This contest is closed. Congratulations to our winner, Donna Donahue! Whether your mom was good at it or bad at it, chances are she taught you something about cooking. In my case, it was a lot of things – well actually, … Continue reading
Author Archives: MaryMiller
Mexican Chicken Chop Salad
Inspiration can come from anywhere. On a recent trip to our West Seattle Trader Joe’s, I discovered an incredibly delicious reduced-fat Cilantro Dressing in the refrigerator section. Just one taste of this creamy, garlicky, cilantro-filled sauce had me thinking about … Continue reading
Banana Chiffon Cake & Mom’s 70th Birthday
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Mom, happy birthday to you! We’re visiting my parents this weekend to celebrate Mother’s Day AND my mom’s 70th birthday. Her only request for the weekend… a Chiffon cake … Continue reading
Wilted Kale Caesar with Bacon & Egg
Thank goodness the gloppy, sloppy, over-dressed Caesar salads everyone served in the 1990′s have all but disappeared. I love the new Caesars showing up with lighter dressings and different types of greens. Yes, the Caesar is back – and so … Continue reading
Grilled Halibut Tacos
We’re getting a few days of sunshine this week with temperatures above 50 degrees! Time to get outdoors, soak in some much needed vitamin D and fire up the grill. My friend, Lori, invited me over yesterday to help cook … Continue reading
Earth Day Quiz and Contest Winner!
Happy 43rd Earth Day to all of you! And, congratulations to our Earth Day Contest Giveaway winner! We asked you to tell us about a way you try to reduce, reuse or recycle. We received 32 very thoughtful answers. Check out … Continue reading
Kale & Artichoke Strudel
While my vegetable garden is just barely getting started (peas, radishes and carrots up, but not much else) my neighbors, Snowe and Nancy, are already harvesting a bounty of greens. A few days ago we were the lucky recipients of … Continue reading
Wild Ginger Restaurant
Wow, Wild Ginger has been around for almost 25 years! Rick & Anne Yoder, inspired by their travels to China and Southeast Asia, opened their original location on Western Avenue in 1989 – the same year I moved to Seattle. Since … Continue reading
Earth Day Giveaway 2013!
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. Congratulations to our WINNER – Danielle! Welcome to A Passionate Plate’s Earth Day Giveaway 2013! 2013 marks the 43rd Earth Day celebration. Back in 1970, Gaylord Nelson, a US Senator from Wisconsin launched Earth Day to raise … Continue reading
A Dinner Disaster – Baked Sole
Joy and I make it a rule NOT to post recipes on A Passionate Plate unless we feel they are truly worthy. We want our recipes to be the ones you trust! Well, as you know – not every recipe … Continue reading
Easy Chicken Posole Rojo
If you’ve been reading A Passionate Plate for a while, you already know how much I love to make soup. I think my dream job would be cooking at an all soup restaurant, where I’d get to develop the recipes … Continue reading
Our March Giveaway Winner Is…
Good morning, everyone! Happy Monday. Happy April 1st. And, congratulations to our latest contest winner! Last month we asked you to tell us about a vegetable you used to hate but have now learned to enjoy. We loved hearing from … Continue reading
Carrot Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
The Easter Bunny is going to LOVE these! One of my favorite dessert bloggers, Bridget Edwards at Bake at 350, posted her recipe for these cookies earlier this week. I couldn’t resist giving them a try and putting my own … Continue reading
Asparagus Gratin
Easter Sunday is this weekend. How will you be celebrating? If your Easter plans include fresh asparagus, here is a beautiful recipe that will have even the kids coming back for more… Asparagus Gratin. I’ve adapted this gratin from a … Continue reading
Strawberry Sour Cream Bread
Yummy! This strawberry sour cream bread is so simple to make and it tastes delicious. The texture is very similar to banana bread, but you get a little strawberry flavor in every bite – perfect to serve for breakfast or … Continue reading
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! (and a little story)
Marvin and I took a trip to Ireland five years ago. We had just started dating and our plan was to listen to as much music as possible including the Kilkenny Roots Festival, drink plenty of beer, learn a little … Continue reading
Lamb Shepard’s Pie
St. Patrick’s Day is just a few days away. Usually I make corned beef and cabbage to celebrate – it’s kind of a family tradition and I’d always assumed we ate corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day because … Continue reading
Our March Giveaway!
This contest has closed. Congratulations to our winner, Pris! It feels like spring in West Seattle. The sun is shining, daffodils are blooming, and the onion seeds I started on my window ledge last week have begun to sprout. YAY! … Continue reading
Stumbling Goat Bistro – Phinney Ridge Neighborhood (Seattle) WA
Modest. Unpretentious. Reasonably priced. Yes, Stumbling Goat Bistro in Seattle’s Phinney Ridge neighborhood is all of that, and yet every time I eat there I feel like I get a five star experience. Service – top notch. Wine list – … Continue reading
Rachael Ray’s No-Egg Caesar Dressing
We found this on the food.com website. It’s a simple, eggless Caesar dressing you mix up in blender. In less than 5 minutes you can make your own delicious Caesar dressing! Enjoy! Rachael Ray’s No-Egg Caesar Dressing Print Recipe type: Salad … Continue reading
Pennette with Cauliflower Ragu
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I crave macaroni and cheese. Occasionally I succumb to a box of Kraft (so good in a bad way) and sometimes I make macaroni and cheese from scratch. But most of the time … Continue reading
Brisket with Tzimmes & A Love Story
Marvin is such a romantic. And a great story-teller. Anyone who has ever shared a bottle of wine with my husband knows what I am talking about. For the rest of you, just take my word on this one. One … Continue reading
White Center Field Trip – Date Night!
Did you read our White Center Field Trip: AM Itinerary last week? We started at Meander’s Kitchen for breakfast and ended at the Salvadorean Bakery for lunch. In between we browsed along 16th Avenue SW, shopped for specialty meats and Asian groceries and … Continue reading
Meander’s Kitchen -White Center, WA
If you are looking for a truly great breakfast place, we recommend Meander’s Kitchen in the heart of downtown White Center. Owner and chef, Miranda Krone, has a passion for great cooking and the breakfast menu at Meander’s is Americana … Continue reading
Salvadorean Bakery, White Center, WA
One of our favorite spots in White Center is The Salvadorean Bakery & Restaurant, located on Roxbury – just one block off 16th Avenue SW. Owners Aminta and Ana have been providing immigrants in the area with a taste of … Continue reading
Sweet Potato, Ham & Blue Cheese Salad
Do you ever grab those cooking magazines at the grocery checkout? The ones with titles like 101 Low-Fat Chicken Recipes and 250 Dinners Under $10? I have to admit, those magazines are one of my guilty pleasures. While some people check … Continue reading
Chicken Nacho Bites
Super Bowl Sunday is just two days away… will you be watching? We’re having a little party, and I am psyched because: 1.) I love football 2.) I can eat all of those yummy snack foods people serve with beer, and 3.) … Continue reading
And the Winner of our January Giveaway is…
For our January Giveaway, we asked you to tell us about a “pantry surprise” you found when cleaning out your cupboards. Before I announce the winner, I just thought I would tell you about the surprise(s) I found stuffed in … Continue reading
Clams with Chorizo
If you’ve been reading A Passionate Plate for a while, you’ve probably noticed that my husband, Marvin, and I don’t always crave the same food. I tend to be a little more “whole wheat” while Marv tends to be a … Continue reading
Shakshuka – שקשוקה شكشوكة
Thanks to fellow Seattle food blogger, Sarah Randall over at Cook Can Read, I discovered a new recipe yesterday. Shakshuka. Sarah’s post about one of her favorite weeknight dinners was so enticing I just had to try it myself. If … Continue reading
Ski Weekend Apple Cake
While Joy has been enjoying the warm sunshine on Maui, I have been enjoying a different kind of sunshine… on my annual girls’ weekend ski trip. This year we are at White Pass near Mount Rainier National Park and the … Continue reading
Gluten Free, Dairy Free Spinach Dip
Do you have friends or co-workers with those challenging dietary restrictions… like gluten free, dairy free, raw foods only, vegan? Ever wonder what to take to a work party or social event that everyone can eat? Well, here it is… … Continue reading
Mount Rainier White Chili
We left Seattle last Friday night prepared for a 3 hour drive to our White Pass cabin. In typical Girls’ Weekend style, we started gabbing chatting and missed a few turns… so the drive got just a little bit longer than we … Continue reading
Magic Cookie Bars
Our girls’ ski weekend would not be complete without a big pan of chocolatey something. This year Lisa made one of our favorites, Magic Cookie Bars. Who doesn’t love a rich, buttery bar cookie loaded with coconut, chocolate chips and … Continue reading
Apple Cider Pulled Pork
Last Thursday I received a box of apples from our friends at Stemilt Fruit Company in Wenatchee (thanks, Brianna!!). These were no ordinary apples, but a beautiful new variety called Piñata. A cross between Golden Delicious and two heirloom varieties, … Continue reading
Low-Fat Italian Wedding Soup
Italian Wedding Soup is one of Marvin’s all-time favorites. He loves the little meatballs floating in the rich chicken broth, the bites of pasta and the sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top. And, he doesn’t even think twice about eating … Continue reading
Banana Oat Breakfast Bars
Happy Sunday morning! It’s a big day for us here in Seattle because the Seahawks have made it to the playoffs… Seahawks vs. Redskins, 1:30 PST. Whoo Hooo. What this means at our house is that Marvin is preparing some … Continue reading
Korean Style Beef Wraps
Hello and Happy New Year, everyone! Yesterday I said goodbye to my sister and my two beautiful nieces… time for them to head back to Japan after our two weeks of holiday fun. And, time for me to get back … Continue reading
Merry Christmas!
It’s Christmas Eve – 10:55 pm. I’ve scheduled this post to go out at exactly 7:00 am, which is when we told Emily and Elena they could start opening their presents. So, hopefully, all will go according to plan and … Continue reading
Something really weird just happened. And we have a winner!
Something really crazy just happened. Yes, it has something to do with the Mayan calendar. Kind of. If you’ve been paying attention to all of the talk, you know that today, December 21st, 2012, is supposed to be the end … Continue reading
Easy Beef Bourguignon
Beef Bourguignon is a classic French dish and, like many French dishes, it’s got a great name. Beef Bourguignon sounds so much more elegant than beef stew. But, honestly, Beef Bourguignon is a stew – an absolutely delicious one, made … Continue reading
Peppermint Brownie Bites
It’s December 17th… time to bring on the holiday sweets! Yesterday I got started by mixing up a batch of bite-sized peppermint brownies. These moist, chocolatey brownies are flavored with peppermint and topped with a rich ganache frosting. Chocolate and … Continue reading
Food, Friends, Frosting, Fun. Cookie Party 2012
Last night we hosted our 5th annual cookie decorating party at Joy’s house. As usual, we found ourselves mesmerized by the simple task of frosting sugar cookies. This year it seemed like we all needed an edible art project more … Continue reading
Fig & Blue Cheese Savories
At our Christmas Cookie Decorating Party last night, we all brought an hors d’oeuvre to share. As soon as I tasted these Fig & Blue Cheese Savories, I knew the recipe would be going on A Passionate Plate. What a perfect … Continue reading
Butternut Squash, Blue Cheese & Sage Crostini
These Butternut Squash, Blue Cheese & Sage Crostini were a big hit at our cookie decorating party. This simple-to-prepare vegetarian appetizer pairs sweet, nutty, roasted squash with a savory blend of ricotta & blue cheese. Lemon zest gives each bite … Continue reading
Betty Crocker’s Candy Cane Cookies
I loved reading Joy’s Frozen Frangos post on Saturday! It made me think about what a perfectionist my own dad was when it came to the Christmas tree. He was so particular about having a symmetrical tree that he would … Continue reading
Easy Chicken Marsala
We had some friends over on Saturday and I wanted to make something really delicious that wasn’t too complicated or labor intensive. My menu: Chicken Marsala served with a side of cavatappi pasta tossed with pesto, hazelnuts & gorgonzola, and … Continue reading
Our December Cookbook Giveaway!
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. A big congratulations to TC! We’ll be sending you a copy of Slow Cooker Revolution by America’s Test Kitchen. Okay, we know it’s not a Powerball jackpot, but our December giveaway is pretty darn awesome… we’re giving away … Continue reading
Girls On The Run 5-K and Yeasted Waffles
We LOVE Girls On The Run and we’re so proud of the 400+ 3rd through 5th graders who completed the Puget Sound Girls On The Run 5-K race yesterday! Girls On The Run is a positive youth development program that … Continue reading
Field Trip: Vashon Island
Joy and I took another foodie field trip on Sunday – this time to beautiful Vashon Island for some wine, cheese, and charcuterie. Vashon is just a quick 15 minute ferry ride from where we live in West Seattle, but … Continue reading
Curry Turkey Salad Sliders
Happy post-Thanksgiving eating, everyone. Yes, it’s time for leftovers and a trip to the gym. But first a HUGE congratulations to WSU for wining the Apple Cup yesterday. After 8 straight loses, the season ended on a positive note and … Continue reading
Abundance.
Thanksgiving is here! It is my favorite holiday and I am so thankful. For so much. And sometimes it almost feels like too much. Sometimes thoughts run through my head like this… What if I was born in 1621 – the … Continue reading
How to Set a Formal Table + Video
Unless you’ve worked in a 5-star restaurant or attended etiquette school, you may not know how to set a formal table or even feel comfortable eating from one. Well, there is no need to feel intimidated. Setting a formal table … Continue reading
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving must. If your space in the kitchen is limited, or you have been asked to bring the mashed potatoes to somebody else’s house, or if you just like to be organized and get things prepped ahead … Continue reading
Farro Dressing with Greens & Apples
If you’ve been reading A Passionate Plate for a while, you know how much I love Bluebird Grains Farm, and their locally grown products like organic emmer farro. Farro is an ancient grain originally grown in the Mediterranean. It has … Continue reading
Pumpkin Maple Cheesecake
Have you been searching for a special dessert for Thanksgiving dinner? Something a little bit beyond the ordinary pumpkin pie? This velvety-smooth pumpkin cheesecake flavored with maple and cinnamon and topped with toasted pecans is sure to leave your guests … Continue reading
Corn Soufflé
Corn Soufflé… soft, fluffy, creamy and slightly sweet, with just a hint of cayenne pepper. Lighter than mashed potatoes with more flavor, too. This is a recipe I have learned to appreciate – even love. I had never made corn … Continue reading
Holiday Cranberry Sauce
Happy November, everyone! Joy and I are both looking forward to sharing some of our favorite Thanksgiving dishes this month, and we’ve got another great giveaway coming your way, too! (Check out this Wednesday’s post for details). Thanksgiving is one … Continue reading
Backyard Barter’s Urban Food Fair!
One of the great things about writing on A Passionate Plate is how it has connected us to other bloggers – here in Seattle, and all over the world. One of the women I have become friends with over the … Continue reading
Pumpkin Pie
My family has been making this classic pumpkin pie recipe for as long as I can remember. It’s creamy and delicious with plenty of spice. It’s incredibly simple to make and a great project for kids, too. I used to … Continue reading
Basic Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream cheese frosting is versatile and easy to make. Use this recipe to frost a 9″ x 13″ sheet cake, or a batch of cupcakes. If you are frosting a double layer cake, double the quantities below. Basic Cream Cheese … Continue reading
Macrina Bakery, Slow Food Seattle & Local Organic Grains
Have you heard about the Slow Food movement? Slow Food is about enjoying foods that are local, seasonal, and sustainably grown. Slow Food USA promotes food that is Good, Clean & Fair. It’s something I really believe in, which is why … Continue reading
Emmer Applesauce Coffee Cake
If you enjoy baking with whole wheat flour, I encourage you to give emmer flour a try. Emmer (also known as farro) is a low-gluten, high protein, ancient grain loaded with nutrients. Emmer flour gives baked goods a sweet, nutty, … Continue reading
Mom’s Never Fail Pie Crust + Video
For those of you who have been reading A Passionate Plate for a while, you know I have depended on refrigerated pie crusts from Pillsbury for MANY of my recipes. For some reason, I have always been afraid to make … Continue reading
Mom’s Apple Pie
Apple pie is an American classic. If you are looking for a simple, yet absolutely delicious apple pie filling, this recipe is for you! One of the secrets to this apple pie is to cut the apples into small, evenly … Continue reading
White Bean, Kale & Chicken Sausage Soup
Last week Joy shared a recipe for Carrot Ginger Soup and wrote in her post that SOUP=LOVE. I agree with her one-hundred percent. I would also like to add that, for me, MAKING SOUP=LOVE. In all honesty, making a pot of … Continue reading
Thai Steak Salad
This salad recipe is for my friend, Travis. A few weeks ago, Travis spent the night at our house. We sat around in the evening drinking wine and talking, and, as often happens in conversations with me, the subject turned … Continue reading
Small Farm, Big Taste – Booth Canyon Orchard
On our Washington Apple Road Trip last week, Joy and I stopped in at Booth Canyon Orchard for a tour and apple tasting. Booth Canyon is a small, organic farm located in the beautiful Methow Valley. Owners Stina Booth and … Continue reading
Mrs. Huckabee’s Apple Dumplings
On our apple tour last week, Joy and I learned that Stemilt’s Director of Fieldstaff, Jeff, grew up in Brewster, the same small north central Washington town where I went to junior high. Wow, what a small world! In honor … Continue reading
Field Trip: Washington Apple Road Trip
Last Friday Joy and I hopped in the car and headed east – in search of fresh picked Washington State apples, fall color, small town bakeries and Mom’s apple pie. We found it all and got a pie crust lesson … Continue reading
Butternut Squash Thai Curry
All week long I’ve been asking Marvin, “Hey, what do you think about trying some butternut squash curry?” and all week long he’s been turning me down. Vegetarian can be a hard sell in this house. What have we been … Continue reading
Bizzarro Italian Cafe – Seattle
Last Friday, Joy, Toby, Marvin and I met up with two great friends, Chris and Jeff Lewis, for dinner at Bizzarro Italian Cafe. It was another evening when we all said, “how come we’ve never eaten here before??” Bizzarro has been … Continue reading
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles
We woke up this morning to the most incredible, crisp, breezy, beautiful, blue-sky Seattle day. Fall is in the air, the sun is shining, and pumpkin season is officially here! In honor of the changing season, I decided to make … Continue reading
Orecchiette with Turkey Sausage & Kale
Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed this month? Maybe the kids are back to school with activities galore and the entire family is going in 100 directions at once. Or, maybe like me, your work schedule has gotten crazy and … Continue reading
Peanut Butter Honey Cookies
Peanut butter cookies! This classic cookie is one of my all time favorites. If you love peanut butter and honey here is a variation for you! It’s a fun twist on the original Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie recipe. I’ve … Continue reading
