For years, I’ve been in search of the perfect pizza crust. My goal was a chewy, sturdy crust that could withstand a mountain of toppings and a thick pool of sauce. The trick is a crust with an easy bite but strong enough to meet my family’s appetite for ample toppings. It’s a versatile, trusty workhorse to dazzle your family and friends.
Quiche might conjure up thoughts of froo-froo French cooking for light appetites, but it’s actually a humble dish and a perfect receptacle for hearty leftovers.
Not only is homemade corned beef frugal, but you can cater the brine to match your tastes, and the quality is superior to anything found in the grocery store. Also, it’s fun to make.
When people think of oatmeal, they think of a drab breakfast offering. But with some creativity, oats can be an exciting addition to your mornings — a healthy new trend of your own.
Pumpkin pie is a must-have for Americans around the holidays. In fact, an estimated 50 million pumpkin pies are consumed every year at Thanksgiving. But what if I told you that’s not real pumpkin pie you’re eating?
One of my favorite childhood memories is traveling up the mountain to Julian, and eating pie at the Julian Pie Company. When I smell apple pie, it always takes me back to that cozy pie shop. Now, I also make my house cozy as I put up apples in all forms, not just pie. And my house, well when September hits and I’m preserving an apple bounty, it smells like Julian to me.
Prices are going up on groceries, and with all this talk about a possible meat shortage, people are starting to feel concerned. But what if instead of being worried, you turned stocking up into a delicious, creative adventure — a chance to learn new things while stashing away homemade convenience foods by canning? There is joy in this journey.
One of my favorite snack recipes is layered Greek dip, which makes a substantial number of servings. Homemade hummus is topped with layers of vegetables, whole Greek yogurt, olives and feta cheese.
Today’s busy cook is veering away from just quick, to quick and healthy. It’s my opinion the days of the blue and green dinosaur shaped chicken nugget are coming to an end. People want real food.
It’s possibly nervy thinking I have anything to serve up Southern California’s community in terms of a Mexican rice recipe, but I absolutely do. I might not have an abuela who passed down authentic Mexican recipes, but I grew up in Southern California, and know what good Mexican rice tastes like. The standard for me was set years ago at Carlsbad’s Fidel's Mexican Restaurant. It’s now called Norte, but to some of us, it will always be Fidel’s.
