June 06, 2014

Potato + Arugula Salad

June 06, 2014/ Mary McDonald

Backyard to plate. That is what we’re enjoying these days. We’re finding more and more edible treasures and arugula was one of them. And lots of it as you can see from the photo below. I read that when arugula starts to flower it can take on a strong bitter taste, but the leaves we gathered tasted just fine.

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 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 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 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 14, 2014

I Heart Salad

February 14, 2014/ Mary McDonald

I know Valentine’s Day can be full of cliches, red, chocolate, all things heart-shaped, but I couldn’t resist making this salad. This year we’re going to have dinner at home, with this salad, and some homemade strawberry chocolate chunk ice cream, champagne and…

January 17, 2014

Pear Fennel Salad with Colatura + Pine Nuts

January 17, 2014/ Mary McDonald

Colatura? Maybe you’re familiar with this but I had never heard of it until a recent dinner at Ava Gene’s here in Portland. It was in a salad named “Pear. Fennel. Pine Nuts. Colatura. Scallions”, the salad was delicious with surprises of fresh mint and hot pepper.

December 31, 2013

Black Quinoa + Roasted Vegetable Bowl

December 31, 2013/ Mary McDonald

This is the holiday balance for me. Between pies and cookies and candies, I start to crave vegetables before going into full sugar overload. I came across a recipe recently, well not so much a recipe but a deconstruction of Harlow’s Betty Bowl.