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
I like sweet potatoes baked plain in the microwave sometimes, but for Thanksgiving and Apple Cup and leftovers, I like the gooey version with butter, brown sugar, walnuts and marshmallows. This year I saw a recipe which included a bit of bourbon, no nuts and no marshmallows, so I decided to try it and it … More j’s Sweet Potato Bread, Christmas lights on sun porch
There were two recent birthdays which I missed and determined to additionally celebrate with a chocolate party cake filled with two mousses and covered in lots of fudgy icing. I’d wanted to try the same recipe as the last chocolate party cake, the tall one which I felt would’ve been better if I’d got cake … More Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake, a failure and a success
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’m not cooking a dinner today because my daughter is sitting in a chair in her boss’s penthouse watching a dog, so we’ve postponed the traditional meal and suffice with best wishes for a good day. I will watch some football instead of spending the day in the kitchen. Here, though, it’s time to roll … More Thanksgiving, Always Great
Coincidences between events and the freezer began last week when I found out that I’d missed the birthday of one of the master gardeners whom I admire. I knew that he is quite fond of my blackberry ice cream and that, between his pie crust and my filling and ice cream, he, his wife and … More Blackberry Pie & Blackberry Ice Cream for a belated birthday
Perhaps the reader is acquainted with someone who likes to make mountains out of molehills. Yesterday I got an idea in my head that went something like this: I’d like to make a really complicated: Pudding. Bread. Pie. I’ve got fresh Washington apples, some Rainiers. Recently there’s been a search through some of the handwritten … More j’s Apple Pie Bread Pudding
Sometimes the moon feeds the soul. From my kitchen window tonight, after waiting patiently as the clouds covered it and it moved along behind different parts of the black walnut tree now shed of its leaves and big green nuts … the Supermoon. Some places saw it yesterday, I hear, but in Seattle it was … More The Supermoon as Food
Recently I experimented with some chocolate shard cookies* made with Seattle’s Theo Chocolate bars and froze some of the dough for further experimentation. Last night I made doughs and completed preparations to bake some newbies this morning and deliver up some sweetness and love to my daughter in her office later today. Some people have … More j’s Crookies, Chip Snicks and Cinnamon Toast Snicks
