in the Hopeful Kitchen

12/10/2012 10:47 PM

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Candied Citrus Peel

I love citrus. It's so lovely that citrus season occurs in the cold of winter -- those bright, juicy sunshine-orbs ripening to perfection in the darkest days.I've featured marmalade and cocktails made from our (six!) citrus trees in past blog posts. In the spirit of thinking ahead to holiday gifts and gatherings, I've fallen in love with candied citrus peel. It's a bit of a proces

in the Hopeful Kitchen

11/27/2012 11:29 PM

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Joanne's Linzer Shortbread Cookies

Spending Thanksgiving with 20+ gourmet-minded family members on the east coast was totally inspiring. After not posting anything on my blog for months (and hearing about it nearly every day from some friend, family member or my own conscience), I was happy to return from a week on the other side of the county with ideas and momentum to cook, bake and get out my camera. The past months have mostly

in the Hopeful Kitchen

09/05/2012 09:13 PM

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Ode to Tomatoes and the Open Face Tomato Sandwich

One of my favorite Pablo Neruda poems is Ode to Tomatoes. There is hardly a month when I'm not thinking about tomatoes, and this poem often comes to mind as well. I've included it at the end of this post, if you've never read it, or if you, like me, don't get tired of reading it. These prolific summer tomato months started for me last November when I fawned over seed catalogs and

in the Hopeful Kitchen

08/06/2012 10:53 PM

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Tamarind Sorbet or Agua Fresca

Yay tamarind! Before you skip over this, thinking tamarind is an exotic and strange thing that you have never heard of, don't know where to find, or don't care about...give tamarind a chance. It is an extraordinary fruit pulp that is quite delicious and surprisingly nutritious. This sweet-sour fruit (officially a legume), contains high amounts of potassium, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc an

in the Hopeful Kitchen

07/27/2012 12:13 AM

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Blackberry Slump

It's berry time again! As we headed over the Santa Cruz Mountains to our go-to you-pick berry patch, we tried to remember when it was that we made this trip last year. Of course I track dates and time by the food I ate or the recipes I made, so I looked back in the blog. Sure enough, it was the same weekend last year that we hauled home many pounds of blackberries and strawberries. The Daiquir

in the Hopeful Kitchen

07/16/2012 10:10 PM

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Triple A Salad

Well, it's back to blogging! After many months of wedding planning, celebrating, and then honeymooning, Bill and I spent our first weekend back at home, reveling in the simple pleasure of being married, and relaxing, cleaning out the garage, doing three weeks worth of laundry, making short work of a dozen pounds of ripe plums, vacuuming and hosting friends. Another great opportunity to reflect

in the Hopeful Kitchen

06/20/2012 01:25 AM

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Multi-Grain Pancake & Waffle Mix

I've gotten a lot of mileage out of this recipe lately! It's one I adapted from this cookbook (the same cookbook I got the ideas for this and this recipe) and to-date my favorite multi-grain pancake mix. I love that this mix has so many great grains in it, yet still makes fluffy, light pancakes. The cornmeal gives it a nice texture, too. They are filling, but not too heavy or dense. One ba

in the Hopeful Kitchen

05/29/2012 10:40 AM

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Send Something Good Package Pals - Part 2

pink strawflowerThe whole goal of the Send Something Good project was to connect with other bloggers you may not otherwise find. I have to admit, I'm in my own little food blog bubble. When I have a spare second, I scroll through food blogs... and wedding sites. So checking out the sites of the bloggers in the Send Something Good project was a lot of fun, and a new perspective. How interesting

in the Hopeful Kitchen

05/11/2012 01:06 AM

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Mango Parfaits (by way of Mango Memories)

Twelve years ago, I traveled around the world for 9 months on a field study program called International Honors Program. It was an awesome, inspiring, crazy experience. The friends I made on that trip are like family, and it's always so sweet to see them. What an exceptional treat to see five of them in the last two weeks (plus their significant others and little ones)!Read more »

in the Hopeful Kitchen

04/24/2012 11:08 AM

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Something Good Pen Pals

There's no recipe today! This post is all about mail -- getting it, sending it... and participating in a sweet blogger pen-pal idea called Send Something Good.I really like the idea of pen pals. I traveled a lot when I was younger -- first as an exchange student in Germany in high school, then around the world with an amazing field study program for my junior year of college, then after colleg

in the Hopeful Kitchen

04/17/2012 12:44 AM

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Spring Curry and Busy Days

The days and weeks (and months!) have been flying by! Longer spring days have provided great motivation for excursions, gardening and checking things off the wedding planning to-do list. Season six of Weeds on Netflix has kept me busy too. It seems each time I whip up something in the kitchen, friends are over or we're realllly hungry, or I'm itching to work on wedding invitations or a kni

in the Hopeful Kitchen

03/28/2012 12:24 AM

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'Cream' of Broccoli Soup

It's pouring rain here tonight. And cold. The rain hits the tin heating vent on the roof, making a melody, and it's quite the symphony tonight. It's the perfect night to be curled up on the couch writing this post, and a perfect night to eat soup. I'm happy to welcome all the signs of spring (and summer!), but I don't mind the cold rain on cozy nights in like this!'Cream

in the Hopeful Kitchen

03/21/2012 10:46 PM

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Buckwheat, Seed & Lentil Crackers (Raw & Gluten-Free!)

The hardest thing about cutting gluten out of my diet this month hasn't so much been not eating gluten, as it is not baking. I LOVE baking. Cookies, biscotti, bread, pizza, galettes... Ok, ok, I love eating all those things, too. But being in the kitchen is a lot more difficult when I'm not bustling around with a new baking project. Recently I tried these crackers, made from rice, flax, qu

in the Hopeful Kitchen

03/16/2012 12:38 AM

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Pickle That: Spicy Rainbow Carrots

It keeps happening. Vegetables (many, many pounds of them) keep taking over every inch of our fridge. The other week I had the opportunity to buy a 10-pound bag of rainbow carrots from Mariquita Farms. How could I not? This phenomenon of buying large quantities of super-exciting vegetable is not new for me. There could be worse; I could be binge spending on camera equipment or all those adorable t

in the Hopeful Kitchen

03/06/2012 06:05 PM

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Fruit & Nut 'Cookies': Vegan, Raw, Gluten-Free

Day 1 of my spring cleanse went well. I'm always a little hesitant to talk about decisions like a cleanse. Quite a few people have suggestions for what I should or should not be doing for a cleanse. There are a thousand books, websites, urban myths and family stories about cleansing. So, sharing that I am starting a cleanse brings it all on. But in it all, there's a lot of support, which I

in the Hopeful Kitchen

03/03/2012 08:52 PM

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Kabocha, Posole & Bean Comfort Soup

There have been a great number of babies born in the past month. 2011 seemed like the year for baby girls. This year there are a great many little boys. As a February baby, I was excited to welcome friends' babies right around my own birthday: Konrad and Kauila recently joined the school of Pisces.What do I do when a baby is born? Well, while I wait for cute photos and an opportunity to snugg

in the Hopeful Kitchen

02/25/2012 09:49 PM

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Spinach Mushroom Egg Tart

It's been an insanely warm 'winter' here in the Bay Area. Very little rain, days and days of 60 and 70 degree, sunshiny days, trees and flowers blooming in early February. This is weather we're not exactly thrilled about because it means no water for our gardens and reservoirs, and no snow in the mountains, but it's also just too darn beautiful to not get out and enjoy. I think

in the Hopeful Kitchen

02/17/2012 06:28 PM

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Purple Cauliflower & Carrot Jardinière

The first weekend of January I joined a very pregnant K and four other lovely ladies in Half Moon Bay for a mini-retreat before baby arrived. We stayed overnight in a beautiful converted railway stop home, full of light and interesting knick knacks, painted with bright colors and just a brief walk to the ocean. We each brought food to contribute to a delicious feast, drank wine and home brewed bee

in the Hopeful Kitchen

02/02/2012 10:35 AM

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The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie

The BEST chocolate chip cookie ever? YES.I'd heard about Jacques Torres' famous cookies from my friend Anne who swore up & down they were the best she'd ever had. I don't know what took me so long to make them. In hindsight, I should have bolted for my kitchen immediately after her declaration. Anne is someone to take seriously when it comes to all things delicious. This is the

in the Hopeful Kitchen

01/26/2012 01:07 AM

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Roasted Cauliflower, Butternut Squash & Chickpeas with Harissa

Purple cauliflower. Beautiful photo by Anne DeLeon.Check out that incredible purple cauliflower! So beautiful! During their CSA off-season, Mariquita Farms offers their organic produce to customers as a part of their 'Lady Bug' delivery throughout the Bay Area. I look out for their email fliers that announce the latest delivery schedule and available produce. The other week I couldn't

in the Hopeful Kitchen

01/10/2012 01:29 AM

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taking the world into my arms

My blog is a year old! My resolutions last year were to start this blog, to experiment with photography, and adventure into new cooking realms.... and other little things like being an all around kinder, patient-er, happier person. I'm pretty darn happy with the year. 2011, thank you. The title of this post is from a poem by my favorite poet, Mary Oliver. I think of her words when I am on the

in the Hopeful Kitchen

12/23/2011 10:55 PM

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Hot! Hot! Cocoa

I always think I'll have so much more time than I actually do for making holiday crafts, cookies, candies and other treats. I start squirreling away frozen logs of cookies and ingredients during Thanksgiving, make a pile of my recipes, jars, fabric, labels and twine... and then all of a sudden it's December 20th and I'm swearing and sweating in the kitchen as my pecans burn and cookies crumble, no

in the Hopeful Kitchen

12/21/2011 01:04 PM

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Black Beans with Sweet Potatoes and Purple Kale

This recipe was the result of an evening after a long day at work, when I looked sleepily into the fridge and the stars aligned for a quick and easy meal that tasted like it was well planned out and a long time in the making. Delish and done in 30 minutes. A satisfying, nutrient-rich vegan meal. I recommend making enough to have the next day as leftovers, as the flavors just keep getting bet

in the Hopeful Kitchen

12/12/2011 11:13 PM

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Double Chocolate Peppermint Bark

It's holiday time! This dark, cold time of the year that is warmed by the (hopefully!) warm fuzzies of the holiday spirit. Thanksgiving kicks us off with a good helping of Family, and then we roll on through December, gaining the momentum of the holiday season. As I pile my holiday cards on the table for stamping, I check through my list to make sure I have everyone from all parts of my famil

in the Hopeful Kitchen

12/07/2011 01:16 AM

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Drinks on Me: Round 2

Good grief -- it's only Tuesday night?! I swear it's the weekend already, or Christmas, or New Years Eve. It feels like it should be break time, the weekend, vacation. I think I have holiday fever, with the dark days and the Christmas lights everywhere. I find myself curled up on the couch earlier in the night, and more often. A good read and a good glass of beer or wine don't necessarily bend tim

in the Hopeful Kitchen

12/04/2011 05:28 PM

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Rooted and Root Vegetables

I have a difficult time making plans on Sundays. I like the luxury of slowness and routine on Sunday morning. If you have young children, you probably hate hearing me talk about lazy Sunday mornings... but I don't have kids yet and one day when I do, my slow Sundays will be something I reminisce about. Waking up leisurely, walking downtown to the local coffee shop leisurely, drinking a hot l

in the Hopeful Kitchen

11/30/2011 08:17 PM

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Something new: Drinks on me

I've decided to try something new. I've been trying to figure out how to share the great libations that I enjoy each week. Bill has exceptional taste in beer and wine and manages to sniff out the most interesting local (and not-local-but-small-scale-equally-awesome) drinks to pair with our weekly culinary adventures.It seems distracting to highlight the tasty drinks that are in the background of m

in the Hopeful Kitchen

11/27/2011 07:08 PM

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Quimet y Quimet Inspired Smoked Salmon Tapas

One of my favorite games (right after Catch Phrase and frisbee) is having someone describe in detail a meal or dish that they found absolutely phenomenal. Every little detail: taste, texture, smell, flavors, underlying flavors, spices... Then trying to reproduce it. Ok, so it's not the ultimate party game, but it can turn into a party -- trying new recipes is a great excuse to invite friends over!

in the Hopeful Kitchen

11/19/2011 12:15 AM

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Pecan Pear Custard Cake

I love seeing my friend S's name come up on my phone. It usually means that she has some interesting, delicious thing to share with me: an extra box of vegetables from her CSA, persimmons, sourdough starter, kefir, apples, plums, pears. In addition to her personal interest in urban homesteading, S volunteers for a fabulous organization, Village Harvest, that harvests fruit that would otherwise

in the Hopeful Kitchen

11/13/2011 11:03 PM

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Spicy Chai Tea

Clockwise from top: whole black pepper, star anise, cloves, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, whole cinnamon, ground cinnamon, ginger, cardamom podsRecently I visited with a friend in her sweet garden apartment for tea. I had not seen her in a long time -- months? a year? I had just learned that she's expecting a baby in February -- a little boy. When I walked in I was enveloped by a warm, comf

in the Hopeful Kitchen

11/09/2011 12:40 AM

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Asian Cabbage Salad

It's so dark. 5:30 rolls around and it's pitch black outside. This is a difficult time of year for me. I'm not the best at waking up earlier than is necessary to get to work, so I miss the light at the end of the day that is my available time for walking and exercising outside. I miss the light available to take photos. And it's cold. Enough complaining -- because besides the diffi

in the Hopeful Kitchen

10/24/2011 11:56 PM

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Three Sisters Chowder

Wow -- time has flown since I last posted. Well, I have a good excuse: last weekend Bill and I went on a lovely camping trip in the redwoods with our trusty Westie, complete with beautiful weather, starry skies, delicious food, a most-beautiful all-day waterfall hike and... a wedding proposal! The only answer was 'YES!!!', of course. So we have been reveling in the engagement bliss while a

in the Hopeful Kitchen

10/07/2011 09:11 PM

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Chow Chow

The change of seasons has been palpable. A couple weeks ago the air was cool and the smell of rain hung in the air all weekend until it actually sprinkled -- the first rain of the season, if you can call the bit that fell 'rain'. This week it's been pouring and cold at night -- cold enough to test our heater. I like this time of year, yet am always caught off guard when it arrives.

in the Hopeful Kitchen

10/05/2011 12:09 AM

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Roasted Chanterelles with Parmesan Polenta

This past weekend Bill was up north of Seattle visiting friends and helping on their new 20 acre farm. On hikes through their land and nearby woods he found some beautiful wild mushrooms. He was lucky -- a little bit of recent rain helped push them up through the leaf litter. He sent me photos via iPhone, and I was happy to share his treasures through our phone technology. I never expected that he

in the Hopeful Kitchen

09/29/2011 10:02 PM

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A Brunette's Take on Blondies

This past weekend we were home after over a month of travels and visitors: back and forth to the east coast twice, up the coast to Portland, and hosting (fabulous) friends from New Hampshire. While traveling and hosting is energizing and exciting and interesting and fun, it was really lovely to be home with no plans! It was a slice of heaven to curl up on the couch with a book, do some baking,

in the Hopeful Kitchen

09/24/2011 08:57 PM

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Mosaic Biscotti: biscotti di mosai

After my great experience with these Italian cookies, I've been hooked on finding my next Italian cookie love. Bill has requested biscotti on several occasions, and I've resisted. I'm not a huge fan of the biscotti you buy next to the register at coffee places. I do like how the crisp, almost inedible cookie gives way once dunked in coffee, but even more than that, I like cookies that

in the Hopeful Kitchen

09/15/2011 11:30 PM

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Cucumber Cooler Cocktail and a nod to Decatur, GA

Over Labor Day weekend we headed across the country to see my sister's new home (and puppy!) in Decatur, Georgia and road-tripped with my family up to western North Carolina, where I was born. It was a great visit -- both for the company as well as for the flavors. I like to ask around to see what's up with the local food and drink scene when I go somewhere new. The south did not disappoin

in the Hopeful Kitchen

09/11/2011 07:53 PM

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Figgy ice cream with ricotta, white wine and honey

It's fig time... again! The second crop of figs to appear each year in our farmers' market is a real bumper crop. While the California Fresh Fig Association says that figs are available mid-May through mid-December, I see them in our farmers' markets in early/mid July for a teaser and then for a second crop in late August or early September. I pretty much buy them whenever I see them.

in the Hopeful Kitchen

09/02/2011 12:30 AM

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Serious Energy Bars (vegan, gluten-free)

These bars were born from the desire to have a healthy mid-day or trail-side snack that packs lots of nutrients, good taste, a little sweetness and nice texture, minus all the fillers, strange ingredients, massive sugar dose and preservatives. They are a work in progress: there are so many variables to be tweaked for different flavors and textures (as with my granola recipe).Granola bars used to b

in the Hopeful Kitchen

08/26/2011 11:40 PM

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Pain D'Amande: Italian Almond Cookies

I savor weekend mornings. It is so lovely to sleep in, loll out of bed to be handed a hot, freshly brewed cup of coffee, and then collapse again on the couch to leisurely read the paper. It gets better: eating these cookies. Before a bigger brunch production, weekend mornings allow for a treat over coffee. It depends on the weekend, and what I've been able to bake during the week (sometimes we

in the Hopeful Kitchen

08/24/2011 11:58 PM

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Something Different: Photo Card Auction for #afundforjennie

Thus far, I've only posted food posts and food photos. You are in for something totally different today. As I wrote about last week, food blogger Jennie Perillo's husband recently died from a sudden heart attack, leaving her and her two small children with a tremendous weight of grief. Several food-blogger friends started Bloggers Without Border as a way to jump-start this fundraising event and on

in the Hopeful Kitchen

08/22/2011 09:28 PM

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Chocolate & Banana Pudding Parfaits (Vegan!)

This pudding is luscious, creamy and delicious -- both a tribute to how fabulous vegan treats can be and also to how well they can disguise as their non-vegan twins. You probably would not guess by the taste that this is not a regular, fabulous, milk/cream/eggs-based pudding. You probably also would not guess that it's made with... tofu. This is the first time I've tried vegan pudding. I w

in the Hopeful Kitchen

08/16/2011 03:49 PM

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Dilly Beans and a moment for gratitude

dill flowerI began my week reading the sad news that fellow food blogger Jennifer Pirello's husband Mikey passed away suddenly last week from a heart attack. I don't know Jennifer or her family. I've read her blog, In Jennie's Kitchen, a handful of times. However, my heart went out to Jennie, her two young children, and to all those grieving the sudden loss of this young and much l

in the Hopeful Kitchen

08/14/2011 09:30 PM

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Zucchini Marmalade Bread

I've been continuing on my zucchini craze lately -- trying desperately to eat the pounds of zucchini that appear each morning on my super-happy zucchini plant bush. I've also continued to tackle Tartine as my bed-side book of choice before I have to return it to the library. This recipe for zucchini marmalade bread utilizes both my stock pile of zucchini as well as my pantry full of homema

in the Hopeful Kitchen

08/11/2011 09:22 PM

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Grilled Eggplant & Fresh Tomato Salad

Another fabulous summer veggie recipe for you! The name Grilled Eggplant & Fresh Tomato Salad does not quite do this recipe justice, but it looked a bit excessive to write Grilled Eggplant, Fresh Cherry Tomato, Feta, Balsamic and Mint Salad. That's what this salad is: those five ingredients tossed together create an exceptionally flavorful and fresh summer side dish. This is a perfect reci

in the Hopeful Kitchen

08/08/2011 11:35 PM

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Spicy Summer Green Beans

After posting this recipe, I've received a couple requests for more veggie recipes. I hear that. I love my ice cream maker a little too much, perhaps. And cookies. Definitely love the cookies. A lot. But I go to a couple different farmers' markets each week and could definitely be sharing more of the summer's market-recipe bounty. This Spicy Green Bean recipe is a big go-to dish in our

in the Hopeful Kitchen

08/05/2011 12:23 AM

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Sparkling Strawberry Mint Limeade

This Sparkling Strawberry Mint Limeade is a refreshing, family- and party- friendly drink to get you through hot summer days. Fresh ingredients and some bubble from the club soda make an ultra-cooling and delicious treat. Looking for something boozy instead? Add a shot of vodka or rum and you're set.Read more »

in the Hopeful Kitchen

07/31/2011 11:34 PM

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Blackberry Swirl Frozen Yogurt

I'm still obsessing over blackberries from our big u-pick trip a couple weeks ago. Blackberry ice cream is now my favorite ice cream flavor. And blackberry puree has been a great addition to my morning yogurt. So good, in fact, that I knew it would be delicious swirled into a frozen yogurt. My, oh my, is it ever! I used Greek yogurt in this recipe and I love the tangy richness. Other plain yog

in the Hopeful Kitchen

07/30/2011 03:19 PM

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Savory Zucchini Corn Pancakes

It's zucchini season! The time of year where zucchini plants have grown into large, bushy monsters overflowing with zukes that go from 2 inches to 2 feet over night. Where our farmers' market practically gives them away at $1 for a bag of 4. This has resulted in zucchini-filled everything around my house: twists on the classic zucchini bread, zucchini scrambled eggs, grilled zucchini...

in the Hopeful Kitchen

07/28/2011 12:27 AM

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Almond Rochers

Tartine Bakery on the corner of Guerrero and 18th in San Francisco used to be my neighborhood bakery when I lived there a few years ago. Tartine has so many delicious baked goods, lunch choices, goodies and strong espresso, plus an awesome location near Delores Park -- it's no wonder the line is usually out the door and around the corner.While many tout the joys of the pressed sandwiches and

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	A blog about cooking, baking, growing, harvesting & preserving food. And sharing it in good company.

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