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CHILES EN NOGADA ~ Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Walnut Cream Sauce
Another Bay Area story ... When I lived in San Francisco, a friend recommended a restaurant to my sister for our Sunday brunch. It was Guaymas, located in Tiburon on the water. I'm not sure if it's there any longer, but it should be. It was outstanding! Their stuffed...

SPINACH-HERB RICOTTA STUFFED SHELLS with HOME-MADE MARINARA
These ricotta, spinach and herb stuffed shells are one of our kids' favorite dishes. It may seem daunting when you read "stuffed", but this dish comes together quickly. Total prep time is about 30 minutes and total cook time is about 45 minutes. Using fresh herbs,...

WILD RICE HERB STUFFED SWEET POTATOES with BERBERE SPICED SQUASH & GARBANZO CONFETTI
Everyone knows sweet potatoes are a great source for beta carotene, fiber and potassium and with that comes Vit A, Vit C and magnesium to mention a few benefits. But regardless of how good they are for you, we like them because they taste good and there a gamut of...

RUGELACH with APRICOT PRESERVES
I love this traditional dessert and have had it many times in my friend's homes, but have I made them myself? Nooooo. Because, as you know, I DO NOT BAKE! So, I'm sharing this recipe, because tis the season! This recipe was recommended to me from one of those...

HOMEMADE TURKEY STOCK
Tis the season, so we're reposting this homemade turkey stock recipe. It's good and will serve you well on freezing cold days in December and January! Since a roasted turkey is generally seasoned with sage, thyme, and rosemary, all those seasonings fill the air when...

ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS with BALSAMIC APPLE SHALLOT GLAZE
Brussel sprouts are in season right now. I have a hard time not buying them, especially when they're displayed on the stalk. Everyone in our family loves them, particularly if they're roasted - so I've been buying a lot lately. Unlike boiled Brussel sprouts, roasted...

HAZELNUT ARUGULA SAGE PESTO
We made this pesto last week for the first time for our Smoky Chipotle Butternut Apple Soup. Love it so much, that I decided to serve it for Thanksgiving over roasted cauliflower steaks. It was gorgeous! This pesto is a chunkier pesto, not smooth like you may think...

DRESSING for FALL ~ Lemon Pear Dressing with Thyme
This is a really nice dressing for simple salads that might include toasted nuts, roasted vegetables, maybe a crumbled cheese. You can truly use it for just about any salad. We just really enjoyed it with our green leaf salad tossed with chilled roasted beets,...

RIGATONE ALLA VODKA
One of the last weeks of harvesting tomatoes, we make vodka sauce ~ also known as "pink sauce" ~ a color that results from red tomatoes and heavy cream. It's a luxurious, "I-wanna-marinate-in-it" delicious sauce. The vodka adds a peppery element to the sweet...

PURPLE CABBAGE SLAW with ANCHO CHILI PEPITAS & LEMONY VINAIGRETTE
This is not a typical cabbage slaw. It's light and fresh and colorful and does not list mayonnaise! It goes great on burgers, dogs, in wraps, as a base for grilled fish or chicken. It's good all by itself as well. FOR THE CABBAGE SLAW 2 C finely sliced purple...