J – The richest flavors often come from the simplest techniques. This classic reduction sauce is a really good example. In a nutshell, you are throwing cheap red wine, cheap balsamic vinegar, sugar and some herbs into a pot and boiling it down to about an eighth of its original … Continue reading
C – It’s Mexican Cuisine week! Luke really wanted to show us how chefs prepare traditional Mexican dishes. I am so glad he did. I am never taking for granted again how long any Mexican dish takes to make. The good stuff is a long process. But, it’s really doable. … Continue reading
C – Luke showed me how to make salmon gravlox this week. I always thought making it would be really hard to do. I would be in awe at the grocery stores when gravlox were available. I’d usually get them and eat them with cream cheese and bagels. It always … Continue reading
J – I love knowing how stuff is done. The more I learn, the less I want to cook any other way than “from scratch.” I’ve been reading labels much more thoroughly, too. BTW: Have you noticed how much information food manufacturers are trying to cram into an ever-smaller space … Continue reading
C – I was in sausage meat heaven! Luke, Jim and I were out on a quest. We were out to “find our own local.” Luke couldn’t wait to show us Morant’s Old Fashioned Sausage Kitchen in Sacramento. When we got there I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount … Continue reading
J – Oysters are sexy. What a great treat for Valentine’s Week. Everything about eating oysters is silky, smooth, soft and delicious. They slide down easily in a wonderful rush of freshness, flavor and texture … one right after another. I can’t get enough of them. The thought of having … Continue reading
C – It has been awhile since my brothers and I made homemade pasta. It might be a good 18 years ago. WOW, I sound old … OK, lets make me sound less old. I think I was 10 years old the last time we made pasta … that’s sounds … Continue reading
C – Finding extremely cheap things is my favorite part of shopping. The questions that usually come to me are: How much should I buy? What am I going to do with all these (___insert item here___)? Why did I buy so many? I can’t seem to fit them all … Continue reading
C – It’s always interesting when I haven’t tried something and I am put into the fire to try making it or eating it. This was one of those days. (Warning. My diet really went away with this one.) Luke was really excited to get back into the Be Mindful. … Continue reading
J – Herb-infused oils are magical. Typically, they are used as a finish on warm or hot dishes and release their aroma with the increase in temperature. A little like finishing salts. The affect can be subtle or powerful, depending on the herb. On a recent Sunday brunch journey to … Continue reading