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
Here’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately – “the cycles of life”. As a kid, we grew up going to birthday parties for our friends, and to the weddings of our parents’ friends and family members. I still … Continue reading
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
One of our favorite things to do on winter weekends is to get together with our friends, Rob and Cathy, and drive up to the Cascade Mountains to let our doggies, Charley and Sadie, run and play in the snow. … Continue reading
The sun came out in Seattle yesterday. Yep. That’s right. Sun.in.Seattle – IN APRIL! And when we see that rare yellow ball in the sky I just can’t help myself, I get a lil’ giddy. I took my puppy to … Continue reading
I really enjoy a challenge – especially when it involves food! My good friend, Colleen, recently hosted our girls’ group, The 9 Chicks, at her lovely home on the beautiful island of Hawaii. On the first night on the island, … Continue reading
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
Are you fan of breakfast casseroles? Well then, I’ve got a treat for you today. Bonus: it would also be lovely served with a salad for brunch, lunch OR dinner. Basically, it’s delicious any time of day. Typical breakfast casseroles, … Continue reading
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
Oh, Boy! Have I got a luscious treat for you today. Now, before I get into it, I want you to keep an open mind. I did, and I’m soooooo happy about it. I read just a little tidbit about … Continue reading
Swiss chard is the gift that keeps on giving in my garden this year. Back in April when I built my little garden, I bought a couple of packs of starts. The plants took off like wildfire and I have … Continue reading
Joy and I recently attended BlogHer Food 2012 at the Olympic Fairmont Hotel in downtown Seattle. The food at every meal was fantastic – far better than anything I’ve ever eaten at a hotel conference event. One idea we fell … Continue reading
I recently hired a “color consultant” to help Marvin and me settle a disagreement. We’d been living with a bright red Merlot wall in our living room for many years and I thought it … Continue reading
Summer grain salads seem to be all the rage right now. I keep seeing recipes for these healthy, yummy salads in every food magazine I pick up! PCC Natural Markets in Seattle has been way ahead of the curve on … Continue reading
Exciting news… I am harvesting from my tiny garden already! Lettuce, swiss chard and radishes. I planted the radishes to give myself some instant gratification, since radishes only take about 35 days to transform from seeds into spicy, crunchy little … Continue reading
It’s rhubarb season! Yea! Time to make a Rhubarb Strawberry Crisp. I love making crisps because… #1) NO PIE CRUST NEEDED. #2) NO RECIPE NEEDED. #3) THEY ARE SO EASY! I know it’s not fair to post a picture of something … Continue reading
Aloha! I am writing this from our home-away-from-home in Maui, Hawaii. I’m always on the look-out for light, easy, limited-ingredient recipes to enjoy while we are in the condo here. On the flight over, I found the perfect recipe in … Continue reading
As many of you know, I love easy recipes that look amazing and taste complex. This Asparagus Pancetta Tart is just that. So good in every way. (And the perfect antidote to my 2-hour fava bean salad earlier this week.) … Continue reading
Now that asparagus is available all year round, it’s easy to forget that this vegetable was once a true harbinger of spring. But, just a few years decades ago, when I was growing up, asparagus was really only seasonally available … Continue reading
Hey! Waddaya do when you find the perfect item on the menu at a restaurant, but it has anchovies in it?! Ask the server if it can be made without anchovies and make her go talk to the chef … Continue reading
My lovely friend, Cara, recently took a fabulous family vacation to Italy. Her kids are SO lucky! I’m lucky, too, because she brought back some of the most delicious Extra Virgin Olive Oil and she was kind enough to share … Continue reading
It’s starting to happen! Yummy (local) fruits are making an appearance at the grocery store and farmers’ markets. Of course, you can usually find strawberries and blueberries from far off places like Chile in the dead of winter, but they … Continue reading
Yesterday we woke up to snow! That’s unusual for our neighborhood this time of year, but it was a fun surprise. Then the sun came out and my little Tête-á-Tête daffodils watched as the last of the white stuff melted … Continue reading
We were at the store last night and I said to Toby, “I need to get some kale”. He demanded to know what I needed it for, as if I was going to sneak it into something and not … Continue reading
Mary and Joy are two long-time friends and foodies from West Seattle who share their love of cooking on A Passionate Plate!
