It’s the Pits!

Late spring marks the start of stone fruit season. (So-called because these fruits contain a single pit, or “stone.”) First come cherries and then apricots, followed by peaches, nectarines, plums, and all their various hybrids. Unlike the tasteless, mealy imports found in supermarkets, your farmers’ market carries tree-ripened, locally grown fruit—just the way nature intended. …

Market Fresh – Sweet Peas

I always seem to have a package of frozen peas in my freezer “for an emergency.” And I think the last time I used them was indeed an emergency—when I needed an ice pack to soothe a grandson’s skinned knee. There’s nothing wrong with eating frozen peas, of course. They are one of those vegetables …

Seeing Green – Market Fresh

Given my heritage, one might think March would be all about St. Patrick’s Day. And—well, okay—I admit to giving that particular holiday perhaps more than its fair share of attention. But as soon as I spot the first bunches of asparagus at the farmers’ market, I become slightly obsessed by a different shade of green. …

Market Fresh – Romancing the Radish

When spring is still a whisper away, it’s a good time to explore the cool-weather vegetables we normally take for granted….and I’m hard-pressed to think of one more overlooked than the humble radish. Often dismissed as little more than a colorful afterthought for crudité platters, there is probably not a grocery store in California that …

Market Fresh – Starting Fresh

In the aftermath of holiday excess, it is comforting to sit down to a healthy meal at home…providing it’s something appealing and delicious. The good news here is that the words “healthy” and “delicious” need not cancel out each other. I would be the last person on the planet to recommend dining on a tablespoon …

Market Fresh – Chilling Out with Style

  In a perfect world I would spend this month leisurely baking cookies, tying tartan ribbons around the hundreds of(imaginary) jars of jam I made last summer, and writing personal notes in every single holiday card. But the reality of December is an entirely different matter. In addition to my regular work schedule, there are …

Giving Thanks

The holiday season kicks into full force this month, commencing with a very special meal on Thursday, November 24. Since Thanksgiving dinner is designed to showcase nature’s bounty, shopping at the farmers’ market makes more sense than ever. It is also a very important way to give thanks to the people who grow the food …

Market Fresh – Heading for Fall

I always savor the gentle change of seasons, but the transition from summer to autumn may be my favorite of all. Crisp mornings, shorter days, and cozy evenings at home rekindle my nesting instinct. The backyard grill enjoys a temporary reprieve while soups and stews simmer in the kitchen. There is a wreath on the …

A Taste of the Southwest

I used to think the word “zucchini” was fun to say until I learned its Spanish equivalent, “calabacitas.” The very sound of it (calla-ba-SEE-tas!) makes me want to grab my maracas and clench a rose between my teeth. Although it literally translates to “little squash,” calabacitas is mostly used to describe a traditional Southwestern vegetable …

Market Fresh: Shopping with a Purpose

Recently I spent a week in Austin, Texas, where I attended the annual conference of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. For a taste of local color and a bit of homespun humor, our keynote speaker was Jim Hightower, a populist who prides himself on watching over “The Powers That Be on behalf of the …

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