tablemuse

Buttermilk panna cotta with Strawberries, Port, and Black Pepper

I recently published a panna cotta recipe, but feel the need to share this new edition. The reason? Strawberries. That, and some sort of flavor magic happened in my mouth when I tasted it. I believe that there are some flavor combinations that are greater than the sum of their parts. And this was one…

Asparagus + Chicken + Quinoa = the Beauty of One

I just returned from a multiple city trip to look at colleges for my daughter. Though we ate fabulous restaurant meals, I found myself longing for fresh, simple food centered on the seasonal produce I find here in the Bay Area. One of the college students we ate with was a California girl living in…

Panna cotta with saffron & rose

It’s February in the Bay area, but it feels like Spring. The plum trees are covered in fluffy pink and white blossoms. I wanted a dessert to fit the season, and created this delicate version of the classic northern Italian dessert, Panna cotta. Though usually flavored with vanilla, this version is infused with two different…

Currant Scones

Many years ago a dear friend and I set out on a trip around the world. We quite literally circled the globe, heading west across the vast Pacific Ocean from California until we came full circle a couple months later. Wherever we visited, one of the things I loved most was learning what people ate….

Lemon Poppy Seed Scones

This tasty little treat is great to make when lemons are in full season. And lucky for us, that happens to be in winter when a little afternoon tea and scone break with a friend may be just what the doctor ordered. You can use either a regular lemon, or a meyer lemon for this…

Rice Bowl Lunch

I was recently inspired by a meal at a local restaurant. It was a delicious combo of vegetables, meat, and seasonings on a bowl of rice. My daughter and I were wanting some tasty, nutritious lunch options for the week, but they needed to be fast. We decided to give rice bowls a try, and…