. . Smoked tofu?!? Remember one of my rules of thumb…”If there is a technique that works for one thing, it might work on other things.”  If you can smoke salmon then you can smoke tofu, yes? Yes. The idea of smoking tofu was first introduced to me by my friend Jase (the cook at the South Pole), which we made indoors in a covered pan under a heavy-duty exhaust hood.  Then I began to learn more about smoking, and

  The simmering sun of summer is in full sweltering swing.  Unless, of course, you are my friend Jase who is cooking the winter stint at the South Pole, then sunlight is only a faded memory and you would be trying like hell to figure out amusing ways to stay sane while living inside the spaceship of a station. Go Jase!!  You can do it!  The sun is headed back your way!   As a tribute to that fiery ball

  This is a photo of my mother that depicts what we hope she experienced this week as she crossed over to the other side.  She would be sailing down a waterslide with a huge smile and her arms up in the air.   What an incredible process, this dying thing, I am in awe. . Here is another photo—she LOVED to laugh! . . Our family has been together a lot lately, and without fail the fall-back task to

  Lettuce wraps have given me such relief in the summer months—I can eat cold meals, gluten free. Lettuce is a vehicle, an edible cupping tool that gets the filling from the plate into my mouth, without bread.  I have also tried other fillings like tacos, tempeh, sesame beef, and sandwich-makings.  These buddies can be a little messier than bread since the lettuce does not absorb any liquid of the filling, but they work, and are especially great in the

  These are some photos of my journey home, wandering through old haunts and childhood byways.  VW Beetles are far too adorable to just drive by so I had to stop.  Later that day this sunset brightened my road as I drove northward. . . . . . Light, lemony and brothy, this Greek Lemon and Rice Soup is another lively addition to a spring menu….not to mention a great way to eat kale!  Note that there are still rain

  “What do you eat when your mother is dying?” That was a question my sister asked me, partly in jest because I am always looking for things to write about and partly because we were wondering what foods will help our bodies that are numb from processing the reality of our mother fading from this world. When I am stressed with the adrenaline of catering the only thing I am able to choke down is a banana, but the

  Zowee!  That’s what I have to say about this dip. I’m not sure why I should write more at this point, what more do you need to know other than “Zowee”?   Graduation parties, Memorial Day parties and weddings—tis the season of standing around outside and munching.   Apparently I like attention-grabbing flavors in my dips, and this definitely fits the bill.  But you may not want to wear white as you grab the bowl and lick it out…though

  I often am stumped about what to eat for breakfast.  Though it is easy and I have it sometimes, cereal is not my cup of tea…I crave that dose of protein and oil to get me through until lunch without a blood sugar crash.   I usually have corn tortillas in my refrigerator, and it is not uncommon that they get a little dry around the edges.  Lucky for me that is perfect for chilaquiles! . Chilaquiles: Fried tortilla

  Let us free ourselves from being too specific, and think in terms of techniques, categories, and tendencies. To use a phrase from food writer and teacher Greg Patent, I believe in “cooking empowerment“. When we learn the basics of ‘how things work’ we can shift and adapt, letting creative juices flow even when we were too intimidated to think we had such a thing as cooking creative juices.  This is what I mean by expanding our versatility in the

  It almost seems too good to be true that you can eat these little works of art. People spend countless hours carving tiny garnishes and crafting flowers from frosting as they try to recreate perfection, when certain times of year give us the opportunity to walk outside and pluck perfection from a stem.   . While it is still early in the season….if you have the luxury of a garden or window boxes, consider adding edible flowers to your