Foodie Friday: Simple Curry Recipe

October 12, 2012
By Patrick

I love the fall and the great food that comes along with it; so many opportunities to create wonderful soups, stews and curries. Since the cold weather brings larger appetites, large batches are a must.

Making large quantities of things more often than not means left overs and plenty of them in my house. Leftovers are a great way to make your life easier. It allows you the freedom to take a night off from cooking once in a while or have a hearty lunch at work with out having to order take-out. When I make beef stew, chicken soup or curry I know they will freeze well so that’s exactly what I do. Taking aside enough for a meal and freezing it helps keep a variety of healthy and affordable quick dinner options at the ready and I recommend trying it if you don’t already do so.

This week I made an easy chicken curry and rice dish that my whole family enjoyed. Since it takes so long to cook this dish I was sure to freeze a portion. I feel good knowing it’s in my freezer for that cold fall evening when we are busy and tired. Remember a recipe is only a guideline, you can always sub in vegetables for chicken if you have preferences or dietary restrictions. Please enjoy!
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Foodie Friday: Hummus, Bagel Chips, and Veggies

September 7, 2012
By Patrick

The exciting light of summer is rapidly giving way to fall. As the weather cools, BBQ’s turn into quiet evenings on the couch. The foodie in me feels obliged to snack while I’m being entertained but I try to pay close attention to the snacks I choose to munch on while I watch my favorite movie or team. The question is, what snack could take the place of chips and dip while remaining at least somewhat healthy? For me it’s bagel chips and hummus and maybe some veggies to dip too. This recipe will satisfy your snack craving without the regret and guilt of a bag of chips and some store-bought bean dip. Enjoy!
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Foodie Friday: Blackberry Cobbler

August 31, 2012
By Patrick

I grew up in the redwood forest of northern California. As a child I would spend countless hours running around and playing in the woods. In the summertime there was always a bounty of wild blackberries that I could pick. First thing in the morning I would wash out a milk jug and head out to collect as many blackberries as I could. After a long day of berry picking I would return home sweaty, scraped up, and stained purple. Never-the-less I was carrying my full gallon of blackberries.

Every kid that I knew had a different preference for how they consumed their harvest, and my favorite was my Mother’s Cobbler. Though she never actually used a recipe for her blackberry cobbler, I have, over the years, come up with my own version. This recipe is as always a suggested guideline. If you feel like adding a splash of grand marnier or using different berries, it’s up to you. Enjoy!
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Foodie Friday: Kid-Friendly Lemon Herb Turkey Meatballs

August 17, 2012
By Jimmy Berg

This week’s Foodie Friday focuses on a kid-friendly recipe that even the most finicky of tots can enjoy. Both I and our resident food expert Patrick are parents to 1.5 year olds, and as many of you parents out there know, finding meals that the whole family can enjoy together can be challenging at this age.

As a first time parent, this stage in development has introduced my wife and I to many new challenges: my boy is getting more active and therefore more prone to minor disasters. Valuables are going on higher and higher shelves, scraped knees are becoming commonplace, and tantrums are getting louder and more dramatic. Another recent development has been a sudden pickyness when it comes to food. Every day it’s an experiment on what’s he’s going to eat. So, for this week’s recipe, Patrick is sharing a recipe that his toddler loves every time and one that parents can enjoy as well.

I, personally, love using turkey instead of beef for meatballs. It’s lighter, healthier, and I think has more flavor when mixed with Italian herbs. In fact, I substitute turkey every time I make a bolognese, lasagna or any other recipe that calls for beef. Who would have thought that lowering your cholesterol would be so delicious? This is a great recipe and can be made in advance, so all you have to do is heat it up for a quick meal for the family.

We also are featuring three events in California, Massachusetts and New York that teach your children about cooking and eating healthier food.

If you’re dying to find alternatives to cheese sticks, crackers and juice, look no further. Patrick has thrown together a great recipe and found three great events that will teach your kids more about cooking and get them headed on the right track to a healthier life.
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Foodie Friday: Baby Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

August 10, 2012
By Patrick

Well, I knew it would come to this, and after a few requests around the office I proudly present BACON! Personally, I think that it’s glorious just as a slightly crispy, slightly chewy, salty, smoky strip of heaven served a la carte with black coffee and toast. However, I can appreciate stretching any recipe to accommodate what is quite possibly the best ingredient ever.

For this week’s recipe, I present the Baby Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing: a classic recipe that allows you to justify eating this sinful slice of charcuterie while still being able to call it a salad. I love this dish; it’s a real crowd pleaser and perfect for a summer lunch (or brunch). You can serve it alone or with crostini. Any way you choose, it’s hard to go wrong with bacon in the driver’s seat! During asparagus season I’ll pour this over lightly grilled asparagus and top with freshly chopped pineapple and green onion. Yummm! Enjoy!
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Foodie Friday: Pack a Picnic Brunch with Gravlox!

August 3, 2012
By admin

Oh, August! A great time to spend with your friends and family, and brunch is a fantastic daytime, community meal: breakfast for some, lunch for others, but always delicious and on everyone’s schedule.

Instead of having it inside or scrambling to find a brunch spot with a patio, why not bring the party outside? Laying down a blanket on the beach or in the park is as good a spot for brunch as any. While you’re at it, why not enjoy some great bluegrass music or live Shakespeare or perhaps some French Opera? Here’s a list of some outdoor events around the Northwest that would be perfectly complimented by a little picnic brunch action:

Saturday, August 4 I Bluegrass On The Green – Mountlake Terrace, Washington

Saturday, August 4 I The 2012 Skagit River Shakespeare Festival’s Ironman – Mount Vernon, Washington

Saturday, August 11 I 4th Annual PEPSapalooza – Woodinville, Washington

Sunday, August 12 I French Opera Pique Nique – Seattle, Washington

Here in the Northwest, fresh salmon is bountiful, especially this time of year, and we find any excuse to eat it whenever we can. This Gravlox recipe, from our resident foodie Patrick, is a little less salty than your standard cured salmon, letting the flavor of the fish shine through. The whole process takes around 36 hours, but you can make it in advance, as it will keep for a few days in the fridge.
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Foodie Friday: Sunset Supper in the Market and a Cantaloupe Cooler recipe

July 27, 2012
By Brown Paper Tickets

Working as a chef for fifteen years, I can remember working all summer long in a hot kitchen. Barely seeing the sunlight while my friends and family were out enjoying the Pacific Northwest’s all too brief summer. So naturally any time we got a chance to work an outside catering event we would jump at the chance. One such event I had the privilege of working was the Sunset Supper in the Pike Place Market, a great event that supports a great cause.

Well it just so happens Brown Paper Tickets is selling tickets for this years installment which takes place on Friday, August 17. Sunset Supper in the Market has all of the important elements of a great summer event: food, libations, contests, music, and dancing. On top of all of that the proceeds support the work of the Pike Market Medical Clinic, Senior Center, Child Care & Preschool and Food Bank – vital services utilized by thousands of Seattle’s low-income and elderly residents.

If you aren’t able to attend this event or are not in the area don’t be sad; there are tons of great events happening this summer all over the place. Here are a few that caught my eye:

Sunday, July 29 I Carts and a Cold One – Eugene, Oregon

Friday, August 3 I 3rd Annual Paella in the Park – Traverse City, Michigan

Friday, August 3 I Summer Fruit Desserts 2.0 – Now We’re Cookin’ – Evanston, Illinois

Saturday, August 4 I Endless Summer – Portland, Oregon

Wednesday, August 8 I Summer BBQ Series – Carlsbad, California

Sunday, August 12 I Farm Table Dinners @ Green Dirt Farm – Weston, Missouri

Friday, August 17 I Sunset Supper at the Market – Seattle, Washington

Now don’t think for one minute I forgot you hard-working kitchen types or those of you that are putting on your own events. I have included a recipe for one of my favorite things to drink in the heat or really, anytime for that matter. Remember, a recipe is just a guideline so feel free to make it yours by adding a few of your favorite berries, substituting sweeteners, or adding your favorite liquor or sparkling wine. There is an infinite number of combinations to try. I hope you enjoy!
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Foodie Friday: Organic gardening with Seattle Tilth

July 20, 2012
By Patrick

Celebrating the simple joy of warm, sweet, fresh-smelling air, eating together in the evening air, and BBQ. That’s what summer is to me!

After getting up at the crack of dawn and spending all day working in my yard, I relish the feeling of satisfaction that I get at the end of a long summer day. My favorite summertime memories include standing with a cool beverage in my hand, with the tiki torches flickering and the smell of the grill teasing my nostrils as it sears and roasts my dinner to perfection.

But what fun is grilling without a beautiful, chemical-free yard in which to enjoy it in? Our yards are our personal, little corners of the earth and, I don’t know about you, but I like mine to be green in more ways than color.

Browsing through the Brown Paper Tickets website, I came across some great events that will help you find the best ways to maintain your yard in the greenest way possible during the yard work season. Seattle Tilth has a bunch of really cool classes that range from sustainable land care courses to gardening and more. They’re exactly the thing we need to get informed about better summer living through sustainable, organic yard care.

Organic Gardening 101
Edibles in your Landscape
Harvest the Rain From Landscapes to Cisterns

You can view all of the great events that Seattle Tilth has to offer on their Producer Page!

In the spirit of the season I also included this BBQ rib recipe. Enjoy!
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Foodie Friday: Hooray for Chocolate Chip Cookies!

July 13, 2012
By Patrick

Here is a chocolate chip cookie recipe I have been using for years. It’s near and dear to me so I would like to share it with you! Even during these sweltering summer months, there is nothing like a chocolate chip cookie. Try eating them with some vanilla ice cream at your next summer barbecue.
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