Bacon IS a trail snack.

As a single career girl with three very large dogs, an old, very retired Arabian endurance horse and a rescue donkey, I rarely have time to eat sitting down.  Eating over the sink is a luxury too although the clean up crew is always ready to help out at a moments notice.  Lately I've been thinking a lot about, and missing the days of Saturday night dinner parties.  All of us sitting around till the wee hours, emptying bottle after bottle of fabulous wine and discussing the state of the world we live in. I don't think there even needs to be anything to celebrate to whip up a delicious, inventive menu, invite guests (let them know they need to "dress" for dinner), pick up some lovely flowers for a whimsical center piece and start cookin'! (ending)  I hope you can make it to the next one.  You know the food will be great!

It's the middle of January.  The "dead" of winter as it's referred to in some literature. Nothing much "dead" about this winter in my house!  From late night root vegetable roasting that sends a heavenly scent throughout my mini Winchester Mystery House, to pop up dinner parties bringing together old friends and new; nope, nothing "dead" about THIS winter. After working all day in an industry where nothing is ever what it appears to be and the word "creative" has little to no real meaning anymore, I find comfort in knowing that when I open my fridge and cupboards there is ALWAYS something delicious, patiently waiting to be created.   I think about food, pretty much all day long... how many different types of chowders can I come up with?  How do I want to use that lovely black onyx cocoa powder I received as a hostess gift from an amazing chef colleague?  It's going to rain later this week, should I grill all the halibut I h...

Someone blinked and 2017 is pretty much over.   Not that many of us dare brave the New Year's Eve crowd (amateur night as it is known in the family) anymore.   I prefer to stay close to home and entertain a handful culinary savvy friends to ring in the New Year. Historically I have thrown a New Year's Day party that includes hair of the dog,  a huge vat of white bean and turkey chili, a poker game and of course watching the Rose Bowl Parade...  ...and College Bowl games but I thought that 2018 needed something a little special.   "A Proper, Grown Up Dinner Party". The key is to start earlier so guests can make their way safely home before the ball drops.   Here's my menu and timeline (by no means is it an exact science or following any Miss Manners list!) I hope you find it helpful! December 31st 2017 5PM - Cocktails, hors'derves 6PM - 1...

Every year about this time, all I want to do is bake pies.  Big pies, little pies, one crust pies, two crust pies, fancy-shmancy lattice topped pies.

Although it's topping 114ºF here in Shadow Hills, CA over this long, last-kick-at-Summer holiday weekend, I can't help wishing for that first sign of Fall.  Snuggly sweaters, big fuzzy socks, heavily spiked Hot Cocoa... mmmm, I can just taste it! When we were kids, the end of Summer was always marked by the Jerry Lewis Telethon (was it possible to stay up all night?), shopping for the last bits of things needed to start the new school year and one final Cook Out before Dad would cover up the grill and wheel it back into the garage until next Summer. There were always people visiting at one time or another over Labor Day weekend.  Friends coming back from Holiday up in Cottage Country would stop in, knowing full well the grill would be fired up, ice cold beer in the cooler and that final cannon ball into the pool before they head back to their respective homes in the City.    Man, I think back and smile. Remembering. SNAP OUT OF IT J...