Christmas is a most excellent time to pie, don’t you agree? And yet you want this pie to be special. You want to honor tradition but add your special twist; to meet your guests’ expectations, but not to exhaust yourself. You got it: Not one but two utterly divine desserts you can make in advance,… Continue reading A Time to Pie
chef Stephanie Valentine
A Perfect Autumn Salad – for Thanksgiving and Beyond
Searching for a wonderful autumn-y, crunchy, yummy, interesting salad that even Mike-y will like? Do you love kale salad but enough with the kale salads already? I hear you. This is so good, and so deliciously seasonal, and no cooking required…that is my kind of cooking. Especially so close to Thanksgiving. This would even be great served at Thanksgiving.
The Best Jambalaya Ever–and Great for a Crowd
This is one of those perfect dishes to make when you don’t know what to make, and it’s a huge crowd pleaser. With the Super Bowl in New Orleans and Mardi Gras coming, a little Cajun comfort food seems just right. Full of shrimp, sausage, chicken, and sumptuously savory rice, this jambalaya is fool-proof and… Continue reading The Best Jambalaya Ever–and Great for a Crowd
When Turkey and White Bean Chili Is Just the Thing
You may not want to think about cooking for a while, but if you make this chili and freeze part of it, you’ll have banked at least one night off. Comes in handy over the holidays. Also the perfect thing just when you can’t eat one more sweet potato casserole, slab of stuffing, or stick… Continue reading When Turkey and White Bean Chili Is Just the Thing
Cucumber Soup to Cool Summer’s Sizzle
You will wonder how you’ve gotten this far into summer, and possibly into life itself, without this cold cucumber soup. Stop on your way home today and get the ingredients, and whip up a batch asap. Takes 15 minutes, max. Chill. Repeat. All summer long. You will want a supply in your fridge at least until Labor… Continue reading Cucumber Soup to Cool Summer’s Sizzle
Happy 4th of July From Rancho La Zaca
I’m back at the ranch this week and Cowboy (for new readers, His Grace the Cowboy is my sweetheart) and I have my nephew and three of his buds flying in from Georgia. For their 18th birthdays my nieces and nephew each get a trip with Auntie anywhere they want to go. John Rex wanted… Continue reading Happy 4th of July From Rancho La Zaca