Potatoes are one of world’s best comfort foods. Baked, fried, roasted, sautéed, grilled. They are all tasty, if well prepared. By themselves, potatoes are a healthy food choice. What changes that is how they are prepared and what we put on them. I like butter, sour cream, cheese and bacon... Read more →

Discovery While shopping at the Campbell farmer’s market my wife and I discovered the Corralitos Brewing Company tent. It was the first time we ever saw beer tasting at a farmer’s market. We were impressed with this local brew and decided to go visit the brewery. A mural in historic... Read more →

This is the time of year my farmer’s market is full of fresh, organic, vine-ripened tomatoes and basil. Perfect for making a caprese salad. The scent of them wafts in the air as I walk by, reminding me that summer is almost here, and it’s time for one of my... Read more →

We were visiting my father-in-law last week. On the way out the door he gifted us with some lamb chops. This is not a cut of meat we normally cook. We’re about leg of lamb or shoulder cuts, for kebabs or stew. These lamb shops were about 1-1/2 inches thick... Read more →

Cinco de Mayo is a hot topic this week. In our house we look to Mexico for inspiring flavors all year. One of my favorite flavors from Mexico comes from the chipotle pepper. This wonderful pepper is made from smoked jalepeño peppers, smothered in adobo sauce. The word “chipotle” comes... Read more →

Why the Carson Valley, you ask? The answer is simple. The Carson Valley is located in northwestern Nevada, just south of Lake Tahoe at the bottom of Kingsbury Grade. This valley offers a wealth of outdoor experiences, expansive vistas and a relaxing atmosphere. When I’m in the area every summer... Read more →

Tilapia with sautéed shitake, capers and shallots I’m big fan of easy and healthy food. After a long day at work, it’s nice to have a fast meal without sacrificing taste or healthy eating. You can’t go wrong with tilapia topped with sautéed organic shitake mushrooms. You can find organic... Read more →

Several of you have asked for vegan or vegetarian recipes. There will be many of these, as my wife and I love vegetables. Here’s the first. The day I started experimenting with this recipe was cold and rainy. My thoughts turned to a bowl of rich creamy soup. I wanted... Read more →

The base of any good soup and many other dishes is stock. Making your own vegetable stock is easy and helps use the parts of vegetables you would otherwise throw away. You can tailor stock to meet the needs of any recipe or personal taste. If you are going for... Read more →

Garbanzos are in. Literally. Right now you can find them fresh at your local grocery or farmer's market. The spring harvest brings with it a bounty of shelling beans: snap peas, fava beans, all manner of legumes make their appearance at this time of year. If you eat these when... Read more →