On a budget of $120 for four people, a good friend and “astro-twin” who claims herself as a vegetarian but eats seafood and strangely, bacon, asked me to make a belated birthday dinner for her friend (my acquaintance). Because of the graces the bay area allows us in grocery shopping, and with many thanks to [...]

For two, Spanish Spicy Shrimp:
10 shrimp–shell & de-vein them yourself
8 slices baguette, toasted with raw garlic rubbed on them
5 cloves garlic, minced coarsely
1/2 cap san marzano tomatoes or package fresh cherry tomatoes (cut in 1/2)
olive oil
vegetable stock
1/2 tsp thyme
salt
pepper
chili flakes
Two skillets: start one cold with olive oil & chili flakes (about 1/2 tsp), heat [...]

A friend of mine kindly not once but on two different occasions recently provided my cocktail-sipping self with much needed pizza delivered to my hand inside a bar (it was from the “outside”), and to thank him for not only 1. going to get it but 2. paying for it, I offered to cook him [...]

Spring-Summer Gnocchetti with Pancetta, Squash & Arugula in Lemon-Thyme sauce
1 1/8th in slice pancetta, diced
1 small zucchini
1/4 cup chicken stock (otherwise omit)
1 small shallot, diced
1 clove garlic, course mince
Zest of 1 small meyer lemon or 1/4 regular lemon
Handful Arugula
Fresh Thyme (~1/2T leaves before chopping)
Piave, Parmesean, Asiago or other grated hard cheese
Start water boiling for [...]