From the category archives:
I once heard that a “true” chef only needs three pans in their scullery: a fry pan, saute pan, and stockpot. If that is really true, I’m definitely not in the running for top chef any time soon! The two measely cabinets in my tiny San Francisco kitchen are overflowing with pots and pans of [...]
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During a trip to Berkeley Bowl West a few weeks ago, I spent half an hour chatting with the guy behind the cheese counter and got a full run down on local cheeses. (I also got dozens of delicious samples as we made our way through each variety!) I had no idea there are so [...]
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Everywhere I turn, it’s all about bacon: bacon chocolate bars, bacon vodka, and even bacon gum (really people??). With all this bacon, it’s no wonder people are trying to figure out how to make use of all the leftover bacon fat!
Our grandmother’s use to rely on bacon and other home-rendered animal fat as a kitchen [...]
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I have been a subscriber to Farm Fresh To You for about two years now, receiving a mixed box of their fruits and veggies at my doorstep every two weeks. And it’s been a glorious ride…until last week’s box contained a mango and cucumber. It is the middle of winter so you can imagine why [...]
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Some people bring a bottle of wine with them to dinner when celebrating a special occasion, Kele’s family brings duck. So last weekend we hauled it up to Sacramento to partake in the annual family Duck Dinner, marking the end of this year’s duck hunting season. The dinner consists of going to a local Chinese [...]
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By now, most of you have probably heard that First Lady Michelle Obama launched an initiative last week to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity. Her goals for the “Lets Move” campaign are clear: Improved school nutrition, better labeling of high-calorie foods and drinks, support for farmers’ markets, and a coordinated education campaign to help [...]
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I always thought “stock” and “broth” were interchangeable, kind of like sweet potatoes and yams. But technically they are different! The main difference is all in the meat…
Broth is made by simmering water with vegetables, herbs or meat and/or bones for several hours. It is commonly used as the base for soups because it is seasoned. Technically, you [...]
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I’m not talking about laundry folks, I’m talking about baking – as in, how to fold in ingredients. Folding is a simple technique that I often overlooked or ignored when I first started cooking. Then, I saw Ina Garten prepare a Blue Cheese Souffle on Barefoot Contessa and realized how essential it is when preparing [...]
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You know that holiday song, “Baby, it’s cold outside…”? Well, then baby it’s time to braise because nothing warms your soul more than a good-old pot of tender meat and vegetables! In a nutshell, braising is simmering food in a small amount of liquid. Usually, the food at hand is either tough cuts of meat like [...]
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Every other Wednesday, I walk home just a step quicker because I know there is a little gift waiting outside my front door. I lug the unassuming but familiar brown box into my kitchen and pull out all of the contents. Depending upon the season, I find vibrant Satsuma mandarins, tender Spring greens, just-pulled-out-of-the-dirt potatoes, [...]
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