Oof -- last week was full of, well, for lack of a better way to summarize: fixin' stuff. The warranties on the car, household items, and yes, yours truly, are wearing thin. Mechanics, plumbers, and physical therapists are my new BFFs. That's why, when the weekend finally arrived, I was looking forward to doing whatever … Continue reading Grow Local: Pick a Pepper
To look at our weather forecast, you wouldn't think that summer is on its way out. Yet, as much as I hate to say it (and I do -- summer is my favorite time of year), it's true. I looked out my kitchen window this morning and noticed that my garden was no longer getting … Continue reading You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto
Ever have one of those days when you come home from work, and it's -- ugh -- too hot to cook dinner, and yet, you still want a satisfying, homemade meal? Sometimes you just gotta go with your cravings and make something on the fly! This was exactly what long-time 650 resident and avid gardener, … Continue reading 650 Cooks: Suzanne’s Tomato-Watermelon Salad
One of the items on my Summer Bucket List this year is "blackberry picking at a local farm." Blackberry season here in the Bay Area is rather short, usually running from the end of June until the end of July. If you want to get the best berries (or any berries at all, for that … Continue reading Field Trip: Webb Ranch Blackberry Fields
If you follow national food holidays, then you might know that yesterday was National Peach Ice Cream Day. Years ago, I came across a super-easy recipe for fresh peach ice cream in the New York Times Magazine. It's the kind of recipe that makes you want to make fresh ice cream as soon as possible: … Continue reading I Scream, You Scream: Easy Apricot Honey Ice Cream
Recently, while I was sitting in my home office putting together a post for this blog, I heard my elderly neighbor -- the one with the tomatoes -- yelling my name as he came across my driveway to the back door. He'd come over to give me a "zucchini" from his garden. Now that both … Continue reading Cooking from the Garden: Get Stuffed
The recent hot, hot days have kicked off the ripening process for stone fruit trees here in the 650. The 75-year-old apricot tree in my backyard is heavy with pale-orange, blush-kissed fruit. Every morning for the past week, I've stood under that tree, looking up and pondering which small treasures to pick for the day. … Continue reading Grow Local: Got Stone Fruit?
I hope you rested up after National Doughnut Day yesterday, because today is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day! Come to think of it, you better pace yourself because June is packed full of sweet food holidays. Oh, and in case you missed it, National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day was on June 2, but don't … Continue reading I Scream, You Scream: Rich Chocolate Sherbet and Rocky Road Redux
It's been one of those weeks: delays, fixes, and do-overs. Nail in the tire of my car (amazingly, same time as last year's nail in the tire -- what's up with that?!). Clogged drain. Leaking shower. Browser that keeps screeching to a halt, forcing reboots. You get the idea: one step forward, two steps back. … Continue reading Hit the Road!
It seems that I have a problem when it comes to citrus -- oranges, in particular. After taking a quick inventory of my refrigerator recently, it turns out that citrus (mostly of the orange kind) has taken over both of the crisper drawers. As in, the drawers are so full that I can barely open … Continue reading Orange You Glad?
