Tamari Eggplant
Need a bacon substitute for a BLT? Oh my, the bacon lover in me says there is no substitute for the Fruit of the Pig…but these tamari drenched roasted eggplant pack a load of flavor that gives satisfaction to the Umami Itch. I made …
Year: 2017
Summer Salads
More Willow! Here are a few photos from two other sessions of the Willow Gathering that I catered, a “bird’s nest” technique giving some sculptural freedoms, and a traditional Danish rectangular basket technique. I’m spending the week at …
Cashew Horchata
Horchata The horchata we had in Mexico was made from rice, sugar, and cinnamon, and maybe rice milk added in. Many a Mexican restaurant will have the churning white liquid in a countertop fountain dispenser, mesmerizing to watch as you wait for your tacos de …
Black Bean Burgers
The Weavers were back! June is a full and demanding month for me but I get to end it by providing meals for a lovely group of basket weavers from around the world at the Willow Gathering. This session I peeked in on traditional basket styles …
Sesame Chicken Salad
I really didn’t intend to make a Chicken Salad, it just happened. It started because I wanted to make a chili-lime slaw as a trial run for something I might do for a catering event this summer. I then saw the toasted sesame oil in the cupboard so I …
Favorites June 2017
Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado—-of course this is where one would find a store packed with intricately designed and cut wooden puzzles. I had an hour to wander the ped mall before my meeting a few weeks ago and puzzle-gravity pulled me into the Liberty Puzzles store …
Sparkling Jasmine Iced Tea
In honor of the first day of summer here is a refreshing green tea with a light sparkle. Give yourself the gift of an afternoon to sit in the shade, sip this delicate treat, listen to the birds, and enjoy the day. (and no, …
Carrot Quinoa Salad
Cute tiny grains. Bright orange carrots. Summer days. Good. Quinoa is a relatively forgiving grain to cook. I loosely measure 2 parts liquid to 1 part quinoa, but if you rinse it well and pour a random large amount of water into the pot you …
Rosemary Mixed Nuts
Nuts! Always a handy item for snacks or an appetizer table. The many crevices of walnuts and pecans hold the herbs and sugar nicely so very little of the good stuff falls away. I tried these without the cayenne and they seemed a bit …
Sonoran Tortillas Sobaqueras
In northern Mexico tortillas are commonly made with white flour instead of corn masa like most of Latin America. In the state of Sonora the tortillas have taken on a life of their own and are made way, way, way bigger than your head, called tortillas sobaqueras. …
Jerk Guacamole
A quick jaunt to Colorado on Amtrak helped me remember that trains are an awesome way to travel. Everyone is relaxed, friendly, unparanoid, and relatively diverse. The leg room in coach is luxurious and the small stations have free long term parking. Perhaps it’s time you consider an Amtrak adventure? …
Pickled Cumin Carrots
I referred to this pickling recipe in the Carrot Flowers post a few years ago and the Quick-Pickled Vegetable Salad last year, but I thought these beauties deserve their own page. These are one of my favorite stand-byes for antipasto trays—they’re surprisingly bright and zesty, and the …
5-Spice Tofu
I used to make a similar tofu at the deli, crusted with ground pumpkin seeds, cornmeal and 5-spice. I simplified it in this version but it still has that hint of exotic with the Big Five to add to your sandwich or stir fry. …
Curried Spinach w/ Gluten Free Gnocchi
Superpowers? I sometimes wish my superpowers were more exciting. List-making is not terribly sexy or awe-inspiring. I visualize what needs to happen then scribble (with .09 lead pencil and paper) the amounts then compile all the amounts into another list, then figure out the day …
Favorites April 2017
The Oxbow Hotel of Eau Claire, Wisconsin Fun, swank, and simply beautiful this hotel is a collaborative effort of a group of visionaries helping to keep the revitalization of downtown Eau Claire in full swing. We toured the place in March on our way back …
Socca
Every culture has their flatbread—tortillas, crepes, roti, pita, gözleme, mana’eesh, msemmen, naan—the list of edible wraps from around the world goes on and on. This garbanzo flatbread, a.k.a. farinata, socca, torta di ceci or cecina, is common in Italy, France and northern Africa where garbanzos abound. …
Shichimi
Also known as ‘Seven Flavor Chile” because there are usually seven ingredients (shichi = seven), shichimi is a Japanese dried-spice mixture that can be cooked into dishes or added at the end for a complex punch of flavor. Though regions and families have their own ingredient combinations and proportions, most shichimi contains chiles, …
Another photo flashback
The word for the day is Mirabilia: miracles, marvels. Rob Brezney describes Mirabilia such: “events that inspire wonder, marvelous phenomena, small miracles, beguiling ephemera, inexplicable joys, changes that inspire quiet awe, eccentric enchantments, unplanned jubilations, sudden deliverance from boring evils” Here …
Pickled Deviled Eggs
Sanskrit scriptures describe the universe as being birthed from an egg. The term Brahmanda is from two words: Brahm (ब्रह्म) = ‘cosmos’ or ‘expanding’, and ‘anda‘ (अण्ड) = ‘egg’. The Brahmanda Purana, an ancient Indian text, explains this fascinating concept in great detail. Good reading while you …
Gluten Free Ricotta Gnocchi
Spring veggies are not far off and these miniature bites of goodness will go well with all of them. Spinach, garlic scapes, asparagus, kale, green onions, peas, watercress, fiddlehead ferns, morel mushrooms—-mix any or all of these delicacies with ricotta gnocchi (and butter!) and …