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The recipes and images on this site belong to Vanessa Barrington. Feel free to link here and if you’d like to use a recipe or image, please ask permission first. Thank you.Twitter Updates
- Chickpea and Salmon salad with spring vegetables...portable, easy, #healthy, and fast http://t.co/DlOlj7Rm 2012/05/15
- @cookingwithamy so happy you were inspired to make tortillas. It's definitely a craft, and so worth it. 2012/05/15
- @StrausOrganic cream makes the best #DIY creme fraiche. thanks for sharing my recipes in your newsletter http://t.co/AwAqs6Yh 2012/05/14
- My Latest RT @ecosalon: RT @amytropolis: What the Foie? California's Ban on Force Feeding Ducks: http://t.co/dl5oBIDq #foiegras #ban 2012/05/09
Category Archives: from the market
DIY All-Purpose Red Chili Sauce, Posole, and a Little Appreciation
A couple of months ago I was gifted a lovely chile ristra by Annabelle Lenderink of La Tercera Farm. That same day, my friend Ellen came by and I shared some chiles with her. The next thing you know we’re scheming up dishes to make with dried chiles. It’s funny how one really special ingredient [...]
Also posted in DIY, Food and Drink, Latin American, hearty Tagged dried chiles, homemade red chile sauce, hominy, posole, red posole Leave a comment
Creamy Polenta with Spicy Crab
It’s funny how recipes are developed. At least in my house. This one came out of the fateful collision between the opening of crab season and a few scenes in a bad Woody Allen movie. Let me explain. Crab season always opens just before Thanksgiving when everyone is busy with turkey, stuffing, gravy and mashed [...]
Also posted in Food and Drink, entertaining, hearty, seafood Tagged Dungeness crab recipes, Hibiscus Restaurant, spicy crab, spicy crab and grits, spicy crab and polenta 3 Comments
When Pigs Fly: Bacon Tasting
My friend Ellen’s underground restaurant took an interesting turn last week. Instead of dinner, the meal served was brunch and, instead of Ellen being the sole cook and bottle washer, we partnered up on the menu, with the invaluable help of Leila for shopping, prep and clean-up duties. The goal of the brunch was to [...]
Crazy for Curtido
My life and my kitchen have both been overtaken by fermenting cabbage lately. (Is there a support group for that?) Partially, it’s the season. I always want to make hearty, fattier foods when the weather turns cold and sauerkraut and curtido are the perfect accompaniments. Plus cabbage turns sweeter as the weather gets chillier, making [...]
Also posted in Books, DIY, Latin American, book events, classes, healthy, hearty, pantry staples Tagged cabbage salad, curtido, DIY Delicious, fermenting, Heirloom Beans, sauerkraut, vegetables, wild fermentation 4 Comments
Chiles and Tomatillos in the Market: Time for Chile Verde
A couple of weeks ago I looked out the window and, though it was a hot day, I noticed that the light had the look of fall. It happens so suddenly—that subtle change in the quality and angle of the light, but it’s unmistakable. So then I started to think about warming stews and soups, [...]
Also posted in Latin American, hearty Tagged chile verde, Events, Jimtown Store, Mexican food, pork stew, Stews Leave a comment
Dinner for One: Lamb Chop, Smashed Squash, and Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes
I have a confession to make. I haven’t been cooking all that much lately. I mean really cooking. I find myself making side dishes or desserts for gatherings I’m invited to, omelets and salads for dinner, brown rice with sauerkraut, a quick zucchini soup, sliced tomatoes and mozzarella, you get the picture. This is all [...]
Also posted in Uncategorized Tagged DIY Delicious, duck fat, lamb, Marin Sun Farms, Market Hall, Massa Organics Leave a comment
What I Finally Did with my Massa Organics Duck
Last fall, Greg tweeted that he’d be selling rice-paddy raised ducks at the Berkeley market if folks wanted to order ahead. I did. I picked mine up on a bright day in September or October. I have no idea which. It was frozen so I put it in the freezer thinking I’d cook it within [...]
Also posted in Asian, Books, Food and Drink, entertaining 3 Comments
On Smuggling, Renaissance Men & Chile Baked Beans with Nopales and Queso Fresco
I found these beans back in January while wandering around the big market in Cuernavaca Mexico. Like almost all markets in Latin America, there’s so much to look at it was a little hard to take it all in. At one vendor’s stall I looked down and there, among the usual plastic woven bags filled [...]
Also posted in Food and Drink, Latin American, entertaining, healthy, hearty Leave a comment
Food Orgies I’ve Lived Through: Oyster Bliss and IACP in Portland
You'd think it was the holidays judging by how much I’ve been eating. It’s a little weird when the forced austerity of tax time collides with not-to-be-missed eating opportunities. Credit card bills and elastic-waist pants are usually the result. No regrets here because hey, this is just how I roll now. Living in the [...]
Also posted in Travel, breads and pizzas, community 1 Comment



Hands-On DIY Delicious Cooking Class in Healdsburg