Currently growing in Southern California
This week has been crazy. Tom’s in the middle of an insane work schedule. 14 hour days for 2 weeks straight. I have a 4-month-old and a 9-year-old who is acting more like a 15-year-old lately. It’s been stressful, I don’t know how we do it. I am so glad it’s almost over. I’ve been…
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Last week I went to see my midwife who told me that the baby had turned again, back into the breech position. She said not to worry, but that I should take a long walk everyday to encourage him to turn. I used to love a long walk, but these days a long walk is…
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Nectarines must have been a sacred fruit. My idea of heaven on earth. When in season they are sweet, juicy, tender, a perfect dessert all on their own. But sometimes you want something a little fancier. Maybe your mother in law is coming over for dinner and you need something easy, but impressive. Or maybe…
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Over the last couple years, I have come to love making jam. The patience it takes, slowly stirring the bubbling juice waiting for just the right thickness. The simplicity of the recipe, just fruit and sugar, and maybe a squeeze of lemon. Its practicality, turning fruit that’s almost gone bad into something that will…
Read MoreCultured – an adjective meaning: enlightened; refined nurtured or grown cultivated; tilled I stare at the directions wondering if this is a huge waste of time. Maybe I should just go to bed. Everyone else is already asleep. I look down at the milk that’s beginning to steam in my favorite saucepan. There is no…
Read MoreHe first appeared on the corner in March with a tower of boxes & bags. Mangoes and oranges. Now, every afternoon I see him peddling his fruit, the most beautiful sunny smile on his tanned face. He is a popular guy. People look for him on their way home from work, while walking their…
Read MoreI schedule time to practice food photography several times a week. On many days I drop my daughter off at school and head straight home to take advantage of the early morning light flooding my kitchen and living room. I end up taking so many food related photos that don’t ever make it onto my…
Read MoreI stepped onto the scale for a bi-weekly weigh in. Oh crap. Do my eyes deceive me? Is it true? I groan and step off. “Tom, somehow I gained ten pounds in the last few weeks!” Tom smiles and crosses the room to hug me from behind. We both look into the bathroom mirror. “You…
Read MoreThis bread was incredible and gone in under 15 minutes. Recipe I used: Joy the Baker Other recipes like this one… Annie’s Eats La Mia Vita Shop Cook Make The Eclectic Girl Or new twists. Lemon Blueberry Pull Apart Bread from Le Petit Brioche Marbled Pull Apart with Orange Sugar from CaffeIna Lemon Scented Pull…
Read MoreWhen I told Tom I wanted to try making caramels his first response was typical of many non cooks. “Why would you want to make them when you can buy a bag from the store. Why don’t I just pick some up today?” I couldn’t answer his question. Why did I want to make caramels…
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Shoots and Roots 