Category: Uncategorized

Did you know that if you use distilled water for homemade ice cubes, your ice will last twice as long in your evening cocktails? And drinks taste better. Restaurants and bars use professional filtration systems to create clear, long lasting ice — freezing water quickly to prevent bubbles.  Clear ice “isn’t just for show: Its […]

I may have made one of the worst meals of my entire life last night.  And that’s saying something — considering my dabbling in cinder-brick Asian noodles ca. 2008. But this dish looked so good (and easy!) in the magazine.  Nothing is worse than seeing a fetching dish photographed in a food magazine — Only […]

“How are you so thin??”  I heard this today from a very lovely woman visiting our winery.  She expressed shock and horror that a.) I eat bread and pasta and cheese regularly and b.) that I am 5 months pregnant. How to answer? I’ve been mulling it over since and decided to inflict you good […]

On a night like tonight, when even the walls are still warm, this preggo is too hot to sleep.  So I am cataloguing the past year’s paintings. And this piece of mine from the sun drenched horse pastures at historic Beltane Ranch feels most appropriate. True confession time: after 20+ years of active, closet painting […]

I refuse to be one of those foodies who turn their nose up at magazine rack food rags.  A great recipe is a great recipe, no matter from where it originates.   This one is from “Ultimate Casseroles” special publication (pg 57) that hit stands courtesy of Better Home & Gardens in 2012. I have made […]

I love Pumpkins.  Fresh, round, warbled orange pumpkins. Or white.  Ooo! Or Green Gold and Hazel pumpkins.  You see in the markets those glorious displays of Fall’s bounty and wonder, “Who on Earth buys these things?” Me.  That’s who.  In my pregnancy stretch pants and grocery-cart-bound-toddler (who I may or may not have just bribed […]

I wasn’t kidding.  We really do live in an old Victorian farmhouse.  With horse hair & plaster walls, a ghost, root cellar, and my ’41 stove.  On days like today, when the misty fog descends down the Valley of the Moon and even my toddler asks for socks, I help along the gurgling steam and […]

Me: “Dean! I want to make Julia’s recipe for fresh tomato sauce.” Dean: “No interest.” Me: “Why not??” Dean: “Not Italian.  Show me the recipe and I’ll show you what’s wrong with it.” Ba-Da-Bing.

I think it is completely awesome that my Mom’s “Chicken Lady” is my first official Subscriber and Facebook friend.  Yesterday, I sent the call out to a handful of dear foodie friends and family for reviews and constructive criticism before “going live” with this heart project of mine.  And my mother, Peggy, sent my page […]

“All good cooks are sensualists.” ~ Alice Waters