A college friend moved from France to Mill Valley a couple of years ago so I get to see more of her. Last week she served us this salad with cold chardonnay: a perfect lunch inspired by her California and Continental sensibilities. It calls for the fresh herbs that must have grown wonderfully in her … Continue reading
After the success of Uncle Howards Chocolate Ganache Tart, we have become increasingly interested in raw, healthy, gluten free sweets. They are easily made, quick to clean up, and surprisingly rich. The best part is indulging in something decadent and flavorful without worrying about one’s health. One slice of Blueberry Banana “Cream” Pie leaves us more satisfied than most desserts that are … Continue reading
My first lobster roll of the season is at Jennifer’s home in late May or early June. A couple of years ago she started serving the salad on thick slices of ripe tomato when she noticed we were leaving buns on our plates to save room for extra chips, wine, and/or dessert. Last week, bolstered … Continue reading
Several years ago Peggy used rhubarb to prepare a delicious take on lemon squares. It’s still rhubarb season; the rhubarb plant in the garden continues to produce, so here’s our version of Peg’s delicious bars. The tartness of the rhubarb plus the richness of the creamy orange scented filling and shortbread crust combine to make … Continue reading
A friend lost her father in May. At 93, he’d lived an active, long, rich, productive life, setting personal and professional examples for family and friends. Best, he died with a dinner party for the following Sunday on his calendar… which he was to have hosted! 10-15 of us weren’t able to travel from Maine … Continue reading
Apologies for not providing the recipe for Gus’s Crab Cakes before Oxbow won the Preakness; they would have been perfect for your racing day menu. Never mind. Make them for late spring and summer dinners going forward. We recently served them with a dollop of homemade tarter sauce on a bed of fresh pea shoots … Continue reading
If, IF, you have any Burnt Honey Caramel Sauce left from last week, try these scones. The slight smokiness of the burnt honey plus the brightness of the orange zest make them the perfect vehicle for a little butter and as much Blood Orange Marmalade as you like. Because we’re using (liquid) sweetener, the body … Continue reading
Toasted sesame seeds in a rich cake topped with bittersweet chocolate ganache. Make it once and it’ll find a way into your repertoire. It’s easy to prepare and has a cool first step: heating the seeds in a skillet until they start to crackle and pop, removing from the heat, adding cold milk, and stirring … Continue reading
The rhubarb is up in the garden. Stalks are short and tender, but red enough to harvest for a first Rhubarb Cake of the season. I didn’t like it as kid. Mom celebrated spring by baking Strawberry Rhubarb Pie or Crumble, but I was alway happy when it was no longer available in the market. … Continue reading
This is trusting you made Mint Pesto last week and either have some left over or the determination to make more. The mint in our garden is still low, but delicate and sweet: perfect for the second batch of pesto in as many days. Think about (doubling) the amount of lemon juice: try a bit … Continue reading
Gluten Free Gus 