Cooking with the Seasons at Rancho La Puerta: Recipes from the World-Famous Spa

by Deborah Szekely, Deborah Szekely, Deborah Schneider

Great cooking—using fresh, seasonal, local ingredients—is at the heart of the experience offered by Rancho La Puerta, Baja California’s premier resort spa. Cooking with the Seasons transports that regenerative experience to your own home kitchen, changing the way you think about food and cooking—and, just possibly, changing your life.

 

This is no “diet cookbook,” however. For Rancho’s founder, Deborah Szekely, and co-author Deborah Schneider, food is the very force of life, and eating simply and healthfully is one of life’s most profound pleasures.

 

The book’s 120 recipes are organized as a series of complete—and luscious—seasonal menus. As spring rouses the earth, you’ll awaken your taste buds with Sorrel and Spinach Salad with Roasted Cumin-Orange Vinaigrette. When summer arrives, your senses will dance with Poached Wild Salmon with Avocado-Tarragon Aioli. You’ll revel in fall’s brilliant colors with Carrot and Ginger Soup with Pears. And, in winter, you’ll welcome the new year with Mayan Chocolate Sorbet. Throughout, sidebar tips give valuable advice on everything from choosing the most healthful grains and flours, to preserving summer’s goodness with dried herbs and homemade jams.

 

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote an article about the Baja-based Rancho La Puerta cooking school when it first opened three years ago. In the class we made this amazing Aztec Guacamole that I still make when I have the time (and the patience). Chef Jesus Gonzalez taught the class, and he couldn't have been nicer. One memory that will always stand out in my mind is when I asked the members of the class (all were women in their mid 40s and up) what they thought of the instructor, and woman looked at me and said in a husky voice, "All I know is I like him."

Regardless of his dashingly good-looks, I will say that every one of Jesus' recipes I've tried in the book is delicious and inspired. I also continue to make the recipes from the class--a rarity for me.

The idea of structuring the book around the seasons is useful as well. I enjoy buying produce from the farmers market and having recipes tailored to the time of year is really quite helpful.

One other note: Rancho La Puerta is a fabulous health resort/spa--although it's way, way too hot at the beginning of September. Make sure your car is in working condition and doesn't break down as you cross the border. I spent several hours in the middle of the desert waiting for a tow!

[Heather Ormsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipes sound great. However, cooking in season in Mexico is a little different for us farther north.