Fire up your grill, bbq or smoker for a side dish that’ll make you wanna slap your mama! I don’t understand why that’s a good thing. Unless, you really don’t like your mom and want to slap her.

Smoky Mac and CheeseKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste1 pound dry rigatoni4 cups heavy cream1 teaspoon smoked paprikaCayenne pepper, to taste3 shakes of your favorite hot sauce, optional8 ounces cream cheese8 ounces Gouda, shredded1 pound ham, diced1 cup panko breadcrumbs1/2 cup grated pecorino1/2 cup sliced scallionsHeat a large pot of salted water…

Happy Taco Tuesday! I wrote this recipe with you in mind. Enjoy!

Marinated Steak TacosIngredientsChopped cilantro for the marinade, plus more for garnish1/2 red onion, chopped1 Jalapeno or serrano chile, seeds and membrane removed2 garlic cloves, crushedJuice from 1 limeExtra-virgin olive oil1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce1 teaspoon yellow mustard1 teaspoon onion powder1 teaspoon paprikaKosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste2 pounds trimmed skirt steak12-24 warmed corn tortillas,…

The Oldest Lake in North America Sits Right Here in Northern California

 We have plenty of beautiful and unique lakes throughout Northern California. From man-made lakes like Shasta and Oroville, to natural high-alpine lakes like Castle Lake and Lake Tahoe, there’s a water experience for everyone in the area. But did you know that there’s a lake in NorCal that’s nearly a half a million years old,…

I meant to post this last Friday, as it was supposed to be cold and rainy. The cold, wet weather will arrive eventually, here in the 2nd sunniest city in America. When it does, get a big pot of chili on the stove. I made this for a bunch of large, sweaty, beastly men on a houseboat and they loved it! In fact, I got 3 marriage proposals that night! It was horrifying! I slept with one eye peeled that night. Talk about Cape Fear!

Chili VerdeOlive oil5 cups diced onion1/2 cup chopped garlic1/3 cup chopped serrano peppers1/3 cup chopped jalapeno peppers5 pounds cubed pork shoulder1 quart chicken broth15 to 20 Anaheim peppers12 to 15 tomatillos3 tablespoons garlic powder1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1 tablespoon ground cumin1 tablespoon Mexican oregano1 teaspoon ground coriander2 teaspoons salt1/2 cup corn flour

Beth, Drew and I had another perfect steak and cocktails at Jack’s Saturday night, just a couple of hours before they had to close down…Again. I guess it’s time to start knockin’ out some home cooking…Again.

California Steak Sandwich3 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons soy sauceJuice from one lime1 tablespoon brown sugar1 lb flank steakKosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste1 -2 sweet onion, halved and sliced into half moons1 cup arugula6 tablespoons butter, softened (3/4 of a stick)2 garlic cloves1⁄3 cup parsley, flat leafed, finely chopped4 slices bread, you’re favoriteIn…