April 30, 2014

Watermelon with Feta + Basil

April 30, 2014/ Mary McDonald

Is it summertime already? Watermelon, sunshine and shorts? Seems to be here in Portland, at least for the next few days. It feels so good! Such a nice treat for April which has been pretty rainy for the most part.

April 27, 2014

Home Roasted Coffee Beans

April 27, 2014/ Mary McDonald

We’ve been roasting our own coffee beans for a while now and I’ve been anxious to share this method with you. I mentioned it briefly when I made cookies last summer from the Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee cookbook, I thought it might be one of those novelty do-it-yourself things that’s too tedious for everyday, but it’s been close to a year now and we’re still roasting those beans!

April 17, 2014

Chocolate Bread Pudding

April 17, 2014/ Mary McDonald

All I can say about this is yum. I just love bread pudding and especially when it’s covered in chocolate. I was somewhat inspired to make this by a recent trip to Grand Central Bakery here in Portland.

April 04, 2014

Buttermilk Biscuits

April 04, 2014/ Mary McDonald

I’m determined to unravel the secret of great biscuits and I think I may be getting close. Last weekend we were over at Elephant’s Deli getting a few things to go and while we were waiting I couldn’t help but notice the biscuits they had

April 01, 2014

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Pecorino + Walnuts

April 01, 2014/ Mary McDonald

Brussels sprouts again? I promise you will like these! I haven’t had them this way until a recent multi-state trip visiting family and friends. The “Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad” popped up in two different tapas restaurants in 2 very different places - small town, big city.

March 25, 2014

Kale White Bean + Sausage Soup

March 25, 2014/ Mary McDonald

March is the kind of month that just as you think spring is here… it’s winter again. And then it’s spring the next day. So here’s a great soup to pull you through the tail end of winter. I had average expectations for this recipe but let me just say Jeff and I loved it.

March 12, 2014

Chickpea Sauté with Greek Yogurt

March 12, 2014/ Mary McDonald

Hi folks, I thought I’d share another salad from Plenty, I think I’m on a roll with this cookbook! It has so many great vegetarian dishes to try and this one did not disappoint.

March 07, 2014

Maple Oat + Nut Muffins

March 07, 2014/ Mary McDonald

We’ve been house hunting lately and it seems each weekend we fly out out the door to open houses and somehow have forgotten to eat breakfast. I’m not a big fan of eating in the car but it sure beats a grumbling stomach. I’m preparing for the weekend so that we have a nice stash of muffins with us.

March 01, 2014

Celery Salad with Dried Cherries + Almonds

March 01, 2014/ Mary McDonald

I’m not sure that I heard of a celery salad prior to dinner at Ava Gene’s. I didn’t have the salad when we had dinner there but it didn’t leave my mind. I did a search for celery salad recently and came across a recipe on Bon Appetit, and as it happens this recipe was part of a series of salads from Ava Gene’s!

February 19, 2014

Strawberry Ice Cream with Chocolate + Walnuts

February 19, 2014/ Mary McDonald

You might remember from my last post that I was making strawberry ice cream for dessert. Well here it is and it turned out incredible. Of all the amazing ice cream out there this has to be one of my favorites. But then I am quite taken to the berry/chocolate/nut flavor combination.