Appetizers

Thumbnail image for 7 Tips for Luck & Lemon Dill Green Popcorn Recipe

7 Tips for Luck & Lemon Dill Green Popcorn Recipe

March 12, 2013

The luck of the Irish! We all wish we had it. Yet, you don’t have to go traipsing after a rainbow to find your pot of gold. I’ve got a […]

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Thumbnail image for Warm Beer Cheese Dip Recipe for Sacramento Beer Week

Warm Beer Cheese Dip Recipe for Sacramento Beer Week

February 18, 2013

It’s Sacramento Beer Week! Starting Friday, Sacramento suds up in a celebration of ales. Events run from February 22to March 3. Keep reading to find out how you can win […]

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Thumbnail image for Spinach Dip or Cilantro Salsa Recipe

Spinach Dip or Cilantro Salsa Recipe

January 30, 2013

Get your licking finger ready! This is that kind of recipe. If you have visited my blog, you may have guessed that I’m a fan of color. While the rest […]

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Thumbnail image for Persimmon Pomegranate Salsa

Persimmon Pomegranate Salsa

December 10, 2012

I recently found this letter that my 8-year-old self wrote to Santa. I apparently thought both Santa and the Abominable Snowman were real. Funny to think I was ever that […]

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Thumbnail image for 5 Pepper Salsa Recipe

5 Pepper Salsa Recipe

September 12, 2012

If I could only eat one type of cuisine for the rest of my life I would choose Southwest food largely because of salsa. Tangy, tomato-y, spicy—salsa makes everything taste […]

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Thumbnail image for Food Literacy Sandwich: Garden Pesto Tomato & Egg

Food Literacy Sandwich: Garden Pesto Tomato & Egg

September 2, 2012

September is Food Literacy Month. The nonprofit I founded, California Food Literacy Center, is celebrating—and so am I! Last week, the California Senate declared the month Food Literacy Awareness Month […]

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Thumbnail image for Cheese Plate Fruit Pizza Recipe

Cheese Plate Fruit Pizza Recipe

August 1, 2012

If you think you know what fruit pizza is, think again. This isn’t the ultra sweet stuff made from cookie dough. This is a pizza—four kinds of cheese, yeasted pizza […]

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Thumbnail image for Green Tomatillo Salsa Recipe

Green Tomatillo Salsa Recipe

July 24, 2012

Salsa! America’s number one condiment is a fabulous way to use summer’s bounty. As tomatillos and peppers ripen, throw a fast batch in the food processor and you’re minutes away […]

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Thumbnail image for Squash blossom, Mushroom and Cheddar Cheese Curd Quesadilla

Squash blossom, Mushroom and Cheddar Cheese Curd Quesadilla

July 5, 2012

Quesadillas are a great way to enjoy the fresh flavors of summer vegetables. Topped with the first ripe heirloom tomatoes of the season and stuffed with chewy cheddar cheese curds, […]

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Thumbnail image for Breakfast Toast of Grilled Apricots, Figs and Caramelized Onion

Breakfast Toast of Grilled Apricots, Figs and Caramelized Onion

July 5, 2012

Perk up breakfast with some farmers’ market tricks. Take simple toast (made from mouth-watering, freshly baked bread) and top it with the sweet essence of caramelized onion, and instead of […]

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Thumbnail image for Flowering Kale Caesar Salad Recipe

Flowering Kale Caesar Salad Recipe

January 19, 2012

Introducing: the world’s prettiest vegetable! Flowering kale. Traditionally used as an ornamental landscaping plant, this lovely lady is fit for your kitchen table, too. Flowering kale packs the same healthy […]

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Thumbnail image for Grandma’s Lefse Recipe: A Scandinavian Holiday Tradition

Grandma’s Lefse Recipe: A Scandinavian Holiday Tradition

December 20, 2011

I’m a proud Scandinavian. Eating lefse, a potato-based flatbread, for the holidays is one of my favorite traditions. This week, I finally had time to sit down with my grandma […]

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Thumbnail image for Party Popcorn with Southwestern Spice Recipe

Party Popcorn with Southwestern Spice Recipe

September 20, 2011

Looking for a last-minute dish to serve at your party—something fast and easy? This party popcorn is sure to please! Or, if you’re like me, this could be dinner. Growing […]

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Baked Mexican Sopes with Fresh Corn Flour Recipe

Thumbnail image for Baked Mexican Sopes with Fresh Corn Flour Recipe September 27, 2010

Baked Mexican Sopes with Fresh Corn Flour Recipe   That bag of masa harina sat in my cupboard for months. Each time I opened the door I would reach right […]

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Thumbnail image for Quail Egg Appetizer on Blini with Grapefruit Zest and Dill Sauce

Quail Egg Appetizer on Blini with Grapefruit Zest and Dill Sauce

March 4, 2010

Want an easy way to impress your party guests? Try these! They’re tiny, cute, and tasty to boot. You can find fresh quail eggs for a mere $1 at the […]

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Thumbnail image for Cilantro Pesto Dip

Cilantro Pesto Dip

February 4, 2010

Just in time for The Big Football Game, here’s a seasonal dip fresh from the garden that the toughest of guys will love. My giant, 6’4″ husband loves it! There’s […]

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Thumbnail image for Basil Guacamole

Basil Guacamole

July 15, 2009

  Sacramento summers are too hot for cilantro. Mine grows beautifully all winter long, but past spring, it wilts and fizzles in our heat. Basil, the wonderful, spicy herb that […]

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Thumbnail image for The Great Indian Buffet

The Great Indian Buffet

March 15, 2009

Cardamom, cumin, and curry combined this weekend as the hubby and I hosted an Indian buffet for nine dinner guests. Read on to learn how you can host your own […]

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