Chard and Pancetta Lasagna with Sage

Chard Pancetta Lasagna

A Decadent Lasagna


The wind whistled over the settlements in the afternoon, and the farmers began to set out mile-long windbreaks of eucalyptus to keep the plowed topsoil from blowing away. And this is about the way the Salinas Valley was when my grandfather brought his wife and settled in the foothills to the east of King City.
East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Growing a summer vegetable garden is something I always want to do. I give it a try and usually have more fails than wins. Tomatoes are always a priority, but between the summer fog and our mostly shaded backyard thriving is random. Still, I’ve planted three tomato plants again this spring, Sun Gold, Celebrity and Giant Red Cherry. (I’ve given up on Early Girl.) We’re trying a different spot, but 6-8 hours of direct sun is more of a desire than a reality. Herbs do thrive. I’m thankful for parsley, thyme, sage, oregano and rosemary. The best part of last summer’s vegetable garden was the Swiss chard. I planted a six-pack of plants that faithfully gave dinner worthy chard for an entire year. I even forgot about them during this year’s rain. Now they are bolting, going to seed. Before I say goodbye I’m harvesting the tender leaves that are growing along the stalks for salad greens and sharing this recipe from the Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen for Chard and Pancetta Lasagna with Sage.

If you like Swiss chard this is a recipe to try, if you could care less about chard but like lasagna (and think about adding more greens to your diet) this is a recipe to try. Or if you have an abundance of chard and another serving of sautéed greens is stifling, you must make this recipe. However, this is a lasagna recipe, the healthy part is the chard and onion, after that we’re talking cheese, béchamel and noodles. Oh, and pancetta! Not too much, just enough to add that wow flavor that makes this recipe irresistible. READ MORE . . .

Lake Tahoe Autumn Salad

Lake Tahoe Autumn Salad

Sierra Nevada comfort

“And summer passed into a hot and fragrant autumn.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Each summer we vacation at the north shore of Lake Tahoe, staying at my husband’s family place at Northstar. Northstar is between the town of Truckee and the north shore of Lake Tahoe. This year we vacationed in early September, rather than in August. Most of the other vacationers had returned home. Tahoe was stunning in it’s beauty, serenely quiet. Autumn had found its way into the bright sunny days interspersed with days of Sierra Nevada thundershowers. A crispness was already in the air, especially at night. The trip was bittersweet for us, as it may be our last vacation at the family place. In anticipation of its sale, Mr. R spent time on repairs and logistics. The possibility of our last stay remained with us. We quietly savored each day, imprinting the memories of our favorite places. We lingered over breakfast and coffee, before spending an afternoon at the pool or venturing out for a day trip. It sounds quite overdone, and full of hype, but one must see Lake Tahoe on a sunny day to grasp the intensity of its color. I am drawn by Lake Tahoe’s irresistible pull to return again and yet again. READ MORE . . .