Holiday stress? Chill with chilaquiles, a yummy jumble of tortilla chips, chile sauce, and fresh Mexican toppings.

Marinated Olives with Citrus and Garlic is an easy appetizer to ride out the holidays.

Cooking from “The Whole Grain Promise” and loving the Wild Rice, Pear, and Sweet Potato Salad with Walnuts.

Sauteed Chicken with Parsnip, Apple, and Sherry Pan Sauce, featuring an easy way to jazz up a simple dinner- make a pan sauce.

Recipe for Dill-Poached Salmon with Herbed Yogurt Sauce

Ham and Cheese Pockets from “Empanadas” — loving every warm, cozy, flaky-pastry bite!

Celebrate spring with a picnic and Ham and Brie Baguettes!

5 tips for delicious fish, plus Fillet of Sole with Lemon-Wine Pan Sauce.

Chicken Posole Verde— perfect for Superbowl, or any time you’re hungering for a big pot of something warm, hearty, and heavenly.

Bittersweet Chocolate Bark with Candied Ginger and Mixed Nuts–one of my favorite, easy-to-make chocolate treats, perfect for gift-giving.

Cheesy Pizza Bombs – Ooey, gooey, warm, and yummy. From my post on “Maddi’s Fridge,” a thoroughly delightful picture book by Lois Brandt

Celebrating 20 years of making great food, plus chocolate chip cookies from my café in Sausalito, which many considered the world’s best.

Gooey, creamy, dreamy Pumpkin Spice Sandwich Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Filling.

Figs, Goat Cheese, and Mixed Greens with Candied Pecans–yes, please!

Buttery, sweet, bright, thoroughly delicious plum cake.

5 tips for terrific potato salad, plus a recipe for this Summer Potato Salad with Green Beans, Corn, Lemon, and Olive Oil

Beat the heat with a cold, crunchy, ever-so-slightly alcoholic Wine Slush!

Grilled King Salmon with English Peas and Mint, a recipe from a new cookbook, “Grill to Perfection”

A Strawberry Sponge Cake to love—sweet and creamy, soft and pillowy, fruity and bright.

Chicken soup with rice, definitely nice. :)

Today’s blog post, on needs, wants, and an indulgent cobb salad recipe