I’m a California girl, born and bred. My parents raised us in San Francisco’s Bay Area and later in Sacramento, and I still have a soft spot in my heart for both cities. With friends and family spread throughout the region, I hardly need an excuse to visit two of my favorite cities. Throw in […]
Author: Lisa Dearen
The Gonzo Gourmet Turns One!
The Gonzo Gourmet turns one today and to celebrate, I wanted to share with you my 10 favorite recipes; essential recipes, you might say. Again and again I hear people say they can’t cook, or they hate to cook, or they don’t have time to cook. My blog is dedicated to those people: the everyday […]
Panzanella Salad
Growing up, I hated tomatoes. They were bland, pale pink and did nothing to liven up a salad. My distaste was so well known that on a visit to my grandparent’s home in Bronxville, New York, my Pop Pop bribed me to take one bite, just one bite, in exchange for a Dove bar. Fair […]
Toasted Garlic Tomato Sauce
If you somehow find yourself with extra tomatoes, or just want a sweet tomato sauce that comes together in minutes, then I’m excited for you to try this recipe. The toasted garlic elevates the sauce to something slightly savory, a perfect complement to summer’s juicy tomatoes. An ideal showcase of the season’s bounty, this sauce […]
Grilled Flatbread
Baking bread, to me, elevates cooking from an assembly of ingredients to a process nearing alchemy, a skill meant only for those who dare to meet the challenge. My first attempt at baking bread resulted in a bland, if pretty, loaf that promptly met the trashcan. I’m proud to report that my second attempt was […]
Comfort Food: A Look Back
With Cindy at Great America, circa 1983 I was first introduced to the ritual of comfort food in the sixth grade. My parents were newly divorced and my younger sister, Cindy, and I were learning how to navigate on our own in the brief time span between the school bus dropping us off at home, […]
Chicken & Buckwheat Salad
The other day I had what can only be considered an epiphany: I like to cook. Just not every day. And not to go all new-age mindful on you, but recognizing this was such an emotional release that I instantly sat down. Whew!
Steakhouse Steaks
Filet mignon is, by my way of thinking, a special occasion kind of dish, one that celebrates life’s victories, even those as seemingly minor as gathering a far-flung family together for the same meal.
Arugula Pesto
Pesto is my one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. Last weekend, for a grill-out with friends, I made this light arugula pesto – made with more water than oil, it worked well over the adorable curlicue shape of cavatappi pasta. I used walnuts instead of the traditional pine nuts because they’re cheaper, and I […]