in medias recipe – Santa Barbara, California food blog with a focus on Farmers Market cooking

Carne Adovada — New Mexico-style Pork with Red Chiles

February 12, 2014

Matthew returned from a trip to Phoenix last week raving about the Carne Adovada he ordered at a popular restaurant called Dick’s Hideaway. He couldn’t get enough of the boldly-flavored, chili-like medley. For the uninitiated, New Mexico-style Carne Adovada features hunks of browned pork simmered until tender and velvety in an intensely-flavored, spicy and sweet […]

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Santa Barbara-style Shrimp and Grits

February 3, 2014

I spent the better part of last week at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. My 86-year-old father underwent successful heart surgery. His aortic valve was replaced — his third. This time, despite his age and the risk, waiting while my father was in surgery felt easier than it did 15 years ago. […]

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January at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market — Flower Power

January 27, 2014

It is a time of transition at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. My favorite strawberries from Harry’s Berries are on hiatus, but I’m still bringing home baskets of blueberries and raspberries. The wonderfully architectural romanesco cauliflowers have returned. I even saw English Shelling peas and snap peas last weekend. Amidst this amazing winter produce, I […]

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Tangerine and Meyer Lemon Cake from Franny’s Cookbook

January 21, 2014

Few things brighten my day like the sight — and scent — of winter citrus at the Farmers Market. On my latest spin through the market, I filled my bags with fragrant Eureka and Meyer Lemons and vibrant (and crazy tart) Satsuma Tangerines. The Bug and I planned to bake Tangerine Cake from Franny’s, a […]

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Roasted Fingerling Potatoes Topped with Spicy Vegetables and a Fried Egg

January 13, 2014

Mondays sometimes leave me frazzled. By dinner time, I’m up to there with multi-tasking and I need a satisfying meal that brings back the zen I’ve lost. Roasted fingerling potatoes topped with spicy vegetables and a fried egg is the very definition of that kind of meal. It’s comforting, flavorful, filling and it’s a breeze […]

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Hawaiian Granola with Macadamia Nuts and Dried Tropical Fruit

January 6, 2014

I may not be able to fall asleep to trade winds now that we’re back home in Santa Barbara, but one way I’m extending my Hawaiian vacation is how I’m starting my day. Most mornings in Maui, I spooned sliced Hawaiian strawberries and pineapple in a big bowl, ladled thick, tangy Greek yogurt over the […]

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Launiupoko Farmers Market and Hawaiian Kale Salad with Sweet Maui Onions, Pineapple and Bacon

December 29, 2013

Since I was a little girl on my family’s annual vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, watching the steady pounding of waves on a beach has made me feel both calm and giddy. It never occurred to me that these two conflicting emotions might be a paradox. My feet sinking into wet sand at water’s edge, […]

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December at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market

December 21, 2013

It may be December, but the Santa Barbara Farmers Market continues to be a feast for the eyes and a source of inspiration in the kitchen. Here is just a snapshot of the bounty as the year winds down.

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Winnie Abramson’s One Simple Change and a Giveaway of her Book

December 16, 2013

Winnie Abramson, a talented cook and an avid gardener, raises chickens and keeps bees at her home in the Hudson Valley, outside of New York City. I couldn’t resist including this shot of one of Winnie’s hens enjoying a beautiful sunny day. She’s a beauty, isn’t she? Winnie writes the popular, informative and beautifully-photographed HealthyGreenKitchen […]

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Cooking from Suzanne Goin’s The A.O.C. Cookbook and her Persimmon Cake with Creme Fraiche and Maple Pecans

December 9, 2013

Los Angeles-based chef Suzanne Goin is the owner of Lucques, a.o.c., Tavern and The Larder. She has won two James Beard awards, one for her first, critically-acclaimed book, Sunday Suppers at Lucques. Suzanne has followed up Sunday Suppers with a show-stopper of a second book — the a.o.c. cookbook. It includes recipes of many of […]

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