In elementary school, did you ever start an avocado plant from the pit? I did. I remember waiting for weeks, as the stone steeped in tepid water, for the roots to burgeon, and a spindly plant to sprout. But I don’t really remember much past that point. I don’t remember planting the pit in soil, or watering it, or most of all, an avocado tree actually growing. Maybe that’s because this takes 15-20 years. Yep, you read that right. 20 long years!
As daunting as that figure seems, and as unfortunately black as my thumb is, I have not been deterred from forcing my very own pits. I have always felt rather moderately about avocados. I could take them or leave them. But did you know that California grows 90% of all the avocados that we eat in this country. That [...]

I’m back. Humor me please. My kitchen in New York is bare. The only things that sit in my refrigerator are a jar of baby cornichons floating in murky brine, and a half-used jar of Dijon mustard. Now I like vinegar as much as the next person, but cornichons dipped in mustard is a treat I will save for another day. So yes, I have to go the market.
I like where I live, but there are times when I just do not want to pay $3.00 for one measly avocado. I become sick and tired of the strawberries looking beautiful but tasting insipid, because well… they are all coming from California. So what do I do? Haul my cookies to California to see the family and lay on the hammock in the backyard of my parents house under the welcoming shade created [...]