These can be served as a side or on the grain of your choice. 1T olive oil or to taste 1 T thyme 1T oregano 1 red onion cut into 8ths 6 garlic cloves- 3 minced and 3 unpeeled 1 red bell pepper cut into chunks 4 items of summer squash (a blend of crookneck,…
Greek salad galore
A gourmet Greek salad, a whole lot fancier than your average diner favorite. To tone it down a notch you can use garbanzo beans and feta cheese. For uber traditionalists you can substitute cuttlefish or grilled octopus for the squid. Whatever you do, do not cut out the Zatar element. It is very easy to…
Broiled trout with Thai green curry
I’m not usually a big fan of store-bought sauces, but Thai and True made right here in Oregon has some delicious products. I use their curry pastes as an accent to my Thai inspired meals. This recipe calls for green curry paste, which can also be made fairly easily from scratch if you have access…
Seafood pizza
This seafood pizza arose out of necessity and while it seems exotic, it just hinges on a few fresh ingredients. Purchased clam dip works for this recipe but you can even make it yourself quite easily. They generally use fairly standard ingredients that you would have around the house anyway, just add clams. While the…
Late night noodles
This recipe mimics the type of sub-par Chinese food available after 2:00 AM in some cities. At that time, culinary rules succumb to the mandates of filling, fast and satisfying. This dish fits all bills and serves as a comfort food for those of us who nostalgically crave such things. Though not ‘fast’ by many…
Thai inspired fish and mushroom soup
Resist the temptation to add more ingredients to this simply delicious soup. 4c fish or mild chicken stock 2 stalks lemongrass 2in piece ginger 1 lb cod 4T fish sauce 2t peanut or vegetable oil 2t green curry paste, plus more for garnish if desired 4 garlic cloves 8oz mushrooms, sliced 4oz rice noodles 3…
Oyster relish
The ingredients you would use to dress a traditional potato salad pair wonderfully with fried oysters. Serve either as an appetizer or main dish. 1 hard boiled egg 1 celery stalk 1T white onion 1 pickle Mayo to taste Finely chop up all solid ingredients or puree in a food processor. Add enough mayo to…
Goat cheese gratin
When lightening up a comfort food recipe it is essential to add flavor while cutting fat. This goat cheese gratin highlights the flavor of the potatoes with tangy little bursts of creamy cheese. 3 medium Yukon gold or red potatoes (about the side of a baseball) 2 eggs 3T half and half or whole milk…
Fresh pasta
I haven’t purchased string pasta in years. The taste, quality and health benefits of fresh pasta amply compensate for the effort it takes to make. Of course I rarely make pasta for more than 3-4 people and any more servings require exponential work so those feeding a family of 6 may feel differently. To properly…
Inverted winter squash ravioli
A heartier yet potentially healthier dish than the winter squash ravioli restaurant favorite which involves ravioli stuffed with a little bit of squash and served with a stick of browned butter to act as a sauce. To make a lighter cheese ravioli, mix 1 ½ c part-skim ricotta cheese with ¼. Parmesan to make the…