Blog — Pear & Pecorino

Our first sweet treat for October: Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies! Hints of cardamom, cinnamon, and clove folded into buttery, flaky shortbread, served with a cup of hot tea for an extra cozy autumn treat.

Two months ago, I began a late-night quest to record a list of ideas for October. Among them were dishes filled with mushrooms, spices, and herbs. Slow-cooked, inspired by movies and Halloweens of years passed. By the time I'd finished, I had more recipes than days in the month. And the list continued to grow, spilling into November and December.

Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaOctober 10, 2019autumn, autumn recipes, chai, shortbread, vanilla chai shortbread cookiesComment

Roasted Squash, Pumpkin Seed, and Pomegranate Harvest Salad

More squash recipes! Sorry for the double butternut squash dishes this week, but on the spectrum of savory dishes, they are different in their own ways. More savory and full of aromatics, the butternut squash in this Roasted Squash, Pumpkin Seed, and Pomegranate Harvest Salad is tossed with a marinade of honey, allspice, and cumin. After half an hour, we've got these beautiful, caramelized half-moons beaming with aromatic spices. Just one of the many treats in this salad, along with pomegranate seeds, roasted pumpkin seeds, spiced caramelized shallots, and crumbled cotija.

Side DishIsabellaOctober 5, 2019autumn, autumn recipes, harvest salad, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, roasted squashComment

Creamy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

It's hard to get into the season in LA, I'm not gonna lie. Most years September is one of the hottest months of the year, dragging the summer heat far past it's prime. All of the grocery stores, especially Trader Joe's, always seem to get into the spirit long before the weather turns. Which means a couple weeks ago, I came home with mini pumpkins, acorn squash, pie pumpkins, and a massive butternut squash. Not to mention an assortment of dried fruits, nuts, and seeds for another autumn treat.

Main DishIsabellaSeptember 28, 2019autumn, autumn recipes, Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese, comfort food, hello fall, mac n cheese, pastaComment

Cheesy Polenta with Sautéed Mushrooms

Autumn has officially begun and we can finally see some rain in the forecast! Which means it's time to explore the earthy realm of mushrooms and herbs. Paired with smooth, cheesy polenta, each forkful of my Cheesy Polenta with Sautéed Mushrooms is a little taste of decadent, fall goodness.

Lime Pie with Ginger Graham Cracker Crust

It's hard to believe we're halfway through September! Soon enough we'll be into the season of aromatic soups, slow cooked meals, and everything pumpkin. I've spent a few days this week planning out some ideas and testing recipes for the coming weeks. I'm so excited to dive into the season and share these dishes with you! Starting off with my Lime Pie with Ginger Graham Cracker Crust: an aromatic twist on one of my favorite desserts.

Radish, Avocado + Pine Nut Salad

Before we jump into the season of hearty, autumnal comfort food, I wanted to share one last recipe inspired by the summer farmers’ market. This Radish, Avocado + Pine Nut Salad is inspired by one farmers’ market stand, with a table dedicated to vibrant, multicolored radishes. I knew I could think of something bright and fresh to showcase these beauties, and grabbed two bunches of french breakfast and purple radishes. Along with curly lettuce, sliced avocado, and toasted pine nuts, this salad is sweet, peppery, and a lil ode to the end of summer.

Side DishIsabellaSeptember 9, 2019farmersmarket, fresh, pine nuts, radish salad, salads, summersaladsComment

Honey Ricotta, Fig, and Hazelnut Toast

This one started out as just a spontaneous lunch, inspired by a fresh package of California black figs, a long-forgotten container of ricotta, and a few slices of bread from a local bakery. I'd gone to the market the day before, searching for some fresh figs so I could finally use the ricotta for this recipe. No luck, no figs, and the blazing California sun was another reminder that autumn is still a little ways away.

Breakfast and Brunch, Side DishIsabellaSeptember 5, 2019brunch, honey, quick meals, ricotta, toastComment

Chile Verde Pulled Pork + Mango Avocado Salsa

Happy Saturday! If you’re looking for a yummy, slow-cooked meal for your long weekend, I got you. This Chile Verde Pulled Pork + Mango Avocado Salsa makes for delicious sweet and savory Cali-style tacos. Cooked low and slow, with roasted tomatillos and Anaheim chiles, this pulled pork will keep ya satisfied all weekend long. Serve with warm tortillas, crumbled queso fresco, and fresh cilantro for a range of taco fixings!

Main DishIsabellaAugust 31, 2019chile verde, mango avocado salsa, pork, slow cooked, tacosComment

Zucchini Flower + Garbanzo Bean Fritto Misto

Zucchini flowers in August?! A little shocking honestly. I always think of zucchini flowers as an early summer treat, just before the height of summer squash season. However, while wandering through a local farmers' market, I found these little guys! A little different from what I'm used to: female flowers instead of male, with the baby zucchini attached. Along with some great big yellow tomatoes, and a bag full of other veggies, my original plan for fried garbanzo beans and cauliflower had morphed into a last-chance summer recipe for fried garbanzo beans, cheese stuffed zucchini flowers, and a spicy yellow tomato sauce. Hey, when inspiration strikes, you better act on it. Zucchini flower season is almost over, so I thought I'd make Zucchini Flower + Garbanzo Bean Fritto Misto.

Side DishIsabellaAugust 27, 2019appetizers, fritto misto, garbanzo beans, italian food, squash blossoms, summer recipes, veggies, zucchini flowersComment

Pistachio Plum Cake (& saving our plum tree)

Today’s recipe showcases some of my favorite summer fruit: plums! I remember summers I would go to the farmers’ market with my family and fill up bags with peaches, apricots, and plums, savoring the stone fruit season while I still could. Sunday farmers’ market hauls would only last a few days, my mom and I devouring at least two each day. However, this year I’ve had trouble finding lots of ripe, sweet stone fruit, so when I finally spotted these deep purple plums, I went a little wild. With no one there to hold me back from filling my bag and memories of past summers I longed for flooding back to me, I came home with over 20 plums. This Pistachio Plum Cake is among the many creations I made with them.

Desserts, Baked GoodsIsabellaAugust 20, 2019cake, desserts, pistachio, plums, stonefriuit, summerComment