Strata is a breakfast casserole, and it has become my go-to Sunday breakfast or brunch recipe for a crowd: it’s easy, customizable, and you make it the night before so there is no work to do in the morning except turning on the oven. I especially recommend it for the “morning after” if you have a late night or booze-soaked event planned, since you can prep the strata on a Saturday afternoon, revel and party as late as you want on Saturday night, and wake up to a fabulous ready-made breakfast on Sunday morning.

[Read more →]

Each holiday season I try to buy local, artist-made goods to support my community and the creative class at large. No Walmart for me!

Here are some of the coolest things I’ve found this shopping season – and they’re all made by individual craftspeople and artists, and they are all really special. If you happen to slip any of them into my stocking… well, let’s just say I wouldn’t mind.

[Read more →]

Monterey is most famous for its fabulous aquarium, but the area boasts lots of other charms. If you can largely avoid the tacky, touristy Cannery Row area you are in for a real treat. A 10 minute drive down the peninsula will put you in the quaint town of Carmel, so it’s really like a two-for-one! Point Lobos State Reserve is one of the absolute gems of the California coastline – and rivals many a national park in beauty and sights. You can spot sea lions, tide pools, and hidden beaches at nearly every turn. 

There are lots of fancy spots to try, and I do enjoy a sunset drink with bagpipes with the upper crust at The Inn at Spanish Bay, but I find myself gravitating more to the down-home dives for meals… like an early morning stop on funky Fisherman’s Wharf to hit up Loulou’s for creme brulee-style oatmeal or enormous pancakes, or chicken shawerma lunch with fluffy pita and garlicky sauce at teeny-tiny Paprika Cafe. To warm up, try a big sourdough bread bowl of creamy clam chowder at Schooner’s right over the water. For more Monterey recommendations, check out this article with tons of great suggestions. 

Gibson Beach

[Read more →]

Last fall, my friend Garrick made a delicious cocktail involving fresh persimmon juice and Chai-infused bourbon. (Yes, he is an over-achiever, why do you ask?) These scones are inspired by that flavor combination – and they taste like all the good things about autumn in one flaky, buttery package.

[Read more →]

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that a lot of people ask me for advice about cooking Thanksgiving dinner. But why keep it to my inner circle? Here, in pretty much random order, are the resources, advice, and tips I have to make your Thanksgiving cooking successful!

[Read more →]

I feel like I have unlocked a magical secret with this creamy, nutty dressing that I want to drink by the pint. I mean, finally, after all these years, I have figured out a legitimate way to put butter on a salad. 

[Read more →]

I don’t know if it’s the cooler weather, the Christmas music that started playing before Halloween, or what – but lately all I can think about is warm, creamy, hearty, cheesy food. At work I surf comfort food on Pinterest and dream about the rich, dairy-laden things I’m going to make for dinner. But at some point, you have to throw a few vegetables into the mix too. Broccoli cheese soup seemed like a good start – but most of the recipes I found had heavy cream or half-and-half in them, and it just sounded unnecessary, even for me. I came up with a lighter recipe that is still super creamy – but uses chicken broth, leeks, carrots, and cheese to get a great flavor and texture. You won’t miss the cream one bit!

[Read more →]

People ask me for travel advice all the time, and sometimes I just don’t get around to blogging about it in advance. Here’s your chance to ask me anything about anywhere! If I have any good intel–I’ll gladly share it with you.

I haven’t blogged in approximately 45 years (or so it feels like) and I am back now with a half-assed post exalting the virtues of a recipe from someone else. In between getting the flu, getting over the flu, getting a cold, and (still trying to) get over a cold, I have actually had some stellar culinary moments, but I have not had the energy to do anything except eat the results. But as the last of the germs leave my body (I hope) I am turning over a new leaf, and today I made these cookies and I’m guessing they’ll be gone by morning.

[Read more →]

A few months ago I posted about how to make easy homemade cronuts with an orange-vanilla glaze. I tried them again with a chocolate caramel glaze that tastes a little bit like a Tootsie Roll and gives that shiny shell just like you get at the donut shop. Delicious!

[Read more →]