As June winds to an end, our days are seemingly longer accompanied by rays of light painting the sky with varied warm hues until long into the evening.   Aromas of ripening stone fruit and strawberries fill the air and the garden landscape is dotted with brightly colored blossoms of various vegetables yet to come.  […]

Memorial Day weekend looms ahead and May for many areas of the country (including Napa Valley) has been fraught with cooler temperatures and lingering rain.   Yet this week most of the country has suddenly been gripped with steamy hot summerlike temperatures and even Napa is hurrying to join such weather festivities and anticipating quickly reaching […]

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but its wake has left most refrigerators loaded with leftovers and a waning interest in them.    If culinary doldrums were not enough to wrestle with, hectic holiday schedules kick off this week with events, office parties, shopping, and parties with friends and neighbors on the nearby horizon.    Despite these constraints, […]

As the month of August launched this past week, more than one person lamented about the fact that summer is almost over.   I, too, shared this sentiment and the cool crisp morning breezes in Napa Valley served as a reminder that autumn is right around the corner.   Not wanting to give up its throne, however, […]