Let it rain. In Napa Valley, the vines are dormant and our soil is thirsty. During these damp months, I’m hungry for hearty dishes that make my kitchen smell divine: lamb meatballs simmered in yogurt with a sizzling topping of red pepper butter; brothy chickpeas layered with toasted pita, yogurt and butter-browned pine nuts; fondue made with top-notch mountain cheeses. (It makes a difference.) If I can save up—or buy—enough Parm rinds, I’ll make a rich stock for winter risottos. Even my salads get a little cheesier in winter: I love a spinach salad with queso fresco or shaved ricotta salata. I don’t often make cheesecake because it’s too hard to resist, but my friend Cenk’s pumpkin cheesecake is worth every last calorie.
Lamb Meatballs in Warm Yogurt Sauce with Sizzling Red-Pepper Butter
Warm Chickpeas with Toasted Pita, Pine Nuts and Yogurt Sauce
Spinach Salad with Queso Fresco, Sesame Seeds and Tortilla Crisps
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