to explore California. This past weekend my husband bundled me into the car, entirely too early for a race in San Juan Bautista – about two hours drive from San Francisco. I told him I wanted to discover more of this fair state I call home, and he took me at my word. I...
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Cumin is one of those spices, that grows on me; the more I use it, the more I appreciate its versatility – it adds a depth of flavor to the dish that I love, but without the astringency that coriander can add. Even my so called “spice adverse” dinner companions appreciate its contribution to...
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I had no plans to write about my experience at the Fancy Food Show that recently took place in San Francisco; I intended to incorporate what I discovered in future posts, but after receiving many requests to identify what I tried, I reconsidered. After all, is not food something of an ambassador of a...
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If you’ve read my previous post on Ireland, you know one of my complaints about Rick Steves is that he omitted the City of Cork from his Ireland travel guide. I thought that was an incredible oversight, although he was quick to offer Kinsale and Cobh as alternatives, and I agree that both are...
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The history of soy sauce is a bit like the sauce itself, kind of murky. What is consistent is that the precursor to soy sauce is something called jiang. Jiang was a method of preservation popular with the prehistoric people of Asia involving preserving meat and fish with salt. This process produced a bi-product,...
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I was asked to participate as a judge for this year’s “Tasty Awards” and I thought what a fun way to peek behind the curtain and check out what all the fuss was about with the celebrity chefs. Being a food lover means I indulge in watching Food TV, read any and all food...
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I love to travel and frequently collect cookbooks from my destinations. However, sometimes I get into trouble when a recipe calls for ingredients and I have no idea of the American equivalent. Sugar is one ingredient that I’ve had this problem with frequently, so I decided to investigate the differences. I suspect part of...
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I learned the hard way, that you can take the girl out of Minnesota snow, but not necessarily the snow out of the girl – if that makes any sense. Having grown up in the Midwest and accustomed to four distinct seasons – I sorely missed my winter precipitation. I find close encounters with...
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The custom of eating pork on New Year’s is based on the notion that pigs symbolize progress or prosperity for many cultures – not a connection that may immediately come to mind. The animal pushes forward, rooting in the ground before moving, symbolizing progress. In Italy, the fatty meat also symbolizes the fattening of...
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