Impress Guests at Your Next Dinner Party with this Sumptuous Meal!

I’ve been working my way through the recipes in The San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market Cookbook and I’m really enjoying it! There are some very talented chefs on the Central Coast of California and it is illustrated in the recipes they have contributed in this beautiful cookbook. I am also loving reading the short stories that showcase the chefs and local businesses who are featured in the book. … Read more Impress Guests at Your Next Dinner Party with this Sumptuous Meal!

Green and Gold Kiwi highlight this Mouthwatering Salad!

I received the most amazing Green and Gold Kiwi in my Talley Farms CSA box! They were already ripened and ready to eat. The fruit is not only exquisite, but absolutely delish! They also contain numerous phytonutrients as well as well known vitamins and minerals that promote your health. They are an excellent source of Vitamin C and dietary fiber. I thought the Kiwi would pair nicely with my … Read more Green and Gold Kiwi highlight this Mouthwatering Salad!

How to Eat and Enjoy Nutrient-Packed Fresh Whole Foods!

I’m now mid way through my cleanse week and was on the search for something tasty and satisfying for my evening meal. I picked up my Talley Farms CSA box and found it brimming with vibrant fresh veggies that were perfect for tonight’s healthy meal. My research for ideas brought me to celebrity chef Candice Kumai’s, “Clean Green Eats” book. In her book, she offers more … Read more How to Eat and Enjoy Nutrient-Packed Fresh Whole Foods!

Yotam Ottolenghi achieves Greatness by Combining Flavors!

Yotam Ottolenghi is the superstar of vegetable cooking. He is one of my culinary idols as I love his sense of creativity and uniqueness. I have selected to do an in-depth study of his cooking style and will be sharing it with you. Stay tuned for some fantastic farm fresh ideas coming your way! This week I made his Cauliflower, Grape and Cheddar Salad. I … Read more Yotam Ottolenghi achieves Greatness by Combining Flavors!

Spring Fruit makes Fantastic salad Combinations!

It’s so exciting when I can pick fresh fruit right off of my own tree in my backyard. It doesn’t happen often as I only have 5 dwarf fruit trees and most of them only bear fruit every other year. However, my white peach tree gives me a very early harvest each year of whatever I can protect from the squirrels and birds! With my … Read more Spring Fruit makes Fantastic salad Combinations!

My Favorite Ways to Dress a Salad

There is an endless number of ways to create salads with unlimited ingredients in every variety. You can make a specific salad with items that you select that will balance each other or a salad with any odd vegetables you may have in your crisper drawer. No matter what your preference or style of salad is, in my opinion; the dressing makes all the difference! I stopped purchasing bottled … Read more My Favorite Ways to Dress a Salad

Preserved Lemons; so simple and simply wonderful!

After posting my recipe for Golden Beet Noodle and Pea Salad, I received several requests for my Preserved Lemons recipe so I decided to post it for all to see. It is quite a simple process and now that I have fallen in love with them, I make sure to have a jar in the fridge at all times. They will last a year so it is … Read more Preserved Lemons; so simple and simply wonderful!

Fresh English Peas are a Gift from the Heavens!

I was so excited to see English Peas in my Talley Farms CSA box this week! They are such a delicacy and so much more flavorful with a much nicer texture than frozen or canned peas. You can barely compare them to their pre-packaged counterparts. I decided to team them up with my Talley Farms golden beets for a fresh salad. I’ve been wanting to … Read more Fresh English Peas are a Gift from the Heavens!

Don’t think you like Brussels Sprouts? Think again…

As a chef, one of my favorite things to do is to introduce (or re-introduce) people to ingredients. It is inspiring to hear, “I’ve seen those in the store before, but never knew what to do with them”, or “I never liked these before, but this is really delicious!” Well, wait until you try this Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Crispy Shallots. It is sure to … Read more Don’t think you like Brussels Sprouts? Think again…

Food That is Almost Too Pretty to Eat!

An explosion in natural color, this food is almost too pretty to eat! Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and brimming with flavor is my Citrus, Beet & Fennel Salad. Adapted from Bon Appetit, it is a salad to delight your senses. Simple to prepare, and can be done in stages. I roasted the beets a day ahead; cooled, peeled and sliced them to store in the refrigerator overnight. … Read more Food That is Almost Too Pretty to Eat!