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Chile & Pepper Season

Note: Sometimes my two columns that appear in the print version of the Press Democrat make it on line, sometimes they don't. When they don't, I post them here, as I'm doing now, with last week's Seasonal Pantry, which appeared in print on August 17.  Chilies and peppers are ripening [...]

By | August 24th, 2016|0 Comments

Artichoke Season!

Because artichokes are bountiful in the spring, it is easy to assume they are a spring crop. But in California, which supplies 100 percent of commercial artichokes in the US, artichokes are harvested year round, with crops peaking in the spring and again in the fall.

By | April 26th, 2016|6 Comments

Fresh From Our Farmers: Blueberry Season!

It is blueberry season and what a glorious season it is.

By | July 15th, 2014|0 Comments

Homemade Cherry Ketchup

When slathered on a rare slider or burger, this bing cherry ketchup enhances the resonance between the burger and pinot noir.

By | July 2nd, 2014|0 Comments

The Stag Cookbook & a Tribute To a Friend

In today's Seasonal Pantry, I talk about my friend, John Kramer, who died late last month, and his love of artichokes. You can read that column here. In the article, I promise to post a feature story I wrote in the late 1990s, before the paper had a web presence. [...]

By | March 19th, 2014|0 Comments

Share Your Favorite Summer Dishes Here

In today's Seasonal Pantry, which you can read here, I ask for your favorite ways to enjoy summer's bounty. What do you do with Gravenstein apples, other than eat them? Do you make pesto at home? What is your favorite way to enjoy summer tomatoes? Got a trick [...]

By | August 1st, 2012|8 Comments

The First Seasonal Pantry: Farmers Market Strategies

In today's Seasonal Pantry, which you can read here, I look back fifteen years, to the inaugural column. As promised in the column, here it is: Farm Market Strategies: First published, 23 April 1997  Is it just me, or is spring particularly intoxicating this year? Northern California has rarely seemed [...]

By | April 18th, 2012|0 Comments

Strong Stock: A Recipe

As promised in today's Seasonal Pantry, here's a recipe for Strong Stock. It's easy to make, though it must simmer for several hours. The column focuses on pork belly, once rarely available other than as bacon, and now common in restaurants and increasingly available to the home cook. [...]

By | February 8th, 2012|1 Comment

Soup, Beautiful Soup

As promised in Seasonal Pantry, here's my version of traditional borscht, along with a recipe for a chilled clear borscht perfect for your holiday table.

By | January 25th, 2012|2 Comments

Share your favorite way to preserve tomatoes

Do you preserve fall's tomatoes to enjoy until next summer? If so, please share your technique here.

By | November 2nd, 2011|0 Comments