The Rancho Gordo Blog
Foods the Americas Gave the World
I'm doing some research for a pre-Columbian dinner (details to come shortly) and while I knew that a lot of our indigenous food was a real gift to the world,...
Bean and Purslane Soup
I've been a fan of purslane for a long time. There's a famous Mexican stew with pork and purslane but sometimes you don't want a big old pork fiesta. It's...
Tour d'Organics Bike Ride
It's totally out of my league but the annual Tour d'Organics event is coming up September 17th in Sebastopol. There's more information here but of course the real reason to...
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...
Which Beans Are Healthiest?
The question I dislike most, after "Which is your favorite bean?", is "Which bean is healthiest?" There's a side of me that couldn't care less. Beans have so much going...
Pigeon Peas (Cajanus cajan)
We grew a small amount of pigeon peas. They're not New World, in fact, they probably originate in Asia. You don't see them much in Mexico but in Central America,...
How To Win Friends and Influence People, Slow Food Style!
From an article in the New York Times:“I don’t know if it’s going to be the youthful, happening Woodstock they want it to be, but it certainly has the potential,”...
The First Beans for 2008
My plants in the trial garden have looking good and there have blossoms but I was getting worried because there was no sign of a bean. What a swell feeling...
Another Way to Cook Cactus Paddles
In her Essential Cuisines of Mexico, Diana Kennedy has a good recipe called Nopales al Vapor (page 208). Instead of boiling or grilling, you pan fry with onions, garlic and...
Nancy Z on Bobby Flay Show
My friend, tour-guide and author, Nancy Zavlavsky writes: Hey, check out the "Bobby Flay Throwdown" show Tuesday (tomorrow) night on the Food Channel, where I'm a judge. Should be a...