Paper Palate

I have owned The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by the Food Network’s Ina Garten for about three years and guess how many recipes I’ve made from it?  None.  That’s right, none.  Just like Alex yesterday, except adding on about 2 years and 10 months.  I bought this neglected book in my early days of learning how to […]

Sunset magazine has perfected the “focus piece” food article.  With all the options they provide in this month’s piece on grilling salmon, there has to be something for everyone.  I have a friend who spends two weeks in Alaska every summer and comes home with more wild salmon (and other fish) than he knows what […]

Balsamic Potato and Green Bean Salad would be the perfect addition to any summer potluck. Since there’s no mayo and it can be served warm or at room temperature, you don’t have to worry about bringing this to an outdoor event. This recipe is from the June-July issue of Rachael Ray’s magazine, Every Day with […]

Finally - a new issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray. After a single issue for June-July, the magazine is back to once a month for August. Everyone needs a vacation now and then, so I guess we’ll forgive them for making us wait so long for some new recipes to try.
The On Hand […]

The title of Gather ‘Round the Table doesn’t tell you that much about the cookbook, does it?  It’s the sub-title that really gives you the 411 - “Menus and Recipes for Casual Southern Meals.”  Published by Taste of the South magazine, this cookbook delivers what it promises.  Here’s a quick sampling of the recipes you’ll […]

There’s no doubt that my family’s steak consumption skyrockets in the summer.  It’s just so easy to throw one on the grill and it allows us to avoid adding any more heat in the house.  However, sometimes it’s easy to get in a rut. 
I usually make Korean Flank Steak when I can’t decide what to make, but Sunset […]

Every once in awhile, I just get so happy that I finally learned how to cook. Some people might look at this recipe for French Dip Panini and think: What the heck? That’s so simple! Yeah, it’s a simple recipe, but it was very rewarding.
After a long day, it was great to put a yummy […]

If you’ve ever seen my personal blog, you probably won’t be shocked to hear that I am a proud subscriber to Every Day with Rachael Ray (”EDRR”) and have been since they started offering subscriptions. If you could get a prize for being one of the first to sign up, I would probably get it […]

I have a love-hate relationship with the June-July issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray. I love it because, well, it’s an issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray. I hate it because it covers two months, which means no issue next month. Boo. But let’s focus on the positive and check out what’s […]

It seems like strawberries are everywhere! There are a whole bunch of strawberry festivals in California and one of them happens right in my backyard: the Placer County Strawberry Festival.
On my commute home, I pass at least four different little roadside strawberry stands set up right next to the strawberry field and all have a […]