Pinch My Salt

California Strawberries Farm Tour

Nicole — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:43:24 +0000

Last weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to Carmel Valley courtesy of the California Strawberry Commission to spend a couple days learning all about California strawberries. Even though I grew up in California and have been eating these delicious berries all my life, it turns out that I really didn’t know that much about strawberry farming in California so I was thrilled to be included in this adventure.(...)
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Wordless Wednesday: Searching for the Perfect Strawberry

Nicole — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:23:12 +0000

One of the many reasons that I’m happy to live in California.

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A Peek into the Garden

Nicole — Sat, 04 May 2013 21:48:50 +0000

I don’t know what spring has been like for the rest of you, but here in central California it’s been unseasonably HOT. While I’m not quite ready for summer to begin, our tomatoes and peppers sure have been loving the heat! (...)
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Yellow Cake with Dark Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Nicole — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:16:23 +0000

As many of you know, my fiance and I have recently purchased a house and after 20 years of moving around the country and the world, I have moved back to my small hometown. Although the physical move this time around was only a distance of about 40 miles, it has been quite a journey. The entire process, which included an arduous and extensive remodel, took up most of our time for an entire year. And like all huge undertakings, we had ups and downs and questions and doubts along the way. But now that we’re here and finally settling in, everything is falling into place and it all seems more than worth it. (...)
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Wordless Wednesday: We’ve Joined our Local CSA

Nicole — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:42:24 +0000

In the box this week from T & D Willey Farms CSA: rutabaga, red potatoes, savoy spinach, red leaf lettuce, carrots, parsley, oranges, kiwis, and eggs. Woohoo!

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Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with Honey Coriander Vinaigrette

Nicole — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:10:04 +0000

Have you eaten too many chocolate bunnies and deviled eggs lately? This pink grapefruit and avocado salad is a delicious way to transition into healthier spring eating.

We’re actually on the tail end of citrus season around here, but the pink grapefruit that arrived in my CSA box reminded me of this salad I made last year and I had to finally share it with you. This Grapefruit Vinaigrette with Honey and Coriander is so delicious on its own that I kept the salad nice and simple. I tossed together some butter lettuce, chopped avocado, and grapefruit segments and it made a perfect light lunch. (...)
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My Favorite Recipes of 2012

Nicole — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:22:41 +0000

I decided to look back through my blog posts of 2012 and pull together a few standout recipes that I will definitely be making again and again. First up is this somewhat unusual spring appetizer that I made with some of our delicious local strawberries. I can’t wait til next spring when I’ll be able to make this Strawberry Bruschetta with Balsamic Vinegar and Basil again.(...)
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Brown Sugar Shortbread

Nicole — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:44:28 +0000

Christmas isn’t here yet, but I’m already craving cookies like crazy. This morning I was looking through different cookie recipes I’ve posted in the past and I ran across this recipe for Brown Sugar Shortbread that was hidden in a post about Lemon Shortbread from a few years back. Since these cookies are so delicious, I decided it was time to give them their own space to shine. Keep in mind that a batch of shortbread packaged in a cute box or tin makes a wonderful gift!(...)
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Cranberry White Chocolate Pecan Cookies

Nicole — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:57:03 +0000

When it comes to dried fruit, cranberries do not top my list of favorites. I love raisins, prunes, dried apricots, dried peaches, and dried tart cherries any time of the year, but it’s rare to find a bag of dried cranberries in my pantry most of the time. However, when Thanksgiving rolls around, I start thinking cranberries and the dried ones inevitably start showing up in my green salads and baked goods and continue to do so through January. They add a festive pop of color and the flavor pairs beautifully with oranges, one of my favorite things to eat in the winter. I do use the fresh ones for holiday cranberry sauces and relishes, but I think dried cranberries are wonderful in cookies, muffins, scones, and green salads.(...)
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Silent Sunday: Missing Morro Bay

Nicole — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 16:44:19 +0000

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