Sweet and Sour Pork

My earliest remembrances of the combination of pork, pineapple, onion and green bell pepper stemmed from my introduction to shish kebabs many years ago.  Unfortunately I must admit that I was not impressed.  I realize now that my displeasure arose from the fact that once grilled, the mound of food on my plate consisted of pieces of pork, many […]

Tomatillo Pork with Greens

  While doing one of those “clean the fridge” routines recently we were inspired to take the basics of one of our favorite dishes, Chili Verde, and create a totally new dish.  The results were inspirational and delicious enough for us to want to share it with our readers! Tomatillo Pork with Greens is  a combination […]

West African Peanut Stew

Several of our close friends have become vegetarians for health reasons so the get-togethers around our table include dishes to satisfy both meat eaters and vegetarians alike!  Dayton has been doing an extensive amount of research regarding vegetarian cooking in regards to techniques, seasoning possibilities and vegetable and produce combinations and, as a result, created an absolutely delicious variation […]

Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

The hectic flurry of the holiday season is beginning to come to an end and today, New Year’s Day 2012, will be celebrated by spending as little time in the kitchen as possible…!  There remains a generous portion of roast pork loin in the fridge begging to be napped with a rich sauce the foundation of […]

Buttermilk Rhubarb Muffins

A recent invitation to join our neighbors, Bud and Billie Herman, for coffee at their home shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday resulted in the creation of this both fluffy and crisp, sweet and tart muffin that we served to them with freshly brewed coffee just yesterday in our home!  During the course of our conversation […]

Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Loaf with Toasted Pine Nuts

During the holiday season we are always thankful for the versatility of cream cheese… and the standard in our kitchen remains Kraft’s Philadelphia Original.  For the best taste, texture and foundation for many great recipes it simply cannot be beaten!  Dayton refined this recipe for a delicious appetizer spread from one to which he had been […]

Garden Frittata Appetizer on Sun-dried Tomato Baguette Crisps

One can never have enough ideas for appetizers during the holiday season, whether they be quick and easy or fussy and elegant… I like both!  My criteria for the perfect appetizer… it must be attractive and, of course, delicious!  Ease of preparation is the key to this very simple and tasty appetizer.  All it takes is […]

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Fresh Rhubarb, Strawberry and Tarragon Sauce

The only thing that is traditional during the holidays when it comes to food is that we know that our traditional  meals are always going to be non-traditional…!  When it was time to give thought to the Thanksgiving dinner coming from our kitchen this year neither roast turkey nor pumpkin pie even crossed our minds… a delicious […]

Marinated Cracked Dungeness Crab

Fresh Dungeness crab is always a treat!  This past weekend we were the most fortunate recipients of two beautiful Dungeness crabs direct from crab pots set in the Pacific outside of the Golden Gate.  A longtime friend of ours, Ron Fudala, an avid sportsman when it comes to all things involving the ocean, stopped by our […]

Duck Leg Confit with Roasted Butternut Squash and Mushroom Ragout

Late last week I traveled to Portland, OR, on business and was enthralled by the gorgeous autumn colors framed by the windows of the plane as we descended from thousands of feet to the base of Mount Hood, its snow-capped peak shrouded mysteriously in ominous clouds.  The bright reds and yellows carved meandering pathways all the way down […]