Each holiday season I am seduced by glossy magazines and fancy blog photography with interesting recipes for the holidays. Occasionally I will make a recipe twice, but my greatest cooking challenge comes from trying something new. Here is the list of recipes I tried in November and December 2012, noting them here because they are [...]
My big contribution to Thanksgiving dinner is always pies – pumpkin, pecan and mince are required to get me through the door of Julie’s house, and then I usually throw in 1-2 more, wildcard pies. The creative pies, if you must. Yesterday I took the required three, plus Apple/Cranberry with French Crumble Topping, and a [...]
International cookies! Wow. What a great idea. Thanks to Adrienne of Gastroanthropology (Cinnamon Mexican Wedding Cakes) and Lori of Fake Food Free (Russian Tea Cakes), I partnered up with a holiday cookie baker in the UK, Michelle of 5AM Foodie (On Festive Baking and a Recipe Exchange), who sent along the following cookie recipe. Light [...]
Growing up the Bay Area, it feels like I have been surrounded by good food all my life. But that is not exactly true. Or, if it is true, then I definitely did not notice it until I was a teenager. As a teen, I remember taking the bus to Stanford Shopping Center, just to [...]
Ok, I know a standing rib roast is not everyone’s idea of a spectacular holiday gift, but I do know that boxes of meat and catalogs with meat-gifts (Omaha steaks, anyone) have been around for years. This year, I would like to offer you a local option. Marin Sun Farms is a family-owned farming operation, [...]
Interesting. After reviewing the last few 12 Days of Local Christmas, I realize that most of my gift ideas are sweet. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but suppose you have a friend who doesn’t eat sugar. Then what are you going to do? How about pickles? Now, I make a mean Bread [...]
Remember back in October when I wrote about an awesome dinner I made with Bellwether Crescenza cheese and fresh tomato salad? I still dream about that cheese. So I was pleased to see Frog Hollow Farms (my favorite local, organic fruit CSA) and Bellwether together at the Foodbuzz event, showing how well Warren Pears and [...]
Beverly’s English ToffeeOne of the reasons I decided to start this little 12 Days of Local Christmas project earlier this year was because of Beverly’s English Toffee. Cindy turned me onto them last year, and the deadline had already passed for Christmas orders. So, my gift to you this year is letting you know about [...]
All summer long, a group of food trucks has been circling up on Friday nights outside Fort Mason to bring together many different tastes of San Francisco in one place in an event called Off the Grid. I finally snuck in a visit in early November, just to see what things looked like. I had [...]
I love to shop on Etsy and for this 12 Days of Local Christmas, I have tried to think of ways to work in my love of Etsy. I have found 40th birthday presents, baby gifts, artwork for the house, jewelry for myself, so many treasures on Etsy. For those of you unfamiliar with this [...]
Gudrun (you are probably asking yourself) why are you featuring this kitchen gadget, which is not an edible food item. Three standout reasons: A. The Salsabol was designed by two local recent college grads (I almost called them kids, then thought better of it. But I am sure they are at least a decade or [...]
Don’t miss an update from Kitchen Gadget Girl, sign up for the new email list! Beverages! It is about time. Last year, I highlighted St George Spirits, the producers of the most outstanding vodkas, include Buddha’s Hand, as well as a new line of tequilas, which we happily tried last year. This year, I thought [...]
