side dish recipes

baby new potato salad with artisan bacon

You cannot get more local than your backyard. There is nothing better than the vegetables that you dig out of your own dirt. The farmer’s market finds are close, but till fall shy of the flavor of something that you’ve grown. It is amazing that there is anything growing in my backyard this year. The [...]

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roasted broccoli

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Are you still steaming broccoli or worse yet, boiling it? Steamed broccoli is fine, but why when roasting it is easier, and tastier? Last night the husband of the infamous Mud Pies for Mommy was in town from Houston, he is probably now questioning his judgment on accepting our dinner invitation. I was not much [...]

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A Jeweled Merry Christmas to You

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This is my favorite desert any time of year but I find it especially pleasing after a holiday meal. Forget the pumpkin pie and cheesecake I much prefer something lighter. Not only is this gorgeous we eat it as finger food. We are primal like that at our home. Food should be accessible without fussy [...]

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hiding the zucchini

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Last Wednesday was the first day of school, it just me and my 5th grader at home. My husband and our 6th grader were still in the southern hemisphere enjoying the last bit of their month long trip. It was hot and I was lazy, you’ve been there right? I found a bag of Trader [...]

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Too Hot To Cook?

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The Mercury in Seattle hit 103°F (39°C) this week, breaking all records in recorded history. I am sure that there were many a kitchen stove left abandoned during this heat wave. The interesting part, for me, is that here on the eastern side of the Cascade mountains it is usually that hot during this time [...]

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raw beet salad with macerated shallots

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Why does everyone insist that beets need to be cooked or pickled to enjoy them. When I served up this raw beet salad there was fear in the eyes of some as they had never eaten a beet raw. Beets are like carrots only different, I explained. After the first bite they understood. The sweet [...]

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Green & Garlic Gratin

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Are you wondering what next to do with all those sturdy greens that are so prevalent this time of the season? The chard, spinach, kale, mustard greens, etc. Alice Waters is known for simple food from the heart. While flipping through her cookbook The Art of Simple Food I found a recipe for chard gratin [...]

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Stir-Fried Greens

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With all the fresh greens right now I have been making stir-fried greens often, a little too often according to some. My CSA has been giving us beautiful, washed greens ready to create something with little effort. This is a simple, fast recipe that is a staple around our table. Asian Stir-fried Greens 4 large [...]

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Spring Cauliflower & Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)

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Finally the weather is nice enough to think that spring has sprung. One of the more frustrating things about spring here is that it is winter forever, then a day or two of spring, then pounce… summer. This week was a first installment from our CSA. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture (click here to [...]

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Roasted Sweet Potato Fries with Rosemary

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Until I started cooking for myself sweet potatoes had always been something that was laden with a heavy caramelized sugar syrup. I do not necessarily mind them with all the added sweetness but I do like them a better served savory. We eat sweet potatoes often, and not just for Turkey Day. We eat them [...]

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