Planning an Easter brunch for the family or hosting a relaxed Sunday gathering with friends? Hosting a weekend brunch is a breeze with most of the prep work done ahead, ensuring you get to join the fun too! Crafting a brunch menu entails a mix of savory and sweet offerings served buffet-style. From overnight French...Read More

On St. Patrick’s Day, there’s no dish quite as iconic as a hearty serving of corned beef. This traditional Irish-American dish, gently braised with spices and vegetables, symbolizes the festive Irish spirit of the occasion. Served alongside steaming cabbage, carrots, and creamy new potatoes or boxty, each bite of succulent corned beef evokes the rich...Read More

Sauerkraut stands as a favorite beginner’s project for home fermentation enthusiasts due to its simplicity. It’s a straightforward recipe requiring just cabbage, salt, and a bit of scientific understanding. Once mastered, it opens doors to a variety of other fermented foods like pickles and kimchi! The Science Behind Sauerkraut Lactobacillus bacteria, known as “friendly” bacteria,...Read More

Elevate your diet effortlessly by incorporating microgreens – the tiny but mighty nutrition boosters. Ounce for ounce, microgreens pack more nutrients than virtually any other natural food. These miniature wonders are the seedlings of various plants, typically between seven to ten days old, sprouted from seeds yet to develop true leaves. Despite their small size,...Read More

Artichokes are ubiquitous on the Central California coast. Artichokes love the mild, foggy climate. Fields of artichokes in various stages of maturing flank both sides of Highway One on the way to Monterey. Castroville is the official artichoke capital and hosts the annual Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival. While artichokes are available year-round, the...Read More

This hot honey recipe is easy to make and can be used in so many delicious ways! Everyone loves this spicy-sweet condiment on everything from drizzling a bit over appetizers, on fried chicken, grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, and cornbread, or adding a bit to your hot tea or a cocktail. It also makes a great...Read More

If you are thinking about holiday gift ideas for friends and family, you may not have to go any further than your pantry! Ingredients like dried fruits and nuts are plentiful now at our farmers’ markets — just in time for making delectable food gifts. Late fall fruits like apples and persimmons make excellent fruit...Read More

Whether you’re preparing a traditional Thanksgiving feast for your family or hosting a small Friendsgiving dinner with a few special friends, we have a collection of holiday recipes that are sure to please your guests. You’ll find holiday favorites such as apple and pecan pies (including a recipe for gluten-free pie crust), a helpful reference...Read More

Most families have favorite stuffing or dressing recipes that have been passed down for several generations. If you weren’t privy to the early Thanksgiving morning kitchen activities as a kid, there’s a chance you may have missed watching Mom or Grandma making their signature stuffing. There are many stuffing recipes and variations from region to...Read More

Instead of reaching for a can of commercially canned pumpkin, consider making your own delectable fresh pie filling with locally grown squash from the farmers’ market. But wait — which pumpkins are used for pies? Pumpkins are squash — but not all squash are pumpkins — nor are all pumpkins created equally! To understand this...Read More