Lentil Walnut Pate

It is officially the holiday season, and as a self-proclaimed foodie, I think it’s the best time of the year! Making fun food to share with loved ones is one of my greatest pleasures and ensuring everyone can join in the deliciousness is a favorite challenge. Enter this veggie pate.

Pate originated as a means of using up the less desirable animal parts, which often are very tasty, but need additional ingredients to be properly eaten. If you have friends and family who are no longer eating animal products, offer this to them (and your carnivore eaters) and be pleasantly surprised. 

Delicate but flavorful, made with pantry ingredients itt tastes best several days after it's made, so perfect to just have in the refrigerator or part of your make ahead items. I won’t say it tastes like the meat version but I will say you will enjoy it!

Pomegranate Chocolate Delight

As a newcomer to California, I didn’t see my first actual pomegranate until I was 40

years old. It became a favorite soon after, especially since it truly is seasonal. Blink,

and the season’s done, so make this quick and easy dessert while you still can!

My friend Mara introduced this to me one Thanksgiving, and she got it from another

friend, so this is a hand me down of the best kind. Thankfully, it is the most forgiving

of recipes, in addition to being so easy. Break apart a pomegranate and pick out the

arils (seeds), add to melted semi-sweet chocolate, scoop out and chill for an hour, voila!