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Goat Cheese Biscuits with Wild Radish Flowers and Sage

Goat Cheese Bisquits

Spring Foraging

“Romie Lane was muddy with pools of water standing in the new wheel ruts, and the tall wild oats and mustard grew beside the road, with wild turnip forcing its boisterous way up and stickery beads of purple thistles rising above the green riot of the wet spring.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Early spring is an astonishing time to forage along the coast of California. Every patch of soil that was graced with winter rain has sprouted new shoots with tender blossoms floating on a sea of green leaves. Joy Colangelo gave Athena and me an introductory plant foraging lesson in Monterey. Joy is a co-owner of Monterey Bay Sea Salt and has been foraging for almost thirty years. Her knowledge of plant foraging is focused on survival skills. Not only what can be eaten to survive, but what plants can be used as shelter or even to supplement clothing to keep warm. It is the ultimate serendipity to find what you need right where you are! Time spent with Joy is inspiration to spend time learning more about the planet we inhabit. READ MORE . . .

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Whole Wheat Rolls with Tomato Pesto

Whole Wheat Rolls with tomato Pesto

A Glimpse of Summer

“It was very warm for March, and the kite wind blew steadily from the south and turned up the silver undersides of the leaves.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I found out where summer is hiding. It’s such a small thing but I am ecstatic! You can catch me buying greenhouse grown tomatoes during the winter. I just can’t help myself. I miss the robust flavor of fresh tomatoes in salads and most of all the sweet intensity of roasted tomatoes. At the grocery store I noticed a packet of sun dried tomatoes–just tomatoes, in a package similar to dried fruit. I peered in the small clear window to inspect the contents and then gave the package a hearty squeeze. The tomatoes were soft and a bright sunny red. I couldn’t believe I’d uncovered a glimpse of summer hiding at the grocery store! READ MORE . . .

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Spiced Banana Faro Muffins with Ginger Streusel Topping

Spiced Banana Faro Muffins

Lounging Bananas Cause Disturbance

“He lay hidden during the day and went in search of food at night–turnips, a few ears of corn from a crib, a few windfall apples–nothing that would be missed.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Ripe bananas have a haunting quality. In the beginning they hold such great promise as a snack tucked in a lunch bag or perched atop cereal for breakfast. They lounge in the fruit bowl until green becomes yellow— and then brown. When the brown spots appear I wonder where the sunny topical escape went? Still lounging and now forgotten in the fruit bowl I must decide the fate of the very ripe bananas. It is disturbing to throw them away and yet Banana Bread often sounds too mundane. Besides I need three bananas for my Banana Bread recipe, and sometimes I only have two bananas. Bananas can be frozen and I did that once. I ended up with a huge bag of frozen bananas. I just kept adding bananas to the bag. I wasn’t using the bananas, I was storing them. With an inventory of two ripe bananas I decided muffins were to be made. And not just any old boring muffin, I wanted a muffin to cure the lounging banana disturbance. READ MORE . . .

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Croissants and Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Croissants

Baking as Therapy

“Lee sighed. He had worked so hard, so tenderly, and his work seemed to have succeeded.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Baking as therapy. I mistakenly thought the therapy was the indulgence. Rich, if just for that moment. The sweet buttery tenderness we crave. Each lush bite eases the unexpected sharp curves in the road we travel. The intoxication of satiety cushions the bumps on the long ride home. Instant gratification is a constant companion on any road trip. Are we there yet? When will we arrive? The drive is for results. The process of driving just gets us where we want to go. Baking gets us to the sweet spot where the traffic lights are all green. But the therapy is in the doing. Creating when the hands and mind connect and work in unison is when the frenzy of a busy mind disappears. This is the therapy. When restless, sad or filled with anxiety get busy. Just the act of starting will coax the mind to tag along for the sweet ride. READ MORE . . .

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Whole Wheat Bread with Radicchio

Radicchio bread

Radicchio di Chioggia

“The departure of six carloads of lettuce packed in ice was given a civic overtone. The Chamber of Commerce attended the departure. The cars were decorated with big posters which said, ‘Salinas Valley Lettuce’. But no one wanted to invest in the project.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

In East of Eden John Steinbeck writes about the Salinas Valley before it became known as the “Lettuce Bowl of the World”. Transporting the bounty of the Valley across the United States began in earnest in the late 1920’s with rail cars filled with lettuce packed in ice. Now trucks move an ever growing variety of produce from the Valley to it’s destination. Like lettuce, radicchio thrives in the Mediterranean like climate of the Salinas Valley. I wanted to learn more about the crisp, bright, maroon chicory that is grown locally by Royal Rose Radicchio. Emily Lyons, Marketing Manager at Royal Rose Radicchio graciously gave Athena and me a tour of a Salinas radicchio field. READ MORE . . .