Homemade ice cream, part two: Fruit ice cream

August 2, 2011

Today we’re going to talk about fruit ice cream. As I said in that last post, fruit ice cream is one step more complicated than basic ice cream – but only that.

Summer project: Homemade ice cream

July 28, 2011

Have I ever told you that ice cream is my favorite food? That I eat it almost every day? That I only hesitatingly admit to, more than once, eating a whole pint in one evening? That, as much as I like all desserts, at the end of a nice meal at a nice restaurant, no matter what’s on the dessert menu, I almost always order ice cream?

It’s sweet, it’s cold, it’s creamy, it’s refreshing. What more could you want?

A magical place

July 11, 2011

Some places are just special. Magical. Operating on another astral plane. Existing inside a harmonic convergence. Something.

Rancho La Puerta, in Tecate, Mexico, is also one of those places.

An argument for off-dry

June 27, 2011

I said it in both of my books, but I guess I like saying it, because I’m going to say it again: I have no idea how or why off-dry wines became so unhip, but they absolutely shouldn’t be.

For Father’s Day, take a tip from Dad and grill

June 16, 2011

My dad is a master of the grill.

When I say that you might picture a funny-pages version of dad-as-griller, an only-on-weekends, back yard cook who humorously and consistently builds an unnecessarily huge fire, grills only the simplest of steaks, chops, and burgers, and serves them all just this side of incinerated. My dad, that is not.

Video: The recipes in 100 Perfect Pairings: Main Dishes

June 9, 2011

This is the third and final video (for now, at least) celebrating the release of “100 Perfect Pairings: Main Dishes to Enjoy with Wines You Love,” this time focusing on the recipes.

Spring project: Clean out your spice drawer!

May 25, 2011

Why? Because just like the rest of us, dried herbs and spices get old and tired. After about six months, or a year at the most, they don’t have the same vim and vigor that newer, fresher spices have. And so they need to be replaced.

Video: 100 Perfect Pairings food and wine pairing tips!

May 3, 2011

To continue celebrating the release of “100 Perfect Pairings: Main Dishes to Enjoy with Wines You Love,” here’s the second of three videos I made to support it.

It’s only 2 minutes long, and you might even learn something.

So take a peek.

Lavender-Scented Dreams

April 27, 2011

A few weeks ago, I had the good fortune to spend the day with Michaela Baltasar, Senior PR Manager of Jackson Family Wines. It was one of the goodies that came with winning a fellowship to the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers and included a tasting with Ted Edwards, director of winemaking at Freemark Abbey Winery; a garden tour and food and wine pairing lunch, care of chef Matthew Lowe and executive chef Justin Wangler, at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center; and a tasting with winemaker Marcia Monahan-Torres at Matanzas Creek Winery. I know – life is rough.

Video: Introducing 100 Perfect Pairings: Main Dishes!

April 19, 2011

Today – yes, this very day – my second cookbook, “100 Perfect Pairings: Main Dishes to Enjoy with Wines You Love,” is officially released! To celebrate, and to give you a sneak peak, I’m sharing a video I made to support it.