‘Tis the Season of Chestnuts

Unless you are one of our faithful readers from my hometown in Italy, chances are you have never heard of the fall tradition of Törggelen. It’s the time when people in my town visit the farmers’ houses to try the first wine of the season, eat some cured speck and, best of all, snack on the most delicious fresh roasted chestnuts. It is a true celebration of the fall, and those chestnuts, “na so eppes guats”.  In case you haven’t figured it out, chestnuts are one of my favorite treats. Continue reading “‘Tis the Season of Chestnuts”

Happy Thanksgiving

“The funny thing about Thanksgiving, or any huge meal, is that you spend 12 hours shopping for it and then chopping and cooking and braising and blanching.  Then it takes 20 minutes to eat it and everybody sort of sits around in a food coma, and then it takes four hours to clean it up.”  ~Ted Allen

Here’s to a Happy Thanksgiving and to the other 364 days when meals take 30 minutes or less. Thanks for reading our blog this year!
~Kathrin & Jess

Quick Quinoa and Vegetable Bowl (à la Café Gratitude)

In several locations in California (both Northern and Southern) there is a great vegan café called Café Gratitude.  Its raw and cooked vegan and vegetarian items are thoughtfully prepared, and delicious.   One item on the menu that Kathrin and I love is the vegetable grain bowl.  This week we pay homage to that delicious dish with our own preparation – the Quick Quinoa and Vegetable bowl.  This dish, while not quite a 15 minute “Dinner Winner”, deserves to be in that category for it’s simple preparation, easy adaptability, and delicious results. Continue reading “Quick Quinoa and Vegetable Bowl (à la Café Gratitude)”

Liquid Gold

Jessica and I hope that while you read our posts for meal inspiration, you are also keen to receive a few tips on why it is important to eat fresh and healthy foods.  We are keen to share this information, and we encourage you to pass it along. Today, we’d like to tell you a bit about why what you drink is as important as what you eat.  And in case we haven’t said it before, water is best.  Continue reading “Liquid Gold”

Here comes more thought…

… for (regional and seasonal) food from Mark Bittman.

NOVEMBER 1, 2011, 8:30 PM
Local Food: No Elitist Plot

By MARK BITTMAN 
 
I’m not a jingoist, but I’d prefer that more of my food came from America. It’d be even better, really, if most of it came from within a few hundred miles of where we live. We’d be more secure and better served, and our land would be better used. And I’d feel prouder, as if we had a food culture rather than a food fetish. Continue reading “Here comes more thought…”