by Anne Papina on November 3, 2013
Here in San Francisco, the quest to find the best falafel seems never ending. I should know, I’ve been sampling them all over town for as long as I can remember. The one place that had it right, Just Like Home, disappeared eons ago. Meanwhile a parade of places serving dried-up hockey pucks has taken its place, usually over-hyped and over-priced. And I’m sorry to say, Trader Joe’s, you know I love you, but the patties in your freezer section just don’t cut it. So when Amanda over at Macromama announced she was hosting a Middle Eastern themed #SundaySupper, I decided it was high time I start making my own falafel–perhaps I should have started in my own kitchen in the first place!
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by Anne Papina on October 31, 2013
(Bones of the Dead Cookies)
Celebrations of Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, date back to ancient times, originating from the Celtic festival “Samhain” (sah-win) — a harvest festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the “season of darkness and cold.” While the festival itself was one of joy, the Celts believed “Samhain” to be the “Lord of Death” who allowed spirits to return to their former homes on earth, only on October 31. Many of today’s Halloween traditions stem from these early beliefs.
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by Anne Papina on October 27, 2013
With the holidays fast approaching, my thoughts are turning to the comfort foods that grace our family table. The roasted turkey and the family’s “green” dressing are a constant, but beyond that, the years have seen a dizzying parade of sides and desserts. Some hits, some misses–I’m always up for trying something new. Yet, in all this time, I’ve overlooked one of my favorite potato dishes–my sister’s sour cream potatoes. Since she lives in Spokane, we don’t get them very often. How silly is that? Especially considering she gave me the recipe, oh, say 20 years ago! So, while visiting my mom last week, I decided to whip some up.
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by Anne Papina on October 20, 2013
Who says cranberry sauce is just for the holidays? Around here, we love it on turkey sandwiches, so we roast turkey breast all year ’round, just for the sauce! When I saw that the Foodie Stuntman was getting all saucy this week (for #SundaySupper), I knew I wanted to bring this cranberry sauce–instead of water, the cranberries are simmered in ruby port. I know, right? Sometimes all it takes is swapping out one ingredient to go from delicious to brilliant. This is one of those times.
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by Anne Papina on October 13, 2013
by Anne Papina on October 6, 2013
As we drift into the cooler months, our thoughts turn to soups, stews … hearty one-pot meals that simmer all day and fill the house with the aroma of something decidedly good. This week’s #SundaySupper is dedicated to those recipes, and Amy over at Kimchi Mom is hosting. I had a hankering for this fabulous French cassoulet, so that’s what we’re making today.
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by Anne Papina on September 29, 2013
Ever notice how some cravings revolve around texture rather than taste? Sometimes I want something creamy, decadent, then other times it’s all about the crunch, which happens to be the theme of this week’s #SundaySupper! Susan over at The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen is hosting a crunch-fest, and below you’ll find dozens of recipes loaded with crunchy goodness. I’m bringing Penny’s famous taco salad to this virtual shindig.
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by Anne Papina on September 27, 2013
What is it about fall that sends us into baking mode? Does that nip in the air propel us to the kitchen, whisk in hand? Gearing up for the holiday season to come? Meanwhile the markets are brimming with pumpkins and other squashes that work oh-so-well with sweet spices. And of course there are the apples. Lots and lots of apples–over 7500 varieties of apples! Despite such delicious diversity, I still find Granny Smiths to be the best for baking because their tartness provides balance to all the sugar, plus they hold their shape well. This apple gingerbread upside-down cake reminds us of all that is good about this time of year.
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by Anne Papina on September 22, 2013
What’s not to love about fall? Thoughts of turning leaves, cool, crisp evenings, and cozy sweaters paint a romantic portrait in my mind. But in my San Francisco reality, much of that won’t pan out yet as the fog finally clears, making way for our Indian Summer. Sure, leaves will turn, eventually, but without all the pomp and circumstance of the East Coast leaves. And then there’s the food. Lots of homey, comforting foods made with apples, pumpkins, butternut squashes, and this week the #SundaySupper crew has a cornucopia of fall inspired recipes for you, hosted by Soni over at Soni’s Food. I’m bringing a special treat–penne with a spicy pumpkin and sausage sauce.
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by Anne Papina on September 20, 2013
Comfort food comes in many forms, depending on your background. In our family, things like drunken chicken and stuffed zucchini are near the top of the list. There are a couple of dishes that are extra special, though–homemade ravioli being one of them. And if you’ve ever made ravioli, you know it can be a time consuming project, especially when making them in batches of about 500. What can I say? We love our ravioli! So, when mom was short on time, she whipped up this stuff-a-roni.
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, I had to have it. As I may have mentioned before, I have a thing for cookbooks. Throw in a history lesson or two, and I’m clamoring for a copy.
