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
Category Archives: Inspiration
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
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
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
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
Foodie Gifts for the Holidays
Posted by our Guest Contributor, Christina Conrad. You can read more from Christina on her blog: www. foodiewithalife.com. The holidays are upon us, the shopping bags are piled in the back of the car, winter coats are on and Christmas lights twinkle on … 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
Field Trip: Seattle’s Melrose Market
It’s Top Chef: Seattle Wednesday! Mary and I took a field trip to Seattle’s Melrose Market last week since we hear it’s one of the spots used for filming. We couldn’t believe that neither of us had been there because it … 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
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
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
Apples – Orchard to Market
I love that we have been offered so many opportunities to connect to the food we eat as “food bloggers”. Most recently, Mary and I were invited to tour Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, Washington. What I expected was a visit … 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
CMT Awareness Month and Magic Chocolate Cake
Sometimes, life gives you opportunities to try to make a difference. In this case, it’s also giving me an opportunity to move outside my comfort zone. And, according to this graphic: This is where the magic happens! So, here goes… … Continue reading
Evergreen State Fair
We went to the fair on Sunday – The Evergreen State Fair in Monroe. It’s not the biggest fair in Washington – that honor goes to the Puyallup (pronounced pew-al-up for those of you who don’t live around here). But for me, … Continue reading
Happy Birthday, Julia!
“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” – Julia Child Yesterday my mom asked Mary, “What gave you the idea to start A Passionate Plate?” Mary told her it was her way to rekindle her passion … Continue reading
Beach Berries
Our house sits on a cliff overlooking Puget Sound and we are lucky to have a really amazing view. The cliff is extremely steep and every year erosion brings the edge just a little bit closer to our back patio. … Continue reading
Is That A Zucchini in Your Mailbox?
If you are growing zucchini this year, or subscribing to a CSA, chances are you’ve got a bowl full of zucchini staring you down right about now – begging and pleading to be put to good use. And, if you’ve … Continue reading
1000 Cooks for the Cure – Take Two!
Our first attempt at video production created a lot of laughs, but not very good footage. We thought we’d share it anyway, and hopefully start your weekend off with a smile. Have a great weekend, everybody! – Mary and Joy
Our PINK Cook for the Cure Party
Last Saturday, Joy and I hosted a Cook for the Cure® fundraising party. It was the perfect opportunity to treat our girlfriends to an afternoon of food and fun. Cook for the Cure gives people with a passion for cooking a way … Continue reading
How to Host a 1000 Cooks for the Cure Party!
Everyone knows someone whose life has been affected by breast cancer. A mother, a sister, a grandmother, or a friend. For some of us, it was the very person who taught us how to cook. We invite you to join us … Continue reading
N.W. Raspberries – Summer is here!
I just finished eating a bowl of raspberry sorbet topped with big, fat, juicy raspberries from our neighbors’ garden. Snowe and Nancy, THANK YOU! We can’t always grow the best tomatoes or peppers here in the Northwest, but raspberries… well, … Continue reading
All-American 4th of July Menu
lThe 4th of July is just one week away! So hang up the flag, wipe off the picnic table, and get ready to celebrate with a traditional American back yard party! ALL-AMERICAN 4th OF JULY BACKYARD PICNIC “Chicago-style” Hot Dogs … Continue reading
Joy’s Birthday Cake (Happy Birthday, Joy!)
Today is Joy’s birthday. Happy Birthday, JOY! Joy and I have been friends since 1986. Wow, 26 years! How did that happen? Time flies. I feel very fortunate to have such a close friend living nearby. A sister, really, more … Continue reading
Meet Christina Conrad – Foodie with a Life!
TGIF! Yes, it’s Friday, and we are going to start the weekend off right – with a fun little cocktail recipe from our newest guest blogger, Christina Conrad. When I first met Christina and found out she was starting a … Continue reading
Heirloom Herbs
Joy and I just spent all day hanging out at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle for Blogher Food – a national food blogging conference. My belly is full, my brain is spinning, and I’ve got about 20 pages … Continue reading
Happy Mother’s Day!
Hello to all you MOMs out there! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. We are here in Winthrop helping my mom celebrate her birthday and Mother’s Day with a new John Deere riding mower. It’s been a real … Continue reading
Meet Mary Jordan – Baker Extraordinaire!
Today we’ve got a special treat for you… an amazing Coconut Lime Cupcake recipe from our friend and baker extraordinaire, Mary Jordan. Mary’s real job is at Seattle Children’s Hospital where she is an ultra-sound heart specialist – but one … Continue reading
I’m feeling optimistic
It’s been several years since I’ve grown any vegetables besides a cherry tomato, but that is all about to change because I just built my new garden. Yes, I know it’s only an 8′ x 4′ kit from Home Depot, but … Continue reading
A Very Memorable Meal
Last night Joy & I cooked an early Valentine’s Day dinner for Toby and Marvin. Cooking a four course meal can sometimes feel daunting – so we split the menu between us, and made a few of the items ahead … Continue reading
What we loved. (to eat).
Hello, February. I am happy to see you this morning, along with the tiny daffodil stems pushing up through the ground in my front yard – such hopeful signs that Spring is on the way – for some of us, … Continue reading
Celebrating the Year of the Dragon
Monday is Chinese New Year – and the start of the Year of the Dragon. I am not exactly sure what this means for me, but I do know that the Chinese Dragon is the symbol of success and happiness… so … Continue reading
Farm Fresh Eggs
The Brown Family Farm historic homestead sits in an open meadow, surrounded by pines and fir trees – just beyond Lake Wenatchee in the Cascade Mountains. Built in 1901 by some of the first settlers in the Lake Wenatchee Valley, … Continue reading
West Seattle Farmers Market
Mary and I hit up the West Seattle Farmers Market today. I had read earlier on the West Seattle Blog that Honest Biscuit was going to be there with HOT, fresh biscuits. We had a plan to make poached eggs … Continue reading
Antioxidant Protein Smoothie
I received an interesting fortune in my cookie yesterday. It read, “Your place in the path of life is in the driver’s seat.” I say interesting because it directly relates to a conversation Mary and I had this week regarding … Continue reading
Let the collaboration begin
As many of you know, I started A Passionate Plate three months ago, to rekindle my passion for cooking, to sharpen my skills, and to eat better food. Most of all I wanted to reconnect with something I have always loved … Continue reading
Slava – A Serbian Celebration
Last night Marvin and I celebrated Slava in Burien at the home of our good friends, Vanja and Slavoljub Jovic. Slava (Thanksgiving or Glory-Giving) is a Serbian holiday celebrated throughout the year on the feast day of the patron saint of an entire … Continue reading
Old Friends and Chocolate
I just spent the weekend in Palm Springs with my college friends, Molly, Kelly, and Kristin, for our annual girls get-together. It was, as always, a wonderful time, even though it rained all weekend. The tradition started 17 years ago when … Continue reading
The Best Hamburger in Phoenix
I’ve been in Phoenix for the last four days working at a trade show. We’ve been eating hotel bar food most of the time and nothing has been very good – until last night when I got treated to something … Continue reading
That was not a Croissant
My neighbor, Nicole, turned ninety-one this year. She is actually not my official neighbor anymore, since she moved into a retirement home a while back. Nicole is legally blind, partially deaf, and struggling with debilitating osteoporosis. She is also one … Continue reading
Sharing Chanterelles
My friend, Lori, sent out an email last week announcing “fresh Chanterelles are waiting for you in my carport!” Wow – what a treat! I did not waste any time getting over there! Chanterelle mushrooms are my favorite and it … Continue reading
Crazy Mary
Our wonderful neighbors, Ron and Lani, surprised me last night with a belated birthday gift – a nice bottle of red appropriately named Crazy Mary. Wine is always a welcome gift in our house since our inventory moves out of … Continue reading
