A post-holiday visit over a cup of tea

January 16, 2012

It’s been a while since we talked, and since then the holidays have come and gone. Whew. Can’t believe how fast that always happens.

In all the hubbub, I didn’t get a chance to wish you a merry Christmas, or Hanukkah or kwanza, or a happy New Year. Which is not so much a reflection on how much I wish you all those things as a reflection of how quickly they all got by me.

So how about the next best thing – a post-holiday visit over a cup of (virtual) tea?

Trendy twists for the holidays

December 15, 2011

It’s the same every year. I want to make the nostalgic holiday foods that the season inspires, yet I also want to branch out, jazz things up, and enjoy dishes other than the same-old, same-old.

According to the National Pork Board, I’m not alone. Their recent “Holiday Table Trends” survey revealed that, while tradition is important, it’s continuing to take a back seat in holiday cooking. The survey went on to identify six food trends for the season – and not too coincidentally, they asked me to develop a recipe to celebrate each of them.

Some really cool treats, in plenty of time for Halloween

October 12, 2011

I want to tell you about a really cool gig I had, which led me to discover some really cool treats that I think you’ll enjoy knowing about.

Last January, I was hired by Cooking Light magazine to help with their annual Taste Test Awards. My job was to nominate five artisanal food products from the northwest, which basically meant that I got to contact the northwest’s best specialty food producers, ask them to send samples of their products, taste them, and pick my favorites.

How fun is that, right?

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: 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.

What I learned at the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers

March 11, 2011

During the last week of February, I attended the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa Valley. Before too much time goes by, I want to share a little of what I learned.

Looking back, looking forward

January 13, 2011

With 2010 barely visible in the rear-view mirror, I’m thinking about the year that was and the year I hope 2011 will be.

Everything I’d want for Christmas if I didn’t already have it in a box somewhere

December 14, 2010

Over a month ago, in this post here, I mentioned that a flood decommissioned my kitchen and I’d tell you about it later. Well, it’s later, a month later in fact, and the kitchen is still decommissioned.

And so, inspired by the tools, toys, and ingredients that I have and love – but am currently unable to use because I have no kitchen and they’re packed up in a box somewhere – I give you this holiday gift guide.

Book #2 update, or what happens between manuscript and finished, printed book

August 11, 2010

Book #2, previously known as “100 Perfect Pairings: Entrees to Enjoy with Wines You Love” but now known as “100 Perfect Pairings: Main Dishes to Enjoy with Wines You Love – I miss the alliteration of “entrees to enjoy” but had to agree with my publisher that some readers might think “entrees” too high-falutin’ – is coming along nicely.

As you know if you’ve been following along, I turned in the manuscript for this, my second cookbook in the “100 Perfect Pairings” series, in January, and then photography happened in February. (If you haven’t been following along, here’s a post about the photo shoot.)