Tressa Dale

Gluten-free baked goods are often dry and unsatisfying, but these cakes are moist and sweet. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Goodness without gluten

These cakes are moist, sweet, and honestly the best gluten-free cake I have ever made.

Gluten-free baked goods are often dry and unsatisfying, but these cakes are moist and sweet. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
These fudgy brownies are a classic, decadent treat. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Dessert for a thoughtful reader

These classic fudgy brownies are dense and decadent.

These fudgy brownies are a classic, decadent treat. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This nostalgic sauce is so shockingly simple, you’ll never buy a bottle again. Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion

America’s favorite culinary representative

The original recipe for ranch dressing was invented and perfected in Alaska, out in the bush in 1949.

This nostalgic sauce is so shockingly simple, you’ll never buy a bottle again. Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion
This cake stacks colored crepes for a brilliant rainbow breakfast. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Crepes of a different color

This rainbow cake celebrates Pride with layers of colored crepes.

This cake stacks colored crepes for a brilliant rainbow breakfast. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
“Bibim guksu” or “mixed noodles” are traditionally served with a thin wheat flour noodle called somyeon (somen). (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Spicing up summer

“Bbibim guksu,” which means “mixed noodles,” is traditionally served with a thin wheat flour noodle called somyeon (somen).

“Bibim guksu” or “mixed noodles” are traditionally served with a thin wheat flour noodle called somyeon (somen). (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
These little “cookies” are loaded with nuts and fortified with coconut oil to boost fat and calories.

A (massive) meal made with love

These banana oatmeal energy bars are loaded with nuts and fortified with coconut oil to boost fat and calories.

These little “cookies” are loaded with nuts and fortified with coconut oil to boost fat and calories.
This version of maeuntang, or Korean fisherman’s stew, features sablefish, daikon, zucchini and green onions with fermented Korean bean and red pepper pastes. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Out with the old fish

Now is the time to empty our freezers of last year’s harvest.

This version of maeuntang, or Korean fisherman’s stew, features sablefish, daikon, zucchini and green onions with fermented Korean bean and red pepper pastes. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This sweet and tangy roasted spaghetti squash dish includes blended tomato and goat cheese sauce. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A list for life’s challenges

Roasted spaghetti squash is blended with tomato and goat cheese sauce for a sweet and tangy meal.

This sweet and tangy roasted spaghetti squash dish includes blended tomato and goat cheese sauce. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This decadent pie is made with rich coconut milk and a pile of sweetened whipped cream. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A send-off rich with love and coconut

Decadent coconut cream pie is made with rich coconut milk, a pile of sweetened whipped cream, and a whole lot of love.

This decadent pie is made with rich coconut milk and a pile of sweetened whipped cream. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
These high-protein egg bites are filled with tomatoes, parsley and feta, but any omelet-appropriate toppings will do. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A little care for the caretakers

These high-protein egg bites are perfect for getting a busy teacher through the witching hour in late afternoon.

These high-protein egg bites are filled with tomatoes, parsley and feta, but any omelet-appropriate toppings will do. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This salad mixes broccoli, carrots and pineapple chunks for a bright, sweet dish. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A bright and sweet Mother’s Day treat

Broccoli, pineapple and carrots are the heart of this flavorful salad.

This salad mixes broccoli, carrots and pineapple chunks for a bright, sweet dish. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
These sweet, stuffed pancakes, called hotteok, are found in Korea, and they make a perfect after-school snack. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Sweet bread to help savor the moments

If this stage of his childhood can so quickly become a memory, how fast will the rest of it fly by?

These sweet, stuffed pancakes, called hotteok, are found in Korea, and they make a perfect after-school snack. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
These pinto beans and rice only take about 10 minutes of hands-on work before they are stewed for about 12 hours in a cooking pot. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A complete meal for when you’re pinching pennies

My mother always kept a large tub of rice and beans, provisions she called “struggle food.”

These pinto beans and rice only take about 10 minutes of hands-on work before they are stewed for about 12 hours in a cooking pot. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This takeout favorite is deceptively easy and comes together faster than it can be delivered. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A sweet and sour dinner for 3

I really wanted some sweet and sour takeout this weekend, but all my favorite restaurants are far outside of delivery range.

This takeout favorite is deceptively easy and comes together faster than it can be delivered. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
These poached pears get their red tinge from a cranberry juice bath. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A dessert to stimulate the senses

These crimson-stained cranberry poached pears offer a soft and grainy texture.

These poached pears get their red tinge from a cranberry juice bath. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, kale, onions and buckwheat are served in this rich, healthy salad. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Salad, reinvented

This salad is exciting, complex, and has a much kinder kale to carb ratio.

Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, kale, onions and buckwheat are served in this rich, healthy salad. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This tuna casserole calls for peas, parsley and Parmesan incorporated into a sturdy pasta. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Quick and kid-pleasing casserole

This wholesome dish is great for busy families and fussy eaters.

This tuna casserole calls for peas, parsley and Parmesan incorporated into a sturdy pasta. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
These monster cookie-inspired granola bars are soft, chewy and tasty enough to disguise all the healthy nuts, oats and seeds. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Fueling the fearless

My son’s adventurous nature unfortunately does not extend to his diet.

These monster cookie-inspired granola bars are soft, chewy and tasty enough to disguise all the healthy nuts, oats and seeds. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This decadent, creamy tiramisu is composed of layers of coffee-soaked homemade lady fingers and mascarpone cheese with a cocoa powder topping. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A fancy dessert for an extra-special birthday

This dessert is not what I usually make for his birthday, but I wanted to make him something a little fancier for 35

This decadent, creamy tiramisu is composed of layers of coffee-soaked homemade lady fingers and mascarpone cheese with a cocoa powder topping. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This chili uses ground turkey, light and dark red kidney beans, and plenty of cumin and ground chili. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Hearty chili to lighten the heart

This chili uses ground turkey, light and dark red kidney beans, and plenty of cumin and ground chili.

This chili uses ground turkey, light and dark red kidney beans, and plenty of cumin and ground chili. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)