Every year about this time, I start craving salads. And by craving, I mean intense, must have it, primal longing. It’s as if my …
Continue Reading about Red & Orange Bell Pepper Salad with Mint, Parsley & Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
Every year about this time, I start craving salads. And by craving, I mean intense, must have it, primal longing. It’s as if my …
Continue Reading about Red & Orange Bell Pepper Salad with Mint, Parsley & Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
I read about this method of cooking fresh corn some time ago, but the idea really took hold when one of my personal culinary …
If there is an easier, quicker, more elegant, more economical, more versatile, more satisfying dish in the world than risotto, I …
Continue Reading about Risotto of Sweet Corn with Corn Coulis, Zucchini, Chevre & Green Chile Oil
I used to make ratatouille (an aromatic vegetable mélange of eggplant, zucchini, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and …
Continue Reading about Crostone with Basil Mint Pesto & Roasted Ratatouille
This unusual carrot bisque is not a one-flavor-note wonder. Th natural sweetness of the carrots is balanced with two acidic notes …
Like Love Potion #9, this carefully balanced umami pesto has magical powers. We explored the umami (oo-MA-mee) phenomenon in the …
There has been a lot of talk lately about the discovery of the fifth taste, umami (oo-MA-mee), also described as savory, meaty, or …
Clafouti (pronounced klah-foo-tee), a simple French custard-cake, is the perfect foil for the fresh fruit and berries of summer. …
Continue Reading about Lime & Vanilla Scented Rhubarb Clafouti
This past Saturday, I walked through the Seattle University District Farmers Market with--gasp--no goal. I let the season’s bounty …
Continue Reading about Sweet Cherry & Pea Vine Salad with Basil & Mint
Fourth of July festivites are just a few days away, so for this roundup, I selected the dishes most suitable for an …
Continue Reading about Fourth of July Independence Day Roundup
My Mennonite Grandma Mary would have loved rhubarb chutney. But alas, I doubt she ever tasted true chutney, even though her cellar …
Have you ever had a dish haunt you for years and years? Or perhaps one particular component of a dish? Have you tried repeatedly …
One of the easiest and most effective ways to elevate a simple dessert to epicurean heights is to add a brightly colored, brightly …
Continue Reading about Rhubarb Rose Petal Caramel Syrup + 4 Variations
To my palate, this is the perfect Panna Cotta. It is lightly set and lightly sweetened with a good balance between fat and lean …
Continue Reading about Mastering Panna Cotta – with Six Variations
Nothing says summer more convincingly in the Northwest than the first baskets of local, incredibly sweet strawberries. The …
When I happened upon the inspiration for this cake (Gourmet Traveler Magazine, Yoghurt & Almond Cake with Orange-Caramel …
I was flipping through my well-worn copy of The Great Book of Chocolate by David Lebovitz, flagging the pages of interest, when I …
Continue Reading about Chewy Gooey Congo Bars (Blondies on Steroids)
Croque Monsieur is the ultimate ham and cheese sandwich. It’s just the kind of indulgent, comfort food you start yearning for …
On the LunaCafe Facebook page recently, I bemoaned the fact that this is an atypically chilly and dreadfully dreary May in the …
Continue Reading about Chicken Tagine with Baby Artichokes, Green Olives, Apricots & Preserved Lemon
I’m in love with the flavors of Morocco: exotic spice blends, sensual floral notes, fruit and honey, briny olives, preserved …
I think of myself as a component kind of cook. Just as I prefer a wardrobe full of separates that I can mix and match as fancy …
Continue Reading about Lemon & Thyme Marinated Artichoke, Tiger Prawn & Strawberry Salad