October 19, 2025
Hello there and Happy Fall!
Here is a Fall Fruit & Cheese Appetizer that is a little bit of yum… Black Plum & Goat Cheese w/ Honey, Ginger, & Sage. It’s earthy, unusual, and another beautiful contender to take to a holiday party. You could bring the Fig Appetizer (one post back) alongside this one, and the combo would be perfect for a Fall gathering. They both have goat cheese and honey, so they’d be convenient to make together, and would be oh so pretty sitting together, side by side!
October 18, 2025
Hi there!
How are you?! I’ve missed you all! It’s been a minute…
On this lovely 87 degree Fall day in Temecula, I thought I’d share an appetizer that I’ve been working on!
At this time of year, I try to pretend when I’m cooking or baking that it’s not 80-90 degrees outside- it’s almost the end of October after all… jeez… we have had a 60 degree day or two for the record, but definitely not as many as I’d like. So… when it’s 87 degrees out, I put on the AC which is absolutely necessary at these temperatures, and I turn on the oven. But… what if you could find an appetizer that you didn’t have to bake? Wouldn’t that be great in Temecula and surrounding areas in October! I know that Joshua Tree and Palm Springs are experiencing even higher temps than we are, so YES, we would all love that alternative if possible…right?!?!
Wouldn’t it be lovely to bring a delicious gourmet appetizer to a party or gathering that required no cooking or baking? One that would be perfect for Thanksgiving get-togethers or a Halloween party? Well… these are easy to make, ooey gooey, and can be served warm or cool. They’re both sweet and savory, really satisfying, and beautiful to look at, too!
Heirloom Figs & Goat Cheese w/Oregano
June 5, 2017
Image by Egle Athari
Hi there and welcome to The Craine’s Nest!
A friend of mine recently invited me to join a book club, and while I’ve always thought book clubs might be stuffy and uptight, I’m happy to have found this one is not! For the most part, it’s a great mix of girl talk, good food and drink, and an interesting discussion about the book that we’ve read. The group is made up of creative, entrepreneurial women, which is my comfy little nook, and I like that I’m reading books I wouldn’t necessarily choose for myself.
The first book that I read with the group, was Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Anne Fowler. I’m not gonna lie… I was pretty bored for the first hundred pages or so and then, unexpectedly, everything turned around. The novel was suddenly brought to life with imagery and color, when Scott and Zelda, the dynamic duo, moved to New York City. Through many different countries and surroundings, Fowler did a great job of capturing their extraordinary personalities and their crazy, mixed-up love. She recreated environments of the era in beautiful detail, making me feel like I was right there with Scott and Zelda, at the many speakeasies, clubs, and hotels they frequented. With her vivid descriptions of the style, food, and drink of the day, Fowler created a lively backdrop for an array of colorful characters.
Fowler also included many a Jazz Era Cocktail (mostly all about gin!), such as the Orange Blossom, which is one of the drinks I’ll be revamping here, today. I jotted down all of the drinks as I read through the book, and I’ve put a modern spin on the ones that captured my imagination the most.
May 18, 2017
Happy Spring and welcome to The Craine’s Nest!
The sun is shining, flowers are in bloom, and Mimosa Season is upon us!
The truth is, while I love the idea of mimosas, I’ve never been a huge fan of the OJ and Sparkling Wine thing… too sweet, too sticky, too much… so this Spring, I’ve been reinventing the traditional version, using fresh ingredients.
April 7, 2017
Welcome to The Craine’s Nest!
It’s been ages… but I’m back after moving our household from San Diego to Temecula. So happy to finally be settled in. Took me a while, but I can breathe again and I’m really excited about our new surroundings!
We’re here in food, wine, and farming country, and it’s gotten me excited about the idea of growing my own herbs and veggies. I’ve started a garden that consists of herbs like cilantro, basil, and thyme, as well as vegetables like artichokes, variations of hot and bell peppers, and a variety of heirloom tomatoes (and of course, flowers picked out by the one and only, Zoe):
Heirloom Tomato
Lemon balm
