I have a confession to make. Before starting this blog, I tried to make beer cheese soup and failed. I was baffled, at first, but figured out that a combination of my lack of patience (manifesting itself in my cheese dumping rather than slow adding) and a furious boil, resulted in a sloppy mess.… Read More
Clearly, I’m ready for fall. And in Los Angeles, that just means that Dodgers games are starting to end and I get to wear a light sweater. If I feel like it. Oh, and fall produce. If I haven’t mentioned to you before my favorite part of living in Southern California, its this:… Read More
Last Friday I was able to visit the Los Angeles CBS studios. They even let me do a cooking segment. Originally slotted for 4 to 5 minutes, the loved me so much, they let me run to 6 1/2 minutes. Aren’t they great? A few questions threw me off, “Were you in a… Read More
When it comes to baking, I’m always intrigued by a new spin on an old favorite. Not to say that I don’t fully appreciate the simplicity and beauty of a perfect and well done classic recipe. I’ll never tire of a traditional, straight forward apple pie with a huge scoop of homemade vanilla bean ice… Read More
If you live in the Los Angeles area, I’m going to need you to do me a favor. I’ve somehow been booked on CBS, Los Angeles mid-day news with a cooking segment this Friday, August 31st. They want me to do a quick Cooking With Beer segment on the news at noon. People will… Read More
There are some great elements in this world we live in that we beg the universe to some how bring together. Like a Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series Or an episode of The Office directed by Christopher Guest Or Trey Parker have complete creative control over The White House Holiday Card Or a reality show… Read More
As summer nears it’s inevitable end, it’s not the weather that I’ll miss the most. In fact the leather boots and chunky sweaters of colder days are starting to beckon. The produce, back yard grills, the smell of life and food floating on a late afternoon breeze will be lost in the dawning of… Read More
Here it is, just like I promised. Beer Chicken Piccata, to go with those beer noodles I made. The first time I ever had Piccata I was a completely broke college student traveling through Italy. And it was cheap. It turned out to be one of the most memorable dishes I had on that trip,… Read More
This is something everyone should do in their lives. Like cliff jumping in Greece, restaurant week in New York City, and watching the sun rise over the Mediterranean. Although making pasta from scratch doesn’t require a passport. Pasta isn’t as hard to make as you think and I have complete faith in your ability… Read More
It seems so wrong. This urge I have to continually make breakfast with beer. Probably reinforcement of the personality test I took in college in which I scored “surprisingly high” on the Inherent rebellion scale, as noted by the test administrator. Because we, as a society, have decided that we shouldn’t mix alcohol with pre-noon… Read More
Here’s my artichoke. We’re going to gut him and stuff him with bacon. And then cook him in beer. The first step is to trim. Start with peeling off a few layers of the outside leaves They’re tough and not very good, don’t feel bad about getting rid of them. And if… Read More
The first Thursday in August is the unofficial holiday of that hoppy beer favorite, the IPA. There may come a day when this becomes a nationally recognized day of appreciation with parades and pageantry, paper decorations and paid holiday leave, but until then we’ll celebrate the Indian Pale Ale with a series of parties, blog posts… Read More
Let’s talk. If you are new to the Beer Scene you might not know about bourbon barrel aged beer. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Beer that has been aged in bourbon barrels giving it flavors of that remnant bourbon that once took up residence in that same barrel. Because bourbon is aged for years,… Read More
I have some s’mores trivia for you. I have a fascination with useless mundane trivia, and tend to collect and expel said facts without provocation. So, here is the s’mores trivia I promised that you are undoubtably eager to get to: The recipe for s’mores was first published by the Girl Scouts in 1927. Further… Read More
No offense to vodka, but a Bloody Mary just tastes better with beer. And an IPA is the inarguable choice for a Brewed Mary. I am, for the most part, a live and let live person. Happy to let your differing opinions thrive right alongside mine. There are recipe choices that I would love… Read More
This recipe has been in my brain for a while. For weeks it’s been taunting me, begging to be flushed out, poured into my food processor and immortalized in internet print. And this weekend three failed attempts to make IPA lemon bars that never really gave me the results I was hoping for coupled… Read More
; A reader from Iceland emailed me last week to ask what I listen to when I’m cooking. “You seem like a music girl,” she said. Music, food, beer, it all seems to be a different parts of the same creature and just like food can find a matched pair with beer or wine, music… Read More
Literary Grief. This is the term I use for the moment you finish a great book and realize that it’s gone. This sort of anchor to those free moments in your life is now spent and the characters that ran behind your consciousness during the busy moments of your day, beckoning you back to the… Read More