
A few weeks ago, I met my friend April for a birthday dinner at
Farmer Brown in San Francisco. They're known for down-home style soul food and a festive atmosphere — seriously, it's like going to a party at someone's house. Neither April nor I ordered the jambalaya, but another friend did, and we both ended up having food envy.We thought about planning another trip out but figured it would be more fun to make it ourselves.

Unless you are a vegetarian — or are downright savvy — cooking for one can sometimes be a daunting task. You have to remember to read all the ingredients, as even the tiniest bits are no-no. However, unlike cooking up vegetarian food, cooking up vegetarian foodie gifts is actually a snap.

I absolutely adore a thin crust pizza. I love the ultracrisp crunch and the sound it makes when you bite into it. However, making a super-thin pizza at home is often a difficult task.