Beyond the Recipe | Edible Paradise

Welcome to Beyond the Recipe

Rediscovering the knowledge that helps us eat well, live well, and become more connected to our food.

Great food is about more than what happens in the kitchen. Beyond the Recipe explores the connections between the food we eat, the people who grow it, and the choices that shape our health and communities. From seasonal recipes and nutrition insights to homemade yogurt, sourdough, canning, and other traditional kitchen skills, this is a place to learn, explore, and reconnect with food in a more meaningful way. Our goal is simple: to help preserve the knowledge, skills, and traditions that make healthy eating more accessible, sustainable, and rewarding.

How to Boil or Roast Fresh Peanuts

Raw peanuts are a rare find at most California farmers’ markets, but we’re lucky to have KT Farms as one of our vendors. Known for bringing unique and seasonal produce, KT Farms delights customers with a special treat: fresh peanuts. These are not the typical roasted peanuts you find in a jar—they’re freshly harvested, full...

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How to Make Almond Milk

Homemade almond milk is fresh, creamy, and free of unnecessary additives. It’s surprisingly easy to make with just a handful of ingredients, and the flavor is so much better than most store-bought versions. Once you’ve made a batch, you can customize it with sweeteners, flavorings, or spices to suit your taste. INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cups...

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How to Make Soffritto

Think of how often a dish begins with a simple sauté of onions, carrots, and celery. In Italy, this classic trio is called soffritto. In France, the same combination cooked in butter is known as mirepoix. For everyday cooking, I prefer using a light-flavored olive oil or even a neutral oil like grapeseed, so I...

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Summer Squash Tips

Summer squash are another New World food with deep culinary history. Zucchini—originally known as cocozelle in Italy—were bred there and brought to the United States by immigrants. By the 1920s, the Tuscan name zucchini became the word we use today. How to Purchase and Store Summer Squash Choose wisely: Look for squash that feel dense...

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Tapenade – An Easy Mediterranean Classic

Most people think of olives first when thinking of tapenade, but the word tapenade actually comes from the Provençal word “tapeno,” which means “caper.” I like to keep this in mind when making tapenade to remind myself to keep the balance between the caper and the olive, which can easily dominate this versatile paste. I...

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Basic Fermented Hot Sauce

Discover the satisfaction of creating your very own homemade hot sauce — it may even tempt you to ditch store-bought options! The possibilities are nearly endless for various combinations of hot chilies and seasonings to concoct your perfect blend. You can use all of one kind of pepper or chili or use a combination. The...

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Chef’s Guide for Selecting and Cooking Fish

With summer around the corner and seafood in abundance at the farmers market, now is the perfect time to brush up on how to choose and cook fish. This season you’ll find both fresh and frozen options from H & H Fresh Fish Company (Aptos Farmers Market), La Marea by the Sea (Monterey Farmers Market),...

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How to Cook Spelt

Nutty, hearty, and pleasantly chewy, spelt is an ancient grain that makes a versatile base for countless dishes. Toasting the grains before simmering brings out their warm, aromatic character, while cooking them with herbs infuses subtle depth. Spelt is excellent as a side dish, tossed into salads, stirred into soups, or even used as a...

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How to Make Homemade Spice Blends

Why buy spice blends when you can make them fresher, cheaper, and better at home? Homemade seasoning mixes cost just a fraction of the price of store-bought versions and contain none of the anti-caking agents or fillers often added to commercial blends. Start with fresh, high-quality spices, and store your mixes in airtight containers to...

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