In 2009 we published “The Holm Family Cookbook” with our mother, an aunt, and a cousin. We started this blog at that time and maintained it for a few years, so many of the posts are a bit dated, but the recipes are still good!
Moscow Mule at the Happy Hour Bar on Hebgen Lake, Montana A few years ago Oprah Winfrey visited Yosemite National Park on her TV show. During that episode, Oprah and her friend Gayle King were drinking Moscow Mules at their campsite and she even brought some to her...
Our "classroom" for the infusing spirits class Several weeks ago some friends and I went to an infusing spirits with fruit and herbs class at the restaurant at Wente Vineyards in Livermore. The class was interesting and the cocktail we got to drink after the class, a...
There seems to be a renaissance in pickling these days, even amongst our family. This year we pickled 45 quarts of asparagus, resurrected our Grandmother’s Danish Pickle recipe after 20 some odd years of slumber, and also whipped up some Dills,...
Glamour Gal Martini My sister Susie and I have been friends with Brenda and Melanie Vieux for several years, and we've have had a lot of fun times with the Vieux girls, such as trips to Mexico, "sibling" dinners in San Francisco, trips to the beach, and just hanging...
Flaming σαγανάκι cheese at Demitri's Taverna My work buddies and I drop by Demitri's Taverna, which is a Greek Restaurant in downtown Livermore, about once a month for flaming σαγανάκι cheese (saganaki) and ouzo. At Demitri's the flaming saganaki is cheese that has...
Adult food and beverages found at the Epcot Theme Park Disney's Epcot Park in Orlando holds an international food and wine festival in October and the first part of November each year. The international marketplace that surrounds the lake at Epcot has...
A toast to the retiree Six friends and I recently gathered at Holm Family cookbook recipe tester, Sue Mears', home in Incline Village on Lake Tahoe's north shore. All teachers, we were gathering to celebrate Sherri Vares’ retirement. Our usual routine during our get...
Moss green and fuchsia were the colors of the day One of the Holm clan is getting married, so naturally there needed to be a wedding shower for the bride-to-be who is marrying into the Holm family. Yesterday the groom’s sister, Staci, hosted the wedding shower,...
If you happen to be planning a visit to Reno, Nevada, driving through, or live in the area, for a change of pace you might want to consider eating at Louis' Basque Corner restaurant. Louis' serves traditional Basque food family style on long communal tables that you...
Last week my friend Sheri and I were walking at lunchtime and she was telling me about the fun gourmet-cooking weekend she'd just had. One of her friends is an event planner at a spa and event center in the Napa Valley area and the event center hosts well-known chefs...