All Four Burners

Fudgy chocolate brownies

Posted on 23 September 2010 | 8 responses

I have a confession to make: I don’t like chocolate.

No, don’t go…I’m not crazy. Hear me out.

I do think chocolate is ok. It’s good enough, but I’m never going to pick a molten chocolate cake over a lemon tart. And I usually need my chocolate cut by vanilla or caramel. I just don’t buy into the whole cult of chocolate.

Spicy tomato jam with ginger

Posted on 21 September 2010 | 5 responses

Yay tomatoes!

After what was possibly the worst summer on record, tomatoes are finally here! In all their glory!

Sure, I made that tomato salad a few months ago, but those were transported all the way from the East Coast. We finally have our very own (California) tomatoes! Heirlooms, shady ladies, and many others for only $2 a pound. Hooray!

I love tomatoes. I love their jewel-toned colors. I love their funky shapes. I love their almost endless variety. But, most of all, I love their luscious juicy sweetness. I love that they range from melt-in-your-mouth tender to being almost meaty, but still with a fundamentally tomato-y taste.

Spinach, leek, and potato soup

Posted on 16 September 2010 | 2 responses

Another weekend day; another discounted tour.

Sunday took me hiking and wine tasting with some friends at Picchetti Ranch and Winery. I had hiked at Picchetti several times before, but had never stopped at the tasting room. To be honest, I had assumed that, being so open to the public, the winery couldn’t be that good. Apparently, my definition of good wines applied only to those that require multi-hour road trips to tiny inaccessible tasting rooms and overnight stays.

Classic basil pesto

Posted on 14 September 2010 | 6 responses

I have decided to reclaim my life.

I have been spending far too much time at work lately–gearing up for what promises to be a revolutionary release–and am in dire need of some non-work time to recharge.

Conveniently, those group-buying sites have conspired to fill my weekend with some fun experiences.