Simple Candied Orange Peel

One of my favorite sweetical holiday treats... candied orange peel! When talking about candied peel, you have a decision to make. You can either pay $8 or so for a few ounces of the delicate deliciousness from Whole Foods, or you can invest a little time and a couple of bucks to DIY and make about two cups of the sparkling goodness.

My fave recipe is the perfect no-nonsense version found over at Epicurious - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/simple-candied-orange-peel-350798

What they don't mention is the incredible bonus you'll get from making the peels. The leftover sugar and water solution the peels are cooked in? Omg- it's the best orange syrup EVER! Try the syrup slathered over pancakes. Yum! Or try mixing it with sparkling water for an elegant, continental soda.

I suspect even Julia would approve. So, in that case... Bon appetit!

In preparation for our Thanksgiving week... fresh, homemade butter! And it's so simple to make this tasty goodness.

Needed:
Heavy cream
A pinch of salt
A jar with a tightly fitting top

1. Fill the jar about halfway full with heavy cream. 
2. Screw on the lid and shake for about 15 minutes. Note that about 10-12 minutes in, the cream gets so thick it's hard to shake at all. But persist!!! Just after that point, the butter gloms together, the buttermilk separates out and it becomes super easy to shake.

Enjoy!!!

Fruity Obsession

This morning I made my yearly pilgrimage to Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. This tradition just started last year, but I seriously cannot go there more than once a year. If I did, I swear I would chuck my day job out the window, pick up the nearest cook's apron and start baking like there's no tomorrow. Yes, it is that good. Pinky swear.

Spices, Italy

Time to spice things up a notch!

To infuse a gentle zing in your pasta, add a pinch of crushed red pepper and a few drops of olive oil to gently boiling pasta water. Add the pasta to the spiced water, stir, lower the heat and cook as normal.

Drain, add your sauce du jour and enjoy the spicy goodness!

Bowl of Raw Okra

What are these lovely fresh vegetables? Hey, it's okra, the polarizing vegetable : ) Surprisingly beautiful!

Some folks can't deal with the slime, but I am not afraid. On store for tonight? Chicken and okra jambalaya. I'll be essentially following this recipe from Food.com - http://www.food.com/recipe/chicken-and-sausage-jambalaya-with-okra-86810

Gumbo yaya, everyone!!

Pavlova Deconstructed. A sweet treat for the end of summer!

Salted Caramel Chocolate Goodness

Really truly smitten with the chocolate, caramel and salt nirvana I have just stumbled across. Found at the Half Moon Bay farmers market during one heck of an uber downpour. They are from a little artisan chocolate shop - http://gotochocolate.com/ Highly recommended!!!

White Raspberry Tart

This scrumptious white raspberry custard tart was found (and eaten) recently while meandering through Sonoma, Ca. It was so tasty, I'm working on reverse engineering the recipe!

To have your own little slice of heaven, check out the legendary Fremont Diner down Sonoma way.

Spanish Padron Peppers

Alright. I've had these Spanish padron peppers at restaurants twice before, but I have never made them myself. Until tonight, that is. Wowser! So DELICIOUS! And simple as heck:

1. Heat very good olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add washed padron peppers.
3. Saute the peppers until soft and blistered and brown.
4. Sprinkle a bit of sea salt over the peppers and serve.

Swoon : )

Prickly Pear Fruit Harvest, Saratoga, CA

Is prickly pear cactus the next superfood? Mayo Clinic says... maybe so! http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prickly-pear-cactus/AN02193

Cabernet on the Vine

Oh, it is GO time for the grapes up in Napa and Sonoma! Found at one of my favorite vineyards - Plumpjack Winery - http://www.plumpjackwinery.com/

Now THIS is a hand-made Southern cocktail. Also from Husk. Absolutely delicious. And packs a wee bit of a punch : )

Le Jardin de Huguenots……..$9
La Fleur, La Fleur, La Fleur. Jouclary, Lillet Blanc, Chartreuse, raw sugar, lemon and orange juice.

Had an amazing dinner last night at Husk, in Charleston, SC. http://www.huskrestaurant.com/

The food focuses on the fresh and local, seasoned very simply. Perfectly crisped chicken, just picked peas, smoked tomatoes. Exquisite handmade cocktails. A dinner that was really very nearly perfect : )

A Sweet Day

On this amazing day, a day when my niece gave birth to little baby Lily and hence, new life to our family, I am on the East Coast wandering around and blissfully smiling. Looking like a happy dork. And enjoying the life, the sounds, the smells around town. The world is now an even better place : )

Still Life with Argentine Pears

Seriously, after photographing these Argentinean beauties in my new house/studio today, I'm thinking that Argentina is calling! I always wanted to explore the San Rafael, Mendoza area. Maybe a small journey next spring for their grape harvest?

And someday, SOMEDAY, I'd love to purchase a little Finca there and grow some lovely malbec and cabernet grapes. And photograph them, of course!!!

Rustic Elegance at Harley Farms

Check out the natural light in the dining room at Harley Farms in Pescadero, CA. http://www.harleyfarms.com/

Such a gorgeous space for farm dinners, events, and...well...cheese!!!

Castelvetrano Olives

Lovely, plump, lemon scented castelvetrano olives started off our dinner tonight. Thank heavens for good food and old friends at Pizza Antica.

Carrot Cake with Creamcheese Frosting

If a carrot cake has carrots, raisins, nuts, eggs and spices with newly discovered health benefits... is it technically good for you?

Sometimes in life, everything is so large. I find that every now and then a chance convergence of epic proportions creeps up on me with incredibly good stuffs and amazingly crappy stuffs all swirling around me, all blowy and wild with tornado force winds. And then I remember. And then I breathe. And then I eat a piece of pie with homemade whipped cream. And I recall that life is not always like this. But while it is, I'll try to make the bad stuff better, and I'll enjoy the purely good stuff. Truly, deeply and with all my heart.

Dessert in Paso Robles

Dessert in Paso Robles
Originally uploaded by pixelish

Was in Paso Robles for my talented daughter's art show yesterday. Lovely restaurant found just off the square, Le Petit Marcel. And the food was very, very good.

http://www.bistrolaurent.com/menu/menu.php?menu_id=2

It's heading towards June now, when the really good bing cherries come in around our area of California. My favorites are always from Olsen's cherries, just down the street. I've lived in this area for much of my life, and they have ALWAYS had the best cherries around. Hands down. Although most of the Sunnyvale orchards are gone now, they still have several orchards in other areas of California. Check out Olsen's at http://www.cjolsoncherries.com/

Fresh From the Farm!

One of my most delicious veggie recipes is also one of my simplest recipes. Highly addicting! Proceed with caution : )

Ingredients

1 bunch of asparagus
3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
3 tablespoons soy sauce

You can enjoy this dish either hot or cold.

1. Cook the asparagus in boiling water for about 3-4 minutes until bright green and tender.
2. Mix the fresh ginger with the soy sauce.
3. Plate the asparagus and drizzle with the ginger soy mixture.

Enjoy!

There has been a lot of bruschetta in my life lately. And I'm thinking that this is a very, very good thing.

Bruschetta was a part of many meals over in Italy in March. My all-time favorite antipasto. Chopped tomatoes, garlic and basil over grilled bread, topped with extra virgin olive oil. So fresh, so simple, so flavorful.

So messy and hard to eat too, but what the heck : )

Then my friends Mary Ellen and Phil made me the freshest, juiciest, most garlic-y bruschetta imaginable, on some warm grilled french bread. With some amazing basil and delicious olive oil drizzled over the chopped tomatoes. Mary Ellen rubs the garlic cloves right on the toasted bread. Heaven.

And last night my daughter and her boyfriend joined me for a meal of appetizers in San Luis Obispo, including another awesometown bruschetta. This version included some ultra soft mozzarella.

Really, it doesn't matter what recipe you follow. As far as appetizers go, a fresh tomato bruschetta is always a winner in my book!

Bread, Bowls, Light

Bread, Bowls, Light
Originally uploaded by pixelish

Whenever you happen upon a dark, rustic space, with some nice northern light, pull out your camera and shoot shoot shoot!

 

Getting my antioxidants on! Did you know that star fruits (or carambolas) are chock full of antioxidants, vitamin C and even have some antimicrobial properties? And the entire fruit has just 30 calories. That's a heck of a lot of good stuff packed into one darned attractive package!

Artichokes, Castro Dei Volsci

Artichokes, Castro Dei Volsci
Originally uploaded by pixelish

It was artichoke season when I visited Casa Gregorio (http://www.italyculinaryholiday.com/) last month. Check out these multi-layered beauties from the Castro dei Volsci farmer's market. They definitely give our Half Moon Bay area artichokes a run for their money.

One of my favorite foods is artichoke soup. And one of my favorite places to eat it is Duartes Tavern in Pescadero. Saveur magazine has attempted to replicate the Duartes recipe here: http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Artichoke-Soup

Enjoy!

Imagine my surprise... I arrived in Seattle a few days ago to find my hotel right across the street, right across the freaking STREET from Tom Douglas' Dahlia Bakery! I had read about this warm, inviting alcove with the giant fig bars and frosting-y cakes and the hearty breads and the overall sweetie goodness. I have the scrumptious new Dahlia Bakery Cookbook for Pete's sake. Such happiness. Now pardon me while I just stare into the figgy center and swoon. Damn!

Eggs a la fresh

Last Sunday I had a wandering day in Paris. Well, actually I had a very specific plan for the day, but it all fell by the wayside as I came across these amazing markets and shops and sights. So I just kind of went with it... what the heck.

One of the things I came across was the flower and pet market on île de la Cité in Paris. I had walked by it many times before, but had never gone through it. Well the Sunday pet market is a noisy, amazing, exotic jumble of rabbits and chinchillas and birds, birds, birds. And it was there that I found possibly the freshest eggs in Paris. I thought they were so beautiful in their earthy simplicity.

Breakfast Deconstructed, Paris

 

How is it possible that a little flour and salt, butter and jam can just taste so damn good?

Orange Marmalade

Orange Marmalade
Originally uploaded by pixelish

Vincenzo's mama's homemade orange marmalade. From our picnic lunch at the olive farm in Arpino, Italy.

Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms, Prepared

We created a cavalcade o' appetizers last night at Casa Gregorio. Although there were many contenders, these delicate, beautiful zucchini blossoms were totally my favorite.

I have no lights with me on this trip, as my aim has been to shoot primarily with natural light. But that doesn't always work, so last night I McGyvered a diffuser. I twisted a bit of parchment paper over my on-camera flash to get the shot. Really love how this turned out.

Italian Custard!

First cooking lesson at Casa Gregorio, Castro dei Volsci, Italy. Desserts! Yes!

Pastry with Red Currants

Pastry with Red Currants
Originally uploaded by pixelish

Ooh la la! I LOVE checking out all the insanely beautiful desserts from the Patisserie Gosselin in Paris.

Baked Lasagna

And here's the "after" photo of the amazing baked lasagna. And it was amazing! The key ingredient is layer upon layer of ever so thin pasta sheets piled high with a spicy and flavorful sauce. And some very fresh mozzarella to boot.

Lasagna, Unbaked

Lasagna, Unbaked
Originally uploaded by pixelish
Another "before" picture! Today it's lasagna before baking, as I prepare for my upcoming trip to Italy.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, aka Mon Petite Choux

And here's the after shot. So, in addition to these looking all roasty and warm and browned and gorgeous, they TASTE incredibly flavorful and delicious! I think it's the lemon zest that puts these humble veggies over the top. Yum!

Brussels Sprouts Ready for Roasting

 

It's brussels sprouts season in California. The time of the year when you can drive out to the coast and see the tall, funny looking stalks populating the fields of the local farms.

I've never roasted them before, but am preparing to use Nigella Lawson's recipe which is essentially:

425 oven

Garlic infused olive oil

a little rosemary

salt 

lemon zest

pecorino cheese

Simple.

Mix the brussels sprouts together with the olive oil, rosemary and lemon zest. I'm adding a little salt here, but Nigella prefers to add after roasting.

Roast for 20-25 minutes or so.  

Remove from the oven, add salt, pepper, and the pecorino cheese.

Results soon!!!

Oyster Mushrooms at the Farmer's Market

Oyster Mushrooms at the Farmer's Market
Originally uploaded by pixelish

Testing out the new camera today on this phenomenal bunch of grey oyster mushrooms. Liking it!

Mustard Magic

Last spring when I was out running around eastern France, I was surprised to come across softly rolling hills covered with fields and fields of zappity bright yellow mustard farms. It was astounding and enchanting to see cultivated mustard, as I had only really seen mustard grow wild over here in California. I suspect we don't value the humble mustard seed as much as the French, but we should. A good mustard is the core of everything that is right with the world. Ok, well, maybe not that, but it really can be the best part of a sandwich, or a salad dressing or a meal. Viva flavor! Viva mustard!

Eat Fresh!

So this is what I'm trying to do these days. Eat fresh. Less packaging, less processing, less damn plastic.

I'm giving up plastic water bottles, plastic grocery bags, plastic milk bottles, but I'm realizing that plastic is everywhere these days. It's on my car's steering wheel, on my phone. Oh eek, it's even on the keyboard I'm typing on. Urgh.

Well, I'll just do the best I can. I'll avoid as much plastic as I can and eat fresh, fresh, fresh. Now who wants a carrot?

Savory Pain Perdue Appetizers

Going through my images from last year, while I wait to hear from the Nikon repair crew in Japan. I really did love this picture of savory pain perdue appetizers in San Francisco. Stylin! And unexpectedly delicious : )

Warm Minestrone Soup

Baby, it's cold outside : )

Yes, when the thermometer dips below freezing, it's time for some warm, healthy soup to set you right.

Here is a flavorful bowl of minestrone from one of my all-time favorite neighborhood eateries in San Francisco, Rose's Cafe.

Gelato!

Gelato!
Originally uploaded by pixelish
This photo of delicious gelato was taken mere moments before my beloved Nikon D300 slid off my shoulder and went crashing to the ground.

Well, I guess it was time for a new camera anyway! I'll be trying out various cameras over the next few weeks before I decide which direction I go in. Ping me if you have any suggestions. The Nikon D800 is looming large though, just gotta say it.