europe 2012 series. For Part 1 featuring the French Riviera, please click here.) From the Beaulieau-Sur-Mer train station we set off early for Santa Margherita, a resort/fishing town on the Italian Riviera. It would be our home base for a few ... Read More
Chocolate Cherry Almond Biscotti
My larder is at its fullest on Sundays. Besides the staples--apples, yogurt, bread, salad greens, vegetables--I also stock up on menu-specific items and seasonal fruit. Lately my grocery bags have been a little heavier from the blueberries, strawberries and cherries I've been picking up ... Read More
Prosciutto, Brie & Jalapeño-Tangerine Jam Crostini
My diet seems to always go off-kilter after a vacation. I have a hard time getting back to my normal routine and instead continue to indulge my cravings with little to no regard for balance even after I've shaken the travel dust--or in this case the beach sand--off my feet. Since returning ... Read More