With the leaves turning all manner of golden blond, brown, and red, organize a meditative afternoon hike through the outdoors to appreciate the changing Fall foliage. Bring your family and friends, and keep their appetites at bay by offering an irresistible homemade version of trail mix. The Halloween-eager sweet tooth won't be able to resist a sophisticated spin on gorp that incorporates Read more

Move over, classic and German potato salad. I like you both a lot, really, but I've found a new Summer obsession, and it's called French potato salad. How do I love thee, French potato salad? Let me count the ways: You're a class act, with your dainty fingerling potatoes and your sherry vinaigrette. You can satisfy even the fiercest of mayonnaise-dressing haters, and you're lighter on the Read more

During the Summer, I love to experiment with different salad recipes. There's a plethora of fruits and vegetables to choose from at the market, and the hot weather almost requires salads as a side dish. Since I had never cooked with Israeli couscous, I recently made this scrumptious salad. Israeli couscous, or pearl couscous as it's sometimes called, is larger than regular couscous and has a Read more

Next month, my friends and I will head to Calistoga for a bachelorette party. We've rented a house and will take the weekend to honor the bride, Melissa, with pool time, good eats, and lots of wine. On Friday night I am planning the dinner. I'll do the majority of the cooking at the house, but want to make the dessert in advance. This way, once the celebratory meal gets started, I won't have to Read more