Food & Drink Archives - San Lorenzo Valley Post

Beer Bread

September 22, 2023September 22, 2023 slvpost.comFood0 comment

By Tom Andersen I grew up in the 60s in south Felton. My mom, having four kids, had a culinary routine of baking bread twice a week; mostly standard white bread and occasionally whole wheat. In addition to these, dad liked odd stuff — dark breads, nut breads, and rye breads. Mom ran this routine until we were all off… Read More

Dark Chocolate Desert Queen Fig Pudding

September 12, 2023September 22, 2023 slvpost.com0 comment

By Alison Steele Every August we return to Boulder Creek from Virginia summers to find sunflower forests, magic beans, and mysterious squash entangled in what seems like an enchanted garden from a childhood storybook. Spent pea shoots are cleared away to reveal jewel toned beets and carrots ready for harvesting. The jostaberries are sundried on the branches with a curious… Read More

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Dill Pickled Beetroot

August 27, 2023September 7, 2023 slvpost.com0 comment

By Alison Steele On a quick visit to the neighboring farm, I returned with a basket of fresh beets from Jon Knopp’s vegetable garden and a new motto that made me smile. Grow to Give! The Knopp’s are an old family here in Staunton whose name is synonymous with kind. It’s not hard to see why they’re spoken so fondly… Read More

Column Alison Steele Columns Food & Drink

Wild Brook Trout with Crushed Juniper Berries

August 5, 2023August 10, 2023 slvpost.com0 comment

By Alison Steele Our summers in Virginia start religiously with a getaway to the coast along with family, fresh oysters, blue crab, and swimming. It’s relaxing to see the kids play fearlessly in the Atlantic Ocean flanked by dolphins and warmed by the southern sun. After a week or two we make our way inland to the mountains and unwind… Read More

Pintly perspective Erin and Brian Valdivia

Columns Food & Drink Radio

Celebrating Craft Beer from The Pintly Perspective

June 9, 2023June 24, 2023 slvpost.comradio0 comment

By Julie Horner KBCZ 89.3 FM, the Santa Cruz Mountains’ own community radio station, highlights the art of craft brewing on The Pintly Perspective, airing Fridays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Husband and wife team, Brian and Erin Valdivia host the engaging hour long show sipping offerings from mostly local breweries and exchanging lighthearted banter while they examine fermented flavor… Read More

Columns Food & Drink

Crafting a Sourdough Starter

June 6, 2023June 18, 2023 slvpost.com3 Comments

by Tom Andersen I went to the store a few weeks ago to grab a loaf of French bread, planning to make sandwiches and pizza bread. I read the label. Never should have done that — 13 maybe 14 ingredients beyond water, flour, yeast, and salt. I bought it anyway and it was good, but wow! There’s a better way. … Read More

Columns Food & Drink

Fermenting at Home: What’s the Point?

May 29, 2023June 6, 2023 slvpost.com0 comment

By Tom Andersen So, what is the point of fermentation, especially home fermentation? We can buy beer; we can buy pickles; we can buy yogurt, sourdough bread and cheese, salami, sauerkraut, sake, and even plum wine. Why make it myself? First, let’s just briefly describe what it is and how it works. Fermentation has been used by humans to preserve… Read More

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Nettle Souffle

May 18, 2023June 13, 2023 slvpost.comFood, recipes0 comment

By Alison Steele I’m at the beck and call of spring sunshine as the earth warms and the sweet scent of berry blossoms wafts through the garden. It’s time to free up the blueberries as they intertwine with the nettles in a delicate dance of time and space. At the peak of their nutrition, I pull the nettles as the… Read More

Column Alison Steele Columns Food & Drink

Buckwheat Griddle Cakes

April 8, 2023June 13, 2023 slvpost.compancakes0 comment

By Alison Steele Last summer, I met Harry and Millie Hornbeck while taking a banjo workshop in Elkins, West Virginia. They tap trees for sap, grow and mill fresh buckwheat and corn flours, and sell them at the local farmers’ market beside the train depot. After talking to them, I couldn’t resist stocking up on all three. Stored in the… Read More

Columns Food & Drink

Ginger Beer | Felton Fermenter

April 8, 2023April 30, 2023 slvpost.com0 comment

By Tom Andersen When I was a young boy my family would load up the station wagon and head to my grandparents’ farm in Viborg, a small town in rural South Dakota. My grandmother made just about everything from scratch, including soda pop. Root beer was the favorite but a pretty involved process, while ginger ale was a close second… Read More