The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

As the season continues to get colder, and the gray days shorter, I find myself craving comforting meals that are also full of vibrant colors. Here golden delicata squash is stuffed with a sweet,...

The day after Thanksgiving you can always find me back in the kitchen, enjoying the peaceful quiet after the holiday, and making a batch of turkey stock. As the kitchen fills with the rich aromas...

The November fog has rolled into our valley, and I have been spending extra time in the kitchen seeking warmth. My favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, is just around the corner, and the winter holiday...

As someone who loves researching recipes, I am particularly fascinated by the foods that are enjoyed across cultures. Chicken soup is one of those universally loved foods with versions that can be fou...

This week, the sunny, mild autumn days have made the abrupt change to cool and rainy. As a former Seattleite, I can't hide my love for the grey and drizzle. Days like this are perfect for making a...

Autumn is my favorite time of year for celebrations centered around food. High on the list is the colorful and distinctly Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos. In our house, the mantle is turned in...

The beauty of autumn is all around, and I couldn't be happier. The first flashes of changing colors have been spotted in some of the trees around town, and the star-filled nights have been the...

Each growing season we experiment with different fruits and vegetables in the garden. While some happily flourish, others just seem to fizzle and disappoint. Through it all, the most reliable...

This past week, Waitsburg has been graced with gorgeous sunny fall days, and crisp cool nights. The kind of weather that nudges me back into the kitchen, inspired by early fall produce, and cravings...

Happy Autumn. With these warm sunny days, and crisp cool nights, the weather this week has been perfect. After an unusual summer in the garden, the sight of our pear and apple trees loaded with fruit...

We make several trips to the southern Washington coast throughout the year. From the lazy sunny days of summer to the dramatic storms of winter, there is something special about each season. My favori...

Perhaps because of my approaching birthday, or a simple craving for the mood-enhancing properties of cocoa, I have recently been dreaming of a perfect chocolate cake. Balancing sweetness with the deep...

Cauliflower is one of those versatile vegetables that I love experimenting with in the kitchen. It is suitable for countless cooking methods, all of which bring out and enhance different flavor profil...

After my years of experiments and triumphs in the kitchen, there is still nothing more satisfying than successful bread making. The combined time needed to carefully measure ingredients, then knead,...

When people in other countries are asked to describe "American food", the most common response is usually the hamburger, and for good reason. From spendy foie gras stuffed wagyu burgers at posh urban...

Lately, I have been obsessed with galettes, which are sweet or savory free-form tarts that are as much a celebration of good crust as they are about a tasty filling. Balanced and rustic, these baked...

During the summer months, we tend to eat most of our evening meals out on the backyard deck. Enjoying the golden light of summer dusk, while watching little swallows zip across the yard, everything...

While ripe tomatoes and sweet corn are what I most associate with summer cooking, it is bountiful zucchini that usually manages to make an appearance at every meal of the season. Living in a town...

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 f...

Every summer, I patiently anticipate the first homegrown tomatoes of the season. While diligently watering our garden, I keep a daily check on when the sun-ripened delights are ready to pluck. This...

As we moved into our house, we learned from the previous owners that there had once been a large in-ground pool in the backyard, which apparently had been a popular hangout for local housewives in... Full story

Inspired by the world-class winemakers of our region, and the phenomenal growing conditions in our backyard, last year we planted three rows of little Cabernet Sauvignon starts next to the plum trees....

Beyond basic sustenance, good food is deeply connected to our emotional lives, something we turn to when celebrating the highs or to provide comfort during the lows. This week, bombarded with several...

With summer officially here, much of our entertaining has moved outside with meals centered around savory delights cooked on the grill. Whether we are making grilled steaks, hamburgers, or skewers, I...

One of the things I most look forward to in late spring is the first bite of a plump sun ripened strawberry. This year, because of the unseasonable cool and rainy Spring, the harvest in our backyard...