All Four Burners

Oh my, why is it so very hot? It was well over 90 degrees today. Which meant that it was over 80 degrees inside my house, due to poor insulation, old windows, and lack of window coverings. After over 3 years of Matt’s badgering, I have finally agreed to spring for air conditioning…once we get new […]

I dream of tropical climes. Ok, I realize that I am back in the Mediterranean climate of the Bay Area so I (arguably) have little right to complain. This morning’s unexpected rain does not compare to the anticipated 20-something inches of snow in the Boston and New York metropolitan areas this weekend. But it is […]

Look, there’s a reason why the folks of Downton Abbey serve “bought marmalade.” Marmalade is not easy. It’s exacting. It’s laborious. It demands several hours of hands-on time for a modest yield. It dirties an crushing number of pots and other dishes. Boy (howdy), I am glad that I don’t wash the dishes around here.

I wish that I could say that it was talent that predicted this combination would work. I suppose the sweet flatness of the apricots amplifies the tangy tartness of the lime and the piquant snap of the black pepper.

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 […]