Sometimes we plan to make a certain dinner item, then make something else with the same ingredients. That’s the nature of cookery. Sometimes we don’t know exactly what we’re going to cook, but take steps to lead us in the direction we’ll ultimately take. Yesterday I’d intended to make a casserole of brown rice and … More Unexpected Casserole: Roasted Veggies, Rice, Cheese Sauce
I’m fond of mixing Mexican and Middle Eastern or Indian cuisines in the same meal, especially on a long-meal-Friday. * Tonight it was chicken breast marinated in dried cumin, coriander and red pepper flakes, fried a bit in the drippings left from roasting onions, red bell pepper and mushrooms, tossed with some fresh cilantro and … More Cilantro Chicken with Baba Khanooj: cross-cultural Long Meal Friday
While there’s usually lots of snow in the two mountain ranges in Washington State, where, in my opinion, it belongs, we also get some snow here at Seattle sea level during the season. Some years there’s hardly more than an occasional dusting and, rarely, we have deep snow. It used to be said that … More Snow prep: 3-Bean Turkey Chipotle Chili, Christmas Cranes in Seattle
The Brits have a food tradition which fits very well with leftovers from Thanksgiving, or, in my case, from the Apple Cup Dinner. Bubble & Squeak begins with a mix of leftover mashed potatoes, some sort of vegetable but often brussel sprouts or cabbage, and a medium hot pan with a pat of butter just … More j’s Bubble & Squeak for Squawks
My University of Washington Huskies won the Apple Cup today, a delirious win over the Washington State Cougars, and I think the win may very well have been due to a dish of spicy, cheesy brussel sprouts rather than mere excellent play on the field. Here’s the story. Yesterday I watched the video of a … More Apple Cup Dinner: Lucky Brussel Sprouts
I spent some summers during university years as a live-in cook/keeper for a family with a “cabin” in a country club on Bainbridge Island where they spent that part of the year. As with any family, they had a rotating menu of favorites for which the recipes were available for whatever cook was in the … More Mrs. W’s Tamale Casserole. Now with Sriracha. Also leaves, a Seattle crane.
The first of two expected windstorms in the Pacific Northwest passed yesterday with leaves and branches and plenty of fresh air. The second, more powerful storm, is already hitting the coast and expected here in the Seattle area beginning in a couple hours. While it’s not necessary — at least locally — to fill the … More How to prepare for big storm: Bake! Loaded Frittata, Hard Flour Banana Nut Bread
You look up a recipe online. Another recipe on the side catches your eye, which it would because those sneaky corporate algorithms have enough of your search data to choose and place more appealing items on the periphery of whatever you’re reading. Yesterday such a recipe idea was making naan or pita or flatbread with … More Making Skillet Bread, serving it with marinated cold salmon and avocado
Welcoming the college football season and the three teams that I follow* all televised on channels readily available, I decided to spend the commercials and listening time in the kitchen, slicing onions and stirring them every few minutes as they slowly warmed in olive oil and turned to caramelized goodness in the cast iron frypan. … More Welcoming College Football Season with Caramelized Onions
I love a potluck because it’s fun to make something for a crowd once in awhile as well as dig into something special made by other cooks (and chefs.) Seattle has block parties once a year for Neighborhood Watch and my block participates. New residents and people who’ve lived here longer take the opportunity to … More Seattle Night Out: Block Party Potluck with Spicy Eggplant Parm Dip, Rustic Garlic Bread and Blackberry Ice Cream
Ms Chef in Seattle 