I couldn't roast a chicken when P. and I got married and moved to Joshua Tree in 2008, but over the course of two years playing around in the company of some talented, experimental and accomplished California cooks, the messes I made in my own kitchen began to yield some positive results. I try to cook like a I try to paint; a lot of fresh color, pure ingredients and little bursts of zing here and there. All of these recipes I've made at least twice (except Aunt Betty's bread & butter pickles, but my friend Ash swears by it and homegirl knows her way around a brine solution); many I return to time and time again (quinoa with mangoes and curry vinaigrette). Below is an index of greatest hits, but the absolutely life-changing go-to must-try recipes are marked with a star. At the very bottom I've also listed a few albums on steady rotation when I cook and entertain.
Happy cooking and eating. Bon Appétit!
SWEET
Absolutely Perfect Almond Cake*
Wild Blackberry Tart*
Country Wedding Strawberry Shortcake with No-Fail Buttermilk Biscuits*
Rhubarb Galette with Crème Fraîche*
Raspberry Coffee Cake from Heaven*
Breakfast Crêpes
Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt
Individual Garam Masala-Spiced Plum Galettes
Peach, Nectarine and Mango Gelato
Steve's Best Damn Granola*
Maine Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins
SAVORY
Wayward Spark Popovers on the Grill*
Quinoa with Mangoes and Curry Vinaigrette*
Minimalist Eggs Benny for One
Toasted Pita with Olive Oil, Cherry Tomatoes & Avocado*
Leek, Asperagus & Corn Hash on Sourdough with Fried Eggs
Quick Any-Veggie Quiche
Roasted Ginger Carrots
Fail-Proof Pasta Dough and Sweet Tomato-Carrot Sauce
Perfect Heirloom Tomato Sandwich*
HORS D'OEUVRES
Goat Brie, Mint & Apricot Jam Crackers*
Lemon, Dill & Shrimp Smørrebrød*
SOUPS
Tom Kha Gai (Thai Chicken Coconut Soup)
Ginger and Roasted Carrot Soup*
SALADS
Carolina Summer Salad: Watermelon, Strawberries, Spicy Basil & White Balsamic*
Tomato Peach Salad with Basil and Lime*
Molasses-Roasted Fig Salad with Arugula, Early Pears & Chèvre
MISCELLANEOUS
Cold-Brewed Coffee, New Orleans-Style*
Great Aunt Betty's Bread & Butter Pickles
Lemon-Zest Pesto
Perfect Rustic No-Knead Bread*
ALBUMS TO COOK & EAT TO
Billie Holiday, Lady Sings the Blues
Paul Simon, Graceland
Afro Cuban All Stars, Disinto Diferente
Van Morrison, Astral Weeks
Lucinda Williams, Happy Woman Blues
Happy cooking and eating. Bon Appétit!
SWEET
Absolutely Perfect Almond Cake*
Wild Blackberry Tart*
Country Wedding Strawberry Shortcake with No-Fail Buttermilk Biscuits*
Rhubarb Galette with Crème Fraîche*
Raspberry Coffee Cake from Heaven*
Breakfast Crêpes
Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt
Individual Garam Masala-Spiced Plum Galettes
Peach, Nectarine and Mango Gelato
Steve's Best Damn Granola*
Maine Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins
SAVORY
Wayward Spark Popovers on the Grill*
Quinoa with Mangoes and Curry Vinaigrette*
Minimalist Eggs Benny for One
Toasted Pita with Olive Oil, Cherry Tomatoes & Avocado*
Leek, Asperagus & Corn Hash on Sourdough with Fried Eggs
Quick Any-Veggie Quiche
Roasted Ginger Carrots
Fail-Proof Pasta Dough and Sweet Tomato-Carrot Sauce
Perfect Heirloom Tomato Sandwich*
HORS D'OEUVRES
Goat Brie, Mint & Apricot Jam Crackers*
Lemon, Dill & Shrimp Smørrebrød*
SOUPS
Tom Kha Gai (Thai Chicken Coconut Soup)
Ginger and Roasted Carrot Soup*
SALADS
Carolina Summer Salad: Watermelon, Strawberries, Spicy Basil & White Balsamic*
Tomato Peach Salad with Basil and Lime*
Molasses-Roasted Fig Salad with Arugula, Early Pears & Chèvre
MISCELLANEOUS
Cold-Brewed Coffee, New Orleans-Style*
Great Aunt Betty's Bread & Butter Pickles
Lemon-Zest Pesto
Perfect Rustic No-Knead Bread*
ALBUMS TO COOK & EAT TO
Billie Holiday, Lady Sings the Blues
Paul Simon, Graceland
Afro Cuban All Stars, Disinto Diferente
Van Morrison, Astral Weeks
Lucinda Williams, Happy Woman Blues
