Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Shrub that Looks Nice

Every time I hear a reference to the trendy drink syrup called a shrub,” a high-pitched British voice interrupts my brain mid-thought and says, “Brrrringg me a shrubberrrry….one that looks nice.” I always have to stop myself from saying it out loud, because if you haven’t seen The Holy Grail (I mean the cinematic, not [...]
Also posted in DIY, book events, community, from the market, fruit | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Haphazard Strawberry Jam

I’ve always been a by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of home cook. When I’m not working and thus don’t have to write down or follow a recipe I am happy not to. Last weekend, I set out to make strawberry jam. I knew just what I wanted…the purity of fruit without too much sugar; a spoonable preserve with [...]
Also posted in DIY, from the market, fruit, pantry staples, preserving | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Turkey Chile Soup with Rice and Winter Squash

I first made this soup a couple weeks ago with a small, Soul Food Farm stock bird. I used a technique I use often that provides me with a light but full flavored broth to freeze and use for soups and also a good amount of shredded chicken meat to use for enchiladas, tacos, salad, [...]
Also posted in Latin American, healthy, hearty, holidays | Tagged , , , , , | 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 from the market | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plum-Verbena Jam

In a way, this jam is what started me on the road to writing this latest book. It happened last summer when I noticed a family member's plum tree was laden with fruit–pounds and pounds of delicious plums about to go to waste in the worst way possible, by rotting on the ground. We harvested [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Simple Taste of Spring

Spring inspired at the market. All pale greens and golds. This was a quick dinner to make (not counting prepping the artichokes). I simply roasted them with sliced garlic, olive oil, and salt, and then whisked together shallots, green garlic, fresh parsley, Meyer lemon juice, and really good olive oil and drizzled it over them. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Yes You Can Make Great Pizza At Home

I have a serious crush on a particular pizza. It’s the Italian Combo thin crust pizza at Little Star Pizza that has salami, pepperoni, sliced onions, sliced bell peppers, black olives, and pepperoncini strewn across its crackly surface. For me, it’s the combination of salty cured meat with the vinegary, spicy pepperoncini that really does [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Fun & Easy Things to Do with Beans

  In my classes I'm always saying, "if you've got cooked beans in the fridge, you always have food". Here's just one example. I don't remember what kind of beans they are but they look like Rio Zapes, a rich, dense bean with an appealing sweetness and a thick broth. They could just as deliciously [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Rice Noodles with Daikon Pickle and Mushrooms

I developed this recipe for EcoSalon as a way to use daikon radish. It's abundant in the markets right now, sweet, crisp, and super healthy. My body craves it lately which tells me it's doing something good for me, though I'm not sure what exactly. I wanted a rice noodle dish that tasted like a [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Miso-Marinated Mahi Mahi

Looks boring, but this was an easy, healthy, and pretty tasty dinner. It’s been a long time since I cooked up a protein, starch, vegetable dinner. I’d written up a recipe for miso dressing for my EcoSalon gig the day I made this. I also had 1/2 cup of coconut milk, and some lemongrass, curry [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
  • Buy My Books



  • Shop Chronicle Books

    Cookbook

  • Archives


  • Categories


  • Connect with Vanessa

    Twitter Facebook RSS

    Enter your email address to
    receive my blog posts via email:
    Delivered by FeedBurner

  • Copyright Information

    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.