Fish

We Don’t Have to Go to Tuscany to Have a Sexy Food Life

25 February 2011 by Jean Johnson
That's right. A trip to Italy isn't required. All we need do is turn the lights on in our own kitchens and pour of glass of wine. All we need do is scratch cook with local, seasonal ingredients at their height of freshness. All we need do is leave behind ...

Quiche for the Holidays

27 December 2010 by Jean Johnson
Quiche is reliable since it's just a custard with goodies in it that sets up no problemo. Also it's great served room temperature, so is perfect for something like a New Year's buffet. Shrimp Quiche Here's one I did for Christmas with wild prawns that I boiled first, sliced in half ...

From the Garden to the Table, During All Four Seasons–Mostly

20 December 2010 by Jean Johnson
So far so good. I've still not bought fresh produce (except pomegranates, lemons, and some Clementines) and since the slim garden days of last spring. It's getting to be slim pickins' for sure given Portland's November snow storm that way laid my broccoli and gave the kale and cabbage a ...

Brown Butter Sauce, Beurre Blanc & the New Julia Child Movie

19 August 2009 by Jean Johnson
Julia. Even the sound of her name brings lavish thoughts--grounded in a no nonsense approach to life. Bon vivant she was with her "bon appetit!" That's why I've been smiling since watching Meryl Streep bring Julia Child alive once again on the big screen. Ah, yes. Wasn't our Julia a grand ...

Cooking for the New Economy, Thai-Style

10 April 2009 by Jean Johnson
Who better than to take cues for economizing than the Thais. For centuries these creative southeast Asian cooks from  have used local, seasonal ingredients and a flair for building flavor right in the bowl to regale eaters far and wide. Americans, in particular, have fallen in love with Thai food ...

Ruffled Roses, Brita’s Norwegian Salmon Cakes, Spinach Salad, and Pinot Usher in a Pacific Northwest New Year

1 January 2009 by Jean Johnson
When Susan Coleman asked about my New Year's food tradition I had no answer. No tamales like a proper Mexican madre. No black eyed peas like a good Southerner. Then I opened a Christmas card from my Norwegian relatives and spotted the word fiskekakker (fish cakes). "Why not start a tradition ...

From Garden to the Grill

15 August 2008 by Jean Johnson
Longtime family friend Matt Loggins was here over the weekend so we grilled. It was such a snap. I brined the shrimp for a half hour in salty water, made a salad out of leftover quinoa, garden lettuces, onion, and cashew cilantro pesto (Cooking Beyond Measure, page 75). Other than that it ...

…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 ...

Spring Greens make a Feast with Dover Sole, Quinoa, and Shrooms

23 May 2008 by Jean Johnson
I bought some red peppers the other day. It was against my local, seasonal religion and all, but I guess I was feeling rebellious. For sure, the kale, spaghetti squash, and tofu dish I pulled together took on a wow when I added the red peppers. Still, I thought wistfully ...

Hot and Sour Thai Soup Sings of the Tropics

9 January 2008 by Jean Johnson
This takes me back to Bangkok where I watched the gracious Daeng Arporn Punlert make tom yam goong, or hot and sour shrimp soup, many times. Here's what I wrote down one day while she was in action: Hot and Sour Thai Soup Recipe Note (Cooking Beyond Measure, p. 92) Boil the shells from ...