Jeffrey Madura's fascination with food, flavors and cooking extends as far back as his early high school years in southern California. With two working parents, Jeffrey found that the fastest way to satisfy his teen-aged hunger and that of his two siblings was to do the cooking himself.

Today at home, cooking is still a family affair as Jeffrey and his wife share in preparing delicious meals.

Here are some perfect party small plates with California Figs from Chef Jeffrey Madura.

From the Gala Chef Series at the Awanhee Hotel in Yosemite, here are some recipes for the winter season.

Warm Duck Breast Salad

Crabcakes with Cabbage Slaw and Blood Orange Mayonnaise

Butternut Squash Soup

Radicchio Soup with Redwood Hill Farms smoked cheddar goat cheese

Couscous rissoto with wild mushrooms, dry jack cheese buffalo osso bucco and smoked tomato jus

California Almond Cake with Balsamic Strawberries and Orange Mascarpone