Dips and Sauces

Homemade Maple Cream

December 16, 2012

When the depravity of humankind seems too much to bear, when we don’t want to try to bring our minds to accept the in comprehensible tragedies we never even knew possible, it seems a cold bleak world indeed. I cannot offer up much to alter one’s impression of our world or the atrocities that occur [...]

36 comments

Bruschetta with Arugula Pesto

February 21, 2012
Thumbnail image for Bruschetta with Arugula Pesto

This dish may be called bruschetta, but to me it is really all about the pesto.  Maybe it’s because in my mind, bruschetta has always been a tomato based topping while growing up, and so it seems a bit weird to me to call this bruschetta, when there are no tomatoes.  So instead, to me, [...]

57 comments

Homemade Tomato Jam

September 18, 2011
Thumbnail image for Homemade Tomato Jam

  The end of Summer is upon us – some people I’m sure will be reminiscing about times at the beach or picnics and bbqs in the sun with friends, fruits and vegetables from their gardens and holidays.    I am reminiscing about my travels to Germany, Spain, France, and great hikes in the Alps, [...]

40 comments

The Essentials of Guacamole

May 1, 2011
Thumbnail image for The Essentials of Guacamole

My baby sister is growing up!  It’s really hard not to think of her as a cute little kid, she’s always been my baby sister.  We’re five years apart you see, and while that isn’t such a difference now, it really was a lot when we were young.  She may have had her antics that [...]

42 comments

Vegetarian Southwest Chickpea Salad

April 11, 2011
Thumbnail image for Vegetarian Southwest Chickpea Salad

Lately we’ve been eating several salads for lunch and/or dinners – not ones that are just lettuce on a plate with a bit of dressing, but with every vegetable we can find – often good for those “clean out your fridge” meals. I particularly like using beans in salads, because it keeps the meal filling and adds a bit more of a weighty feel to the dish. This particular one took advantage of the last of our chipotle peppers and our newfound southwest herb rub, made into a simple sour cream based dressing. Simple and easy, and best of all no cooking required.

41 comments

Homemade Chipotle Mayonnaise for Artichokes: Naturally Gluten and Dairy Free

March 27, 2011
Thumbnail image for Homemade Chipotle Mayonnaise for Artichokes: Naturally Gluten and Dairy Free

My mom grew up in California. My grandmother grew up in California, and her mother before her and hers before her. Even though I grew up in chilly New England, California runs in my blood – and thanks to my mother’s cooking during my childhood, also my tastebuds. She is the reason why I love apricots and fresh figs and avocados and artichokes. And she and my dad together both taught me to love beautiful fresh produce. When I was home with my parents a few years ago as we were making some wedding preparations, I remember driving for a full hour down to a market on the shore – one that specialized in certain miniature apple pies we were going to purchase as favors for our guests – and there we stumbled upon the most perfect artichokes I have ever seen – she said they reminded her of California, and that was it, we went home with apple pies, and a giant bag full of fresh beautiful artichokes :)

29 comments