Ahhhhhhtumn (such a toastier word than Fall). This is my all-time favorite season–warmy sweaters, wrap around scarves, wooly coats, and silky, luxurious, tummy-warming soup that’s super easy to make and ready to serve in 30 minutes. Heck yeah! 2 tablespoons unsalted butter4 large leeks1 baking potato (8 ounces), peeled and cut into two inch chunks…
Pan-Roasted Lemon Chicken
Easy, completely delish, great wow factor, and a great reason to buy a Lodge cast iron pan. Wow factor of 10 out of 10! When I first made this I’ve never had a pan that creates such a great crust before — inexpensive and will last for your lifetime. I now have 4, and my…
A Ciao Mein Confession
I don’t eat at fast food restaurants very often at all (but I just discovered amazing carnitas tacos at Filiberto’s, dangerously close to our house) — an occasional hamburger at In n Out, and in the summer, I’ll swing by Wendy’s once in a great while for a chocolate frosty. BUT (here’s the confession part)…
My Favorite Seasoning: Four Season Salt Blend
Do you barbecue? Do you have Charred and Scruffed, by Adam Lang — one of my top five cookbooks ever? You don’t? THEN YOU DON’T BARBECUE! You just don’t! This book is a BIBLE — yes it is. And I don’t dare approach the grill without having prayed with Adam Lang for a while. I now…
Chili de Arbol Salsa
Okay, let’s talk salsa. It is the soul of Mexican food. I know it’s easy to run to the store and pick up a mundane plastic tub of mushy out of season tomatoes, and old onions, but honestly why would you do that to your beautiful tacos? Once you start making your own, there is…
Pasta alla Gricia
This is that dinner that you put on the table when you really didn’t think about making dinner earlier in the day, and then after everyone’s eaten you’re wondering why you don’t make this every week. A 15 minute dinner from beginning to end with few ingredients — super delicious and so easy to make….
Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel
This is an Ina Garten recipe, so you know it’s going to be delicious. Easy to make and great flavor. Don’t be scared off by the fennel — it doesn’t taste like anise once you’ve cooked it! One of my favorite quick recipes. INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons good olive oil 3 cups chopped fennel (1 large…
Charred Shishito Peppers with Avocado Crema
I know there are food fads that come and go, but honestly, these are staying in my repetoire. Forever. I love these shishito peppers — they are seldom spicy hot — maybe 1 in 12? But truthfully, I’ve had them 3 or 4 times just in the past month, and not a single one was…
Maple Syrup and Mustard Brussel Sprouts
OH! YUM!!!. I’m always looking for new side dishes, and this is the of the tastiest ones I’ve found in recent months. But FIRST, you have to like brussel sprouts. I ate few vegetables back in the day of everything is canned and drab fatigue green, but I really think if we had eaten more…
Absurdly Addictive Asparagus
‘Tis the season–asparagus season! And if you’re through gently steaming or stir frying your farmer’s market purchase, TRY THIS RECIPE! It’s delicious and even surprising with the pine nuts, pancetta and lemon/orange flavors. Making it again today! 4ounces pancetta or good bacon, cut into 1/4 inch dice 1 tablespoon butter 1 pound asparagus, woody ends trimmed and…
Korean Chicken Wings with Soy Ginger Glaze
Okay. So, as far as I’m concerned, a girl cannot have enough chicken wing recipes. I’m a wing kind of girl. Turkey at Thanksgiving? No, thanks — I’ll just take the wing. Slices of roast chicken? Nope — just the wings please. Every new recipe I find becomes my new fave. This is lipsmacking duh-duh-duhLIOCIOUS! These…
Szechuan Green Beans
Whenever I’m hungry, and I don’t know what I want to eat, THESE are what I’m craving. This is a one-dish meal for us at least once every three weeks. In the spirit of honesty, I NEVER use a quarter pound of ground pork . . . .it’s usually double that. I have little will…
Cafe Barber 