Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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It is ironic that I would start and finish my time writing this column with recipes for desserts, being that I do not have the biggest sweet tooth. In fact, my gastronomic cravings tend to be more for the savory or spicy side of things. However, after sharing an array of recipes, from appetizers, soups and salads to stews and meaty entrees, it made sense to end on a sweet bite. This week, to celebrate a family birthday I turned to a recipe that John developed during the early days of the coffee...
The last sweet weeks of summer are always my favorite time of the season. The days are still long, yet thankfully, the scorching triple-digit temperatures are mostly behind us. It is also when our homegrown tomatoes are ripe and bursting with sun-kissed flavor. When tomatoes are as good as they are right now, I mostly enjoy eating them as unadulterated as possible – just a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of flakey sea salt is all that is needed. As a result, I am always in search of recipes f...
As summer begins to wind down, our edible garden is often at its peak. With an abundance of vibrant basil, and my favorite nightshades, like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant ready to harvest, my attention often turns towards Mediterranean recipes. Here, lovely eggplant and earthy mushrooms provide marvelous flavor and texture to this vegetarian version of a hearty Bolognese sauce. Satisfying without being too heavy, this comforting dish beautifully captures the delicious and sunny joys of late...
For the last three and half years, I have had the immense pleasure of writing this weekly recipe column in 'The Times." Since my first published recipe for Tarte Tatin in January 2021, I have tested and shared nearly two hundred recipes from my kitchen to yours. Inspired by my gastronomic heroes like Julia Child, Alice Waters, and Diana Kennedy, each column has felt like an opportunity to share my deep love of cooking with my readers. I hoped to inspire readers to try new dishes from around the...
The timing of the harvests in our backyard garden tend to vary greatly from year to year. It is always an adventure to see what is ripe and ready to pick each morning. With this, we try to stay creative and flexible in planning our summer meals. While our red tomatoes are still a few weeks aways from being ripe, this week our tomatillo plants were bursting with bright green fruit peeking out of their husks. This got me searching the many different styles of Mexican salsas verdes, which led me...
Too often, uninspired versions of this dish are slapped on restaurant menus, overdressed with bland mass-produced dressing. Originally created in 1924, by an Italian immigrant at his namesake restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico, Caesar salads quickly became a hit with Hollywood trendsetters. Here, I have a lively and fresh homemade Caesar dressing that will change how you look at those that come in a bottle. Adding seasoned grilled chicken turns this into a satisfying warm weather entrée. Ingredients:...
Several years ago, we were in Los Angeles visiting friends and family during a milestone birthday. As part of the festivities, we were invited to a friend’s house for a potluck barbeque. Being very familiar with the culinary trends of health-conscious southern California, I made a joke on our way there that the potluck would be nothing but raw kale. When we arrived at the party, there was fresh guacamole made from avocados grown in someone’s backyard, gorgeous wild-caught seafood on the gri...
Recently, while preparing for a dear friend's birthday celebration, I came across a recipe for an old-fashioned buttermilk cake. After adding orange zest to accentuate the tangy flavor of the buttermilk, the resulting cake was rich and moist with a perfect texture. Topped with an orange infused cream cheese frosting, this cake was a smashing hit with the guests of the party, and most importantly the birthday girl. This week, I plan on making this cake again for another summer birthday of sorts,...
There is no shortage of comforting dishes that can be made with a sack of potatoes. Light and tender, gnocchi are marvelous little Italian potato dumplings that can be dressed up in a wide variety of sauces. While packages of shelf stable, store-bought gnocchi have been a reliable staple in my pantry for many years, they are pale in comparison to the delicate texture of homemade. Here I have them tossed in a quick sauce of blistered tomatoes, garlic and herbs. A wonderful way to celebrate the...
Before moving to Waitsburg, bread baking was an elusive skill I always shied away from. Despite my deep love for all the shapes and styles of bread, the idea of making my own always seemed like an impossible feat. Perhaps inspired by the rolling wheat fields that surround us, I have since learned a lot while discovering the magic that can be made with a few ingredients, patience, and a hot oven. This chewy and crusty focaccia was one of the first successful bakes, filling our home with an...
As we move towards the summer solstice, many of our meals will be enjoyed on the back deck. From all-American cheeseburgers or Mexican carne asada to Korean bulgogi, the art of grilling is a culinary skill that brings people together all around the world. In fact, there is something quite primal in the communal experience of gathering around a meal sizzling over an open flame. A reminder of the universal commonalties of the human experience that far outweigh the differences. Here, ground beef...
In my kitchen library are some well-worn and much-loved cookbooks that I have referenced for years, many of which were gifts from beloved friends and family. One such culinary tome is my copy of "The Silver Palate Cookbook" by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins, a quintessential classic of American gastronomy. First published in 1982, the book is named after their Manhattan gourmet food shop, a location which was at the center of a shifting era in American culinary curiosity. My copy was gifted to me...
One of the things I most look forward to in late spring is the first bite of a plump sun ripened strawberry. This week, I noticed the first few bright red fruits ready for picking in our backyard patch. For the next couple of weeks, we will be plucking them by the bowlful. When fruit, such as strawberries, are perfectly ripe, and in-season, the general rule is the simpler the preparation the better. Which is perhaps why the combination of ripe strawberries with shortcake biscuits and whipped cre...
With a cleaned grill, refreshed flower containers, and a thoroughly swept deck, we are officially ready for outdoor entertaining. On the arrival of grilling season, I have been reviewing recipes for my favorite side dishes to serve while dining al fresco. Cool and brightly flavored salads are always an excellent choice as the days start to get hotter. This lively pasta salad, with a marvelous mint pesto and vibrant vegetables, is perfect served with grilled meats or seafood. Leftovers taste...
Having tried countless recipes for chicken soup, I am always excited to find a new version of the internationally loved homey classic. From Mexican Caldo de Pollo to Thai Tom Kha Gai, the diversity of ingredients and flavors that are combined to accentuate chicken in broth are seemingly limitless. Here, the soup takes inspiration from Greece, with a bright burst of lemon, rosemary, and dill. Rounded out with spinach and potatoes, this soup is as nourishing as it is flavorful. Ingredients: For...
For as long as I can remember, peanut butter has been one of my favorite foods. As a kid, I loved the many sandwich options, such as the classics peanut butter and jelly, or peanut butter and banana. I love it in cookies or drizzled with honey in a yogurt bowl. Beyond sweets, peanut butter can be a wonderful and versatile ingredient in savory dishes. From West African peanut soups and stews to Thai satay sauce. Here a vibrant peanut sauce with lime and ginger is used as a glaze for baked tofu....
At the same time that our yard has finally filled with the sweet scent of lilac, the perennial herbs in my edible garden have burst into full swing. The tender new tarragon, chervil, parsley, and thyme have been providing me plenty of inspiration in the kitchen. This lovely chicken dish incorporates herbes de Provence to give it a distinctive floral and herbaceous note. The potatoes and radishes are roasted tender in the same pan, and all is served with a bright herb pistou drizzled over the...
While experimenting in the kitchen, I love when the addition of a single extra ingredient can elevate a classic recipe in exciting new ways. Here the homey snickerdoodle, a buttery cookie steeped in childhood memories, has crushed caraway seeds added to the cinnamon coating for a sophisticated twist on the warm-spice notes. Delightfully chewy, and not too sweet, these lovely morsels have an addictive flavor. Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened ¾ cup granulated sugar...
As a child, I was by no means a picky eater. In fact, I relished in trying and exploring foods labeled as exotic, or anything that my unadventurous peers would call "weird." However, despite my love of all kinds of vegetables, cauliflower was something I could never understand. It was the eighties, and on most tables the crucifer was usually just a sad, limp, and unseasoned mess. Fast forward, and as an adult, I discovered that cauliflower was in the category of ingredients that are perfectly...
And just like that, the busy season is upon us. After a full day of spring cleaning the house and freshening up the garden beds, the thought of cooking dinner can feel extra daunting. This is when a satisfying one-pot recipe can really come in handy. Big flavor with fewer dishes. Here chicken thighs are roasted crisp over a bed of cumin spiced black beans and rice. Served with some fresh avocado and lime, this comforting meal has become a new weeknight favorite. Ingredients: 6 to 8 bone-in,...
Spring is here. Birds are chirping, blooming bulbs have finally brought some color to our garden, and fresh local asparagus will soon come into season. While I often serve asparagus simply with just a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon, I am always looking for new recipes to highlight this springtime delight. Here, I have tossed asparagus into a classic Roman pasta dish, making a decadent and quick weeknight dinner. Spaghetti alla Carbonara marries eggs, cured pork, and cheese, with...
After six years of living in the Inland Northwest, there are still a few things about the other side of the state that I miss terribly. At the top of this list is access to fresh, local seafood, something I might have taken for granted at the time. Thankfully, there are many wonderful options for local and sustainable seafood that can be found flash-frozen in area grocery stores. Domestic, wild-caught shrimp, frozen raw, have become a staple in our freezer, perfect for quick weeknight dinners....
With the warmer days and the first flowers blooming, my mind has turned to planning some springtime entertaining. A decadent weekend brunch with friends, full of lively conversation, and hopefully a mimosa or two, is a favorite daytime option. Here, my recipe for a classic hollandaise sauce is poured over a seasonal variation of eggs benedict, featuring cured salmon and fresh asparagus in place of the Canadian bacon. Ingredients: For the Hollandaise: 4 egg yolks 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed...
For many, the first thing that comes to mind for Saint Patrick's Day menus is corned beef and cabbage. A delicious classic, it has certainly graced my table many times. However, when I think of Irish cuisine my mind always goes to the homey and hearty stews featuring beef or lamb. This fantastic stew has tender beef and carrots stewed with one of Ireland's most recognized exports, Guinness beer. Easy to assemble, this recipe only requires a little patience as it slowly simmers on the stovetop....
