Clams Puttanesca

I love seafood any time of year, but there is something about summer that makes me crave really fresh and briny shellfish. We recently took a stunningly gorgeous drive to Hog Island Oysters, about 45 minutes from Monte Rio. The twisted road took us through bucolic roads flanked with pastures, to the sunny coastline, and [...]

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Lemon-Soy Grilled Shrimp and Scallops

This Japanese-inspired dish features my new favorite seafood marinade with great summer seafood. Its easy to prepare and so flavorful. I separated the scallops and shrimp onto different skewers because they cook different lengths of time. I skewered the lemon slices in between every couple pieces of seafood to enhance the lemon flavor. I also [...]

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Bacon Bourbon Baked Beans

This is a delicious summer side dish, improved with the addition of bourbon and bacon (and really, what isn’t?). I serve it with my pinot-pulled pork sandwich at the Big Bottom Market, and a number of people have asked for the recipe, so here it is for the taking.

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Butterscotch Pudding

Filed under [ Dessert, Gluten-free, Recipe and Vegetarian ]

The taste of this pudding takes me back to childhood desserts, and me eager with spoon in hand. Back then, we made the pudding from a box. I wanted to try an upgrade for the Market Dinner version. The key to making it really deep and butterscotch-y is to let the brown sugar cook and [...]

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Warm Potato and Leek Salad

Filed under [ Gluten-free, Recipe, Salads and Side Dishes ]

This is my favorite potato salad to date. Its somewhat Provencal, with its mustard-vinegar dressing, and sauteed leeks. In the springtime, I prefer it to the mayo version and its a little more high-brow. I have been serving it as a base for seafood, like cod or brown butter scallops, and I accent the seafood [...]

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Achiote Yucatan Chicken Tacos

Filed under [ Entree, Gluten-free, Low-fat and Recipe ]

I adore the Yucatan for many, many reasons. The warm air that smells of sea, the tropical jungles, the turquoise cenotes to swim through, are just some of the memories that top the list. The delicious, aromatic food is the only part of the experience that I can replicate back home. This chicken is all [...]

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Strawberry Clafoutis

Filed under [ Dessert, Recipe and Vegetarian ]

Fruit desserts are my favorite kind. I prefer the kind that let the fruit’s natural deliciousness shine through. This recipe fits the bill and is beautifully simple. The strawberries are intoxicatingly delicious this time of year so I wanted to create a dessert to highlight that. I have other recipes on this blog that are [...]

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Lentil-Barley Burgers

Filed under [ Entree, Low-fat and Recipe ]

This is the veggie burger that we served at the market dinner for our meat-avoiding friends. I wanted a burger that provided the same earthy, umami-laden satisfaction as a beef burger, and wasn’t crumbly or too mushy. This one did the trick. You could also serve this sans bun with a spicy salsa on top. [...]

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