It has been well over a year since I last posted and I hope you are still with me. Grandbabies and a Board commitment kept me happily busy but left me with not enough big chunks of time to create and test thoughtful recipes. I…

Fresh spring rolls are actually way easier to make than you might think. Armed with a few fresh ingredients – quite possible already in your refrigerator – the rice wrappers and the 5 ingredients needed for the peanut sauce you are ready to go. My…

Cauliflower replaced kale as the darling of trendy vegetables awhile ago, but it’s still going strong at my house. What’s not to love about a healthy vegetable that is easy to cook and can be seasoned in countless ways? Admittedly though, roasting is the only…

I’m in one of those phases where I will only consider a recipe if it takes less then 45 minutes to prepare and if it’s in one pan. I spent several weeks in April working on three different asparagus recipes with this goal in mind…

I’m back from a bit of a blogging hibernation. Here in the Pacific Northwest winter is hanging on… Every morning I wake up thinking today will be the day when I can dress a bit lighter. Maybe I can ditch my boots. But no, I…

As unsure as spring weather can be, the arrival of fresh seasonal asparagus is something I can count on. It receives a warm welcome in my kitchen following several months of cooking Brussels sprouts, cabbage, butternut squash and kale in as many different ways as…

It’s salmon season and if you’re like me you are always interested in a new way to prepare it. And honestly, as much as I like the flavor of salmon, it’s possible I eat it perhaps more because it contains Omega-3 fatty acids that have…

Whatever you may be doing this Memorial Day weekend, here are five main dish recipes for centering your meal. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, go for Chipotle Chop Salad. Looking for a way to use rhubarb that’s not just a sweet dessert,…

Two articles I recently read confirmed what I already knew. Eat more vegetables and use the best tasting ingredients possible when cooking. In the first article, The Cheaters Guide to Living to 1oo, it outlines simple secrets to living longer, healthier and happier. One recommendation…

Inevitably we overate, stained our clothes and there were tears. Four siblings loaded into our Mercury Marquis station wagon, driven to the u-pick strawberry farm and unleashed to fill a flat. It wasn’t long before one of my brothers became bored with the picking and the…

Halibut fosters a sort of love hate relationship. It’s heavenly to eat but commonly over cooked especially when grilled. Quickly searing fillets then simmering them in a sea of tomatoes, roasted red peppers and fresh tarragon increases the chances of moist texture and imparts flavor…

Poor rhubarb. Not only does it suffer an identity crisis but also it can’t always stand on its own. It’s thought of more often as a fruit even though it’s technically a vegetable, and a sour one at that – needing to be paired with…

My Mother’s Day wishes have changed with every stage of parenting. First it was all about sleep. When our kids were babies the best gift was an uninterrupted night and waking up at whatever time I wanted. The toddler to preschool and first few years of…

The components of an exceptional salad are simple. Begin with fresh, chilled greens. Add several ingredients that harmoniously work together to add interesting flavor and texture and toss them with preferably homemade vinaigrette. I’m a fan of Mexican and Southwest ingredients so I’ve brought some…

Many people have their favorite way to prepare lamb this time of year. Bust in case you don’t and you haven’t seen my lamb posts from a few years back or you’re like me and sometimes wait until just a few days before your event to decide how to prepare something… I am reposting two of my favorites. The butterflied leg of lamb works well for a larger group and the rack of lamb for a smaller gathering.

By now it won’t surprise you I think sausage is a cooking secret weapon. I love that one ingredient can have so much power, unleashing its robust flavor on whatever it comes in contact with. In this case it’s soup and with Spanish style chorizo.…

Big flavors, healthy ingredients and dinner on the table in 30 minutes with bucatini pasta, spicy Italian chicken sausage and fresh oregano. Bucatini is my favorite pasta shape. Slightly thicker than a spaghetti noodle with a hole running down the center, buco means hole in…

  In case you haven’t had the chance to try one of these recipes or maybe you have but they are just off your radar I am reposting them to remind you for summer grilling. All three involve a little marinating. I always feel content…

I’m back and I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. I really hope you haven’t stopped relying on my recipes and wandered off somewhere else looking for dinner inspiration. Here it comes. I found new salad recipe ideas in several places, some in Seattle…

Thai cooking was the most popular class I taught over a span of 15 years. The mystique of cooking from this culture which many people hadn’t experienced, combined with the exotic nature of the ingredients were my explanation of why. But true to most things…

Native Americans had it about as close to how nature intended it when they invented the cedar plank method of cooking. They called it fire pit planking where they tacked a fish on a cedar plank and held it close to the fire. Hundreds of years…

A few years ago a good friend of mine introduced me to grilled Romaine lettuce. I’d grilled things you typically wouldn’t think of like fresh peach slices and pizza dough, but it hadn’t occurred to me to grill lettuce. After that night it became a…

The recipe has to be really worth it for me to eat beef. These ribs are. They get me every time. And they’re easy to make. We used to serve them at our restaurant and they were incredibly popular. The recipe was inspired by Azeka’s…

My inspiration for this recipe was a recent sailing trip to the British Virgin Islands. The warm, tropical temperature, the brilliant turquoise water and the laid back atmosphere of this part of the world are nothing short of amazing. Most of the beachside restaurants offered…

With the Northwest wild spot prawn season almost upon us, you’ll want to make this. It goes together in 30 minutes with the help of using jarred roasted red peppers and is remarkable enough for guests, yet easy for a weeknight meal. If you’re not…

Fresh cod has a firm texture, mild flavor and reasonable price. That’s why I love it. And especially with this method of cooking it in parchment paper. You feel like you’re cheating it’s so easy. Crimping and sealing the parchment paper edge package is about…

I’ve streamlined the technique for making Pho simple enough to make at home during the week. Forgive me Pho purists but I do think this version is really good. The key to good pho is the broth, which authentically is made by grilling onions and…

If I ever have leftover roast leg of lamb I make Shepherd’s Pie. It’s the sneakiest way to use leftovers without anyone knowing you’ve used them. And if there wasn’t a trace of leftover lamb, substitute ground beef and just like it’s called Cottage Pie.…

My grade school best friend’s Mom introduced me to lamb. She was an extraordinary cook and an avid reader of Gourmet magazine who went out of her way with an ingredient or method to enhance her cooking. From the flank steak she marinated for days…

I tend to forget about using pork tenderloin when making skewers and almost always default to chicken breast. Pork tenderloin is so perfect as the tender meat easily soaks up the marinade ingredients and then it cooks quickly on the grill. Truly, I almost feel…

I’m ushering in the spring equinox with one of my favorite salads and keeping my fingers crossed that the warmer weather will be finally coming our way. Cheers to the beginning of spring. Curry Chicken Salad with Coconut   Print Serves: 4 Ingredients 4 cups…

Gone are the days of eating halibut several times a week. It’s just too expensive. But I love halibut and one way of getting around the price is to cut the fillet into chunks and simmer it along with other ingredients in a sauce. The number…

Anyone that likes Mexican food will love this salad of grilled kernels of corn, crunchy tortilla strips, marinated cooked chicken and crisp romaine lettuce all lightly bathed in a cilantro flecked and lime zest vinaigrette. There are a few extra steps to this salad that…

Just once a year and for only about three to four weeks, we are graced with fresh Copper River salmon. Such a short time to enjoy a food so memorable in flavor. Loaded with Omega 3 fatty acids, this salmon is some of the best…

Fresh rosemary, caramelized onions and crumbled Gorgonzola highlight this flank steak. You only need to marinate it one to two hours to get the flavor benefits. Don’t marinate it overnight like you do with some flank steak recipe as the balsamic vinegar tends to make…

As much as I love to cook, I look for easy ways to make dinner quickly during the week with a recipe that does everything in one dish – protein, vegetable and starch. Highlighting the season’s fresh asparagus, this pasta recipe does it all in…

If you like the exotic flavor of curry and coconut  and the idea of marinating to save time then you will love this recipe. Marinating can be your best friend when it comes to putting together a weeknight meal because it does the majority of…

My favorite thing about these tacos is the cilantro and fresh lime flavor. For speed in making them quickly during the week, I cook the fish under the broiler or even in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove. But since I like to…

Roasting a rack of lamb is easier than you might think. The key is to begin with a high quality rack of lamb purchased at a reliable meat department or butcher. Most lamb racks have eight bones in them which means eight chops. They are…

I taught Thai cooking classes for years and this recipe was easily one of the all time favorites. Bursting with the flavors of fresh cilantro and garlic is how everyone describes it. The stems of cilantro have more flavor than the leaves and that is…

If there ever was a dependable weekday recipe then here it is. Consistent and reliable, easy to prepare and happily devoured by anyone who encounters it, this rock star recipe is prepared all in one pan and on the table in less than an hour.…

Little preparation and big rewards. That’s was this recipe for Barcelona Chicken, inspired from the Silver Palate Cookbook’s Chicken Marbella delivers. It’s the perfect recipe for entertaining because most of the work is done ahead allowing you the freedom to actually enjoy your guests rather…