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Citrus is in season during the winter. This may come as a surprise as when I think of citrus, images of summertime lemonade stands with hand-painted, crooked signs; and tall pitchers of sparkling, boozy sangria come to mind (not in the same thought...). There may be some reason behind the winter timing of citrus, too. Citrus fruits like oranges are very rich in Vitamin C, helping to keep sniffles at bay in the height of cold season.

Jerusalem Artichoke and Butternut Squash Soup

In the same fashion that Thanksgiving snuck up on me before I could post any Thanksgiving-specific recipes, here I am on December 22nd, kicking myself for forgetting to create and post a brusselsprout recipe with balsamic bacon and pomegranate seeds I've made for my family a few times with unanimous success...the perfect Christmas vegetable side.

Spiced Pork with Yams and Apples

This recipe is the perfect example of how with a little planning and commitment to making something outside the box, your average weeknight dinner can be transformed into a unique and exciting combination of flavors with very little additional time spent. When I went to the store to shop for this recipe, I had no idea what I was going to make, so I stopped by the checkout line to grab a food magazine off the rack for some inspiration. If you're ever at a loss for what to cook, there is no shame in perusing the pages of a few magazines for inspiration.

Collards with Hazelnuts and Chopped Cherries

Cooked greens are absolutely my go-to side dish this time of year. With three basic ingredients, you can create endless combinations - and quickly. Choose a type of dark, leafy green, a dried fruit, and a type of nut - and you are good to go. When I set out to make this dish, it was actually going to be beet greens with cherries and hazelnuts - but a trip to an ill-stocked grocery store in the Central Coast town of Cambria forced me to call an audible on the spot. Also, I generally treat beet greens as a bonus food.

Shitake Mushroom and Cauliflower Risotto

It's been a while since I have been sincerely "training" for any sort of event. With that being the case, my level of starchy carbohydrate intake has been severely reduced. But this weekend we packed up the car and drove up the coast, knowing that the swell that had just produced 12 foot perfect Pipeline at the Pipe Masters (and a handful of perfect 10s along the way) would be hitting the California coast in slightly less dramatic fashion. Being Southern California born and bred, surfing the Central Coast is something I love to hate, or hate to love. The water is clean and clear - and cold. But wearing booties, a hood, and gloves somehow increases the sense of adventure. And when it's head-high and you've got a good quarter mile of rugged, peaky beach break located a few miles south of Big Sur, only dotted with about six guys, at that moment in life, there is not much to complain about. Point being, after a few bone chilling sessions, as well as a day hike in Limekiln, a warm, refueuling risotto was in order. The leftovers also served to fuel an epic return trip that consisted of driving straight from the tranquility of the Central Coast, into the melee that was a Jay-Z concert at Staples Center.