I followed the recipe for Garlic Scallion Almond Pesto that came in my first CSA bag.

Made with garlic scallions, almonds, parmesan cheese and olive oil – it’s versatile quick and tasty. In an effort to overcome my habit of expanding work to fill every available second, I bought a package of fresh cheese and spinach ravioli at the market rather than making fresh pasta. I made the pesto in a mini food processor. The garlic scallions imparted a delicious and not overwhelming flavor of spring garlic.  I modified the recipe a bit. Here’s how I did it:  … read more

Cookies spark memories for me. After a harrowing journey from Delhi to Kashmir, Charles and I looked out at the lotus blossoms on Dal Lake from the small deck of a houseboat.

We were grateful to have arrived safely and couldn’t imagine anything that would make the moment more perfect. And then the boatman arrived with a tray of tea and almond macaroons. It was beyond perfection.  At breakfast the next morning, I asked the boatman, who was also the cookie baker, how he made the macaroons and he invited me into his tiny kitchen. Here’s how we made them. … read more

On Monday I made chocolate covered almonds.

They are simple to make and look as if they came from an upscale chocolatier. I tuck away a few small gift bags of them, decorated with a ribbon and a gift tag as last minute gifts for unexpected visitors. Here’s how I made them: … read more