All entries for 2008

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things…

22 December 2008 by Jean Johnson
Clearly a copy of Cooking Beyond Measure wrapped up in kitchen towel figures as one of my all time favorite things--proud mama that I am. It does with Susan and Paul Coleman, too, who came up with this festive offering. I hope whoever gets this copy of Beyond Measure from the ...

Creamy Caramelized Goat Cheese Steals the Show in Stuffed Dates

5 December 2008 by Jean Johnson
I've been out and about at natural food markets doing book signings--and offering samples from Beyond Measure. The last few days I've been on a roll with my stuffed dates recipe. You can't get a more innocent and easier holiday treat than stuffed dates. Stuffed Dates Recipe Note Pit the dates and ...

Thanksgiving Breakfast with KBJ’s Cranberries and Cottage Cream

22 November 2008 by Jean Johnson
Thanksgiving Breakfast complete with Cottage Cream and KBJ's Cranberries is such gorgeous food--as delicious as it is healthy and affordable. Indeed, that's what measure free cooking is all about. But a cookbook without measurements and prescriptive rote directions is so unprecedented that people tend can get wrapped up in the ...

Riches in our Cupboards

8 November 2008 by Jean Johnson
Americans! We Can Eat Well & Tighten Our Belts! There was a time when only the rich could afford expensive spices. Ah, yes. We all remember the famed Spice Route to Asia. Just Google it, and you'll find maps, mystery, and intrigue. You'll find references to cardamom, turmeric, ginger, and ...

Toasted Sesame Oil & Balsamic with Beets & Gorgonzola

26 October 2008 by Jean Johnson
As usual, it's what you put on your foundation that makes or breaks a meal. Buried under all the Gorgonzola and toasted walnuts are nothing more than beets, garbs, and beet greens plus Swiss chard. Here's how it all worked. My first catering job appeared last week, so I turned to ...

Chiles and Spice, and Everything Nice

10 October 2008 by Jean Johnson
Here in Portland, Oregon, it's as if Mother Nature threw a switch and autumn commenced. I'm sure golden days are yet to come, but at the moment it's brisk and cloudy. Gone are the fresh tomatoes and the lean, clean flavors that taste so great when it's hot. Here are ...

Apples in the Roasting Pans

3 October 2008 by Jean Johnson
After my comments on pesticides and apples in The Measure Free Weekly last time, I was especially pleased to have a box of apples in the basement from friend and gardener, Laura Berg. Laura is also, if you'll remember from her comment on last week's blogpost, the care ...

Celeste Basks in the Aroma of Roasted Food

26 September 2008 by Jean Johnson
Celeste has turned into a camera hound since she heard HH, a male frog in our town, spotted her on the back cover of Beyond Measure. She sniffs that she's not too interested, but the truth is, she invited him over once harvest is on the wane. So you can see, ...

Fall’s Here–Ladies & Gentlemen, Start Your Ovens!

20 September 2008 by Jean Johnson
We had a fleeting few scorchers last week in Portland, Oregon, but even fluke weather must give way to the changing of the seasons. Now with the equinox just days away on the 22nd, the days have grown brisk and flipping the over on to do a little roasting seems ...

Celeste Becomes One with Fresh Salsa

6 September 2008 by Jean Johnson
Those who have a copy of Beyond Measure will recognize Celeste from the back cover. Indeed, she's become a bit of a mascot and will most likely ensconce her lovely self on Hippie Kitchen's (forthcoming 2009) back cover as well. While we're not sure if this shot will make the ...