We are officially in the throes of pumpkin season. For as much as I gripe about pumpkin spiced lattes and other seasonal pumpkin atrocities, I really do love pumpkin. It’s a fantastic and versatile winter squash. Pumpkin is phenomenal in a myriad of baked goods – cakes, cookies, pies, etc – but pumpkin also tastes great in soups and stews,… Read More »
A couple of weeks ago, I went apple picking in Hood River with my friend Adriana. Long before we picked our buckets apples, we had grand plans for them. Adriana wanted to try her hand at apple butter for the first time. I was determined to make a simple and unsweetened rustic applesauce. There would be cakes and pies and… Read More »
I’ll admit it, I’ve been hesitant about saying goodbye to summer. Blame it on my California roots, but I’m a sucker for sunshine and blue skies. I like summer, a whole lot. But, then, October creeps up on me and surprises me in the best possible way. Fall is a magical time in the Pacific Northwest. The leaves are turning… Read More »
O hushed October morning mild, Thy leaves have ripened to the fall; To-morrow’s wind, if it be wild, Should waste them all. The crows above the forest call; To-morrow they may form and go. O hushed October morning mild, Begin the hours of this day slow, Make the day seem to us less brief. Hearts not averse to being beguiled,… Read More »
For most of my life, I despised mushrooms. I hated the taste and color of mushrooms, but most of all I hated their slimy texture. I viewed mushrooms as an obstacle between me and a delicious slice of pepperoni pizza. Granted, I had good reasons for hating mushrooms. When I was a kid, I ate a small handful of mushrooms… Read More »
This past weekend was a blur. A wonderful and delicious blur, filled with food and wine, friends and famous chefs, and a whole lot more. Feast is truly an incredible event and I am so grateful that I was able to take part in some of the festivities. Truth be told, I don’t think I’ll ever be hungry again, but… Read More »
If you need me this week, I’ll be at Feast. Feast is a 4-day food extravaganza, in which chefs and foodies from across the country come together to celebrate the incredible resources that Oregon has to offer. There are dinners and wine tastings, cookbook parties and cocktail classes, speaker series and fishmonger contests. (Oh, and food. There will be so… Read More »