I love a good salad. In fact salads are the backbone of my summer (and often autumn, winter and spring) menus. They can be made ahead and at times even improve with advance preparation, leaving me free near dinner time to focus on other parts of the meal or on other things […]
Lentil Soup requires little in the way of advanced planning since the lentils are small and cook quickly. As is, this humble soup tastes warm and healing. The addition of a roasted spice blend, including panch phoron, coriander seeds and Chile pepper, adds a more exotic flavor and visual interest.
The Phone Call Sometimes life takes a radical turn. Sometimes you see it coming. Other times you don’t. Last year, in February, I went for a routine mammogram. Then I went about my business. I attended a women’s retreat. I posted to my blog. In the midst of living, I […]
A good tomato sauce is at the heart of many wonderful meals. Seasoned with garlic, onion and herbs, a rich tomato sauce is a classic. My family just called it Spaghetti Sauce while using it to pull together a variety of recipes. It is delicious on its own over a […]
After a season of feasting on rich foods and nibbling on elaborate cookies I’m ready to get back to basics. In my kitchen that often begins with the tradition of cooking black-eyed peas and greens to inspire luck in the coming year. The origins of this southern tradition are debatable […]
The look and feel of the shop was everything I aspire to in my own kitchen; organized while being generous, interesting yet at the same time useful, efficient but full of texture and fragrance.
In many parts of the country late summer means abundant backyard gardens overflowing with fresh zucchini, summer squash and tomatoes. If you don’t have a backyard full of your own then generous neighbors are often eager to share their bounty. Failing that the stalls at farmer’s markets and produce stands […]
At least it wasn’t raining at the Camas Farmer’s Market last Wednesday afternoon. In fact business seemed brisk while I was there. The mixed spicy greens from Yacolt Mountain Farm had sold out before I stopped by so I settled for a bag of kale. Only one box of strawberries […]
This pretty recipe stars garden fresh tomatoes. No need to heat up the kitchen for this quick Fresh Tomato Scallop. Simply slice ripe tomatoes and dress them with a toasty crumb and nut topping, prepared in the microwave in minutes.
Some of the old recipes, the ones I remember fondly from when I was a child, are hard to come by. Recipes for Squash Pancakes, Southern Green Beans…
Do you have a cookbook you go back to again and again for inspiration? Some of my favorite cookbooks, like “Betty Crocker’s Cookbook,” are on my shelf because I can trust them for the basics. Some, like “Joie De Vivre” by Robert Arbor, share wonderful stories about food. Still others, […]
A stir fry of fresh Kale with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Garbanzo Beans is surprisingly bright and delicious. Served over thick slices of polenta or a bed of quinoa it makes an appealing dinner entree.