Food
Not done with basil: Bruschetta is up next
Bring on the basil. We've done Insalata Caprese, tried the soup (last post), and now it's time for bruschetta, a glorious tomato, basil, garlic and olive mixture that sits atop bread […]
Ah, summer! Basil in the mix
One thing about hot weather: It gets me thinking about basil and the sweet aromas of summer. It's the season for linguine with tomatoes and basil, pesto, bruschetta, and tomato […]
Tortilla Espanola or Tortilla de Patatas
When my husband and I need a fast meal and there's not much food in the fridge, we often make a Spanish potato omelet, or tortilla Espanola. It's totally different […]
Martini time in Oliver’s
After the dinner last weekend in Seattle, the one for the Epic Teachers project for the archdiocese, I packed up and headed downtown to Oliver's in the Mayflower Park Hotel […]
Two salads for hot days
Last weekend, I was in Seattle cooking dinner for nine. I wasn't in my own kitchen, but with lots of prep and a cooler full of ice, I transported the […]
A peek into “Harumi’s Japanese Cooking”
On a recent trip to Portland's Anzen grocery store, I picked up "Harumi's Japanese Cooking." Harumi Kurihara has been described as "Japan's Martha Stewart." She offers elegant, simple dishes that emphasize […]
Leek and potato soup in a hurry
With two big leeks languishing in my fridge, I needed to make soup. That was my penny-pinching side talking to me. Then another thought popped into my head: So what […]
Hanoi-style street-food classic: Bun cha ha noi
Another dinner and another chance to try a recipe in Nancie McDermott's "Quick and Easy Vietnamese" cookbook. This time "Grilled Pork Patties with Lettuce, Noodles, Peanuts, and Mint, Hanoi Style" […]
Eggplant, take a bow
I hated eggplant for decades. Then my son Ruben made Eggplant Parmesan. I tried it at home; I tried it at Italian restaurants in Seattle and Portland. I erased all bad […]
Golden fish with asparagus
After my yoga class, we needed a dinner that wouldn't take hours to get on the table. The best measure? In the time it took to sip one gin and […]