Spices

Peasant Food Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This

19 May 2011 by Jean Johnson
One bowl meals. It's how to turn gorgeous food out on a dime. A dime of both time and money. In this case, there were leftover French lentils and quinoa in the fridge--so into the bowl they went with some jarred roasted red peppers, a pear from the season's end, and ...

Latina Peaches

6 September 2009 by Jean Johnson
These peaches are inspired by how they treat jicama in Mexico. I also do them with pineapple and melons of all stripes. Expect the fans to roll their eyes in bliss on this one because magic trio sets the sweet fruit off to a very fine angle indeed. Latina Peaches For ...

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 ...

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 ...

Fancy Berries

1 August 2008 by Jean Johnson
Actually, the real story today is about black cap raspberries--the berries my new neighbor Nick brought from his grandparents farmstead out in Sandy, Oregon. Black raspberries to match the black, gothicĀ attire he sports. The berries were an unusual, delicious treat on cereal this morning, but wouldn't you know, the photos ...

…and the Livin’ is Easy

25 July 2008 by Jean Johnson
Linda's my new pal. She knows about computers and business and such. So what could I do when she arrived once again to help the cause, but offer a munch. It was mainly leftovers that took me 15 minutes to pull together. Mahi mahi (because when I talked to Gary ...

Hot Chile Peppers Take Your Palate Around the World

1 February 2008 by Jean Johnson
I took this shot one of the rare days when the griddle was not in use on the stove. A wash in the background except you get a glimpse of some of the students I worked with inĀ the Hopi and Navajo nations. Indeed, it was in Indian Country that I ...

Spicy Garlic Salt Cures January Blues

2 January 2008 by Jean Johnson
It's easy to mince up some zippy garlic salt to cure the January blues. Quesadillas, tuna melts, soups, and eggs all soar to new heights when treated to some of this very excellent brew. You can boldly dose the pot on behalf of everyone or simply put a small plate ...

Spiced Holiday Fruits

19 December 2007 by Jean Johnson
Here are the stuffed dates I talked about a few posts ago. Also fresh pears and clementines dipped in melted butter and flax meal spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, and allspice with nary a speck of sugar in the mix. Almonds and pomegranate seeds finish this lovely presentation. If you ...

Freshly Grated Nutmeg Decorates Holiday Java

18 December 2007 by Jean Johnson
We in the Pacific Northwest take our java seriously with freshly ground beans that are fairly traded and organically grown. I made this fancy-pants cup of joe in my own kitchen with a none too pricey espresso machine. The trick is to steam the milk (that hopefully comes from a dairy ...