Garbanzos with Chicken
It's odd, but chicken and chick peas are a natural. In Mexico, one of the best soup is Sopa Tlalpeño, a mixture of garbanzos, chicken and chipotle chiles. But they...
The Rancho Gordo Blog
In the kitchen
Tortilla Cornets
This is the fussy kind of food preparation I claim to hate but secretly love. I saw this technique in a Mexican food magazine and knew I had to try...
Purple Tortillas
I was in a local mexican grocery store and spotted the odd colored field maize called "Morado" and just knew I had to try some. I made masa out of...
Rancho Gordo Gravel Salad by Knickerbockers’ Catering
In Napa, you participate in a lot of events. Some are lame, some are great, but if Knickerbockers' Catering is involved, you know the food is going to be good....
Bean Gorditas, Sort Of
Early in my cooking "career", Zarela Martinez' Oaxaca book opened doors for me. Everything I made out of it was a success and it forced me to rethink some ideas...
Masa at Home with the Nixtamatic!
I believe I've gone off the deep end, but before you tell me it couldn't have been a very long trip, let me tell you that I've been enjoying 100%...
Cactus Season: Nopal and Chorizo Tacos
My cactus plant is just in a giving mood these days. So much new growth to eat and tons and tons of new prickly pears waiting to ripen makes...
More Uses for the Basic Chile Sauce
I had a pal over for lunch last week, only I forgot to shop and had to make due with what was in the kitchen. I made a basic chile...
Reader's Suggestions in the Kitchen
The last Rancho Gordo newsletter got a good response from readers when I said I don't really like recipes. I know it's fine for me to be happy with a...
Not Brain Surgery
Internet friend and Ferry Plaza customer Erik Ellestad writes about his recent adventures with beans: Threw a cup and a half of rancho gordo beans (I think they were RedNightfall)...
Purslane and Eggs
I was weeding yesterday and found my first purslane. The thrill will be gone very soon, I know, as I grab buckets full and dump it in the chicken pen,...
Vallarta Beans Are Back
Vallarta is a strange bean. Raw, it is green. Cooked, it looks like Yellow Indian Woman and even tastes a little like it but it's denser, almost fudge-like. I love...