Chilled Fresh Pineapple Rice Salad

2 C. short grain rice, rinsed
4 C. cool water
1/2+ C. fresh Pineapple
1/2 + C. shredded Coconut

... Bring to a boil, drop heat to lowest setting, place tight fitting lid,,
cook until tender, ~18 mins

once done, fluff and chill to room temperature
(I use a sheet pan and my freezer)

dressing
3/4 C. mayonnaise
few TBSP rice wine vinegar
few TBSP raw sugar or honey
few TBSP pureed apple
a few shredded beet greens
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 C. roasted, puréed pumpkin
salt, pepper to taste...

Wild Salmon en Croute with Blackberries Fennel and Sweet Onions

Here is a simple

first: slowly sauté sweet onions and fennel seeds on butter

stack fresh filets of salmon with onion mixture,
gently place ripe succulent blackberries,
top with puff pastry strips
brush with egg
Bake @375 for ~20 mins

blackberry sauce
cook blackberries with orange zest
and a little hot sauce
strain...
drizzle and serve... :)

West African Almond Soup

sweet and rich, this vegan soup is satisfyingly aromatic and delicious...


recipe
one sweet onion, julienned
two medium leeks, sliced
a few carrots, sliced
a cup of celery, chopped

1/4 cup good neutral oil
a heavy bottomed pot

sautéed until translucent and add
2 Tbsp turmeric,
1 Tbsp garlic, crushed
1 tspn fennel seeds
2 Tbsp sriracha
when aromatic, add 1 Cup tomato paste.

breathe for a moment...

add 2 Quarts water or vegetable stock
stir...

stir in 1 cup Almond butter
1 Cup butternut squash, chopped
1 Cup cauliflower, chopped
1/2 Cup green onions, or more leeks

simmer until squash is tender,
add 1/4 cup sugar

salt and black pepper to taste

perfect cheescake

makes one 10 inch cake

crust:
1/2 lb graham cracker crumbs
3 oz Sugar
4.5 oz butter, melted
dash cinnamon, clove, ginger

… bake 350 F 7 mins or until golden in a spring-form pan.

filling:
1 3/4 C. sugar
6 TBSP cornstarch
2.5 lbs cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/2 oz vanilla extract
1/4 oz lemon zest
5 fl oz heavy cream

…sift together flour and sugar…

...cream with softened cream cheese…

…beat until smooth…

in a separate bowl: combine eggs, yolks, vanilla, zest…

…add 1/4 of the egg mixture at a time to the cream cheese,

…fully incorporate and scrape bowl with each addition…

… add cream, blend until smooth…

…pour mixture into cooled crust…

Bake 300F for 60-90 mins, until the cake has just "set". "it jiggles as one"

remove from oven...

…carefully run a knife around the edge and allow to cool completely before serving...

many layered tortilla soup

for warming the soul
on a foggy day...


it begins with a good stock
roasted garlic, celery ends, carrot peelings, onion roots and skins, fennel stalks
a few bay leaves salt pepper and time..


the mirepoix: one medium sweet onion, diced, a few celery stalks (save the leaves) couple of carrots diced,a diced yam, handful of chopped pasilla peppers
sauté in olive oil in a large pot. develop the flavors,

push vegetables to the side and anoint the hot oil with:
2+Tbsp each of paprika, chili, cumin, black pepper, when aromatic,
add a cup or so of tomato paste
stir
add enough water to cover
toss in fresh or dried thyme, oregano
. simmer...

assembly:
add stock, I like ~2 parts stock to one part base
add a can of pumpkin purée
a large can of diced tomatoes
thicken with corn masa paste if you wish
salt to taste
. simmer...

service:
garnish with diced fresh sweet peppers, green onion, tomatoes, cilantro, yogurt, and fresh tortilla strips (I make mine from corn tortillas, sliced like fettucini, fried and salted)

enjoy!

Aloo Paratha

dough.
1 C. whole wheat flour
1 C. white flour
1/2 tsp salt
pinch yeast
scant cup water

mix into dough Let rest at room temp for a few hours ( at least 40 mins)

filling.
boiled potatoes
sautéed green peas with
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 tsp Kashmiri masala (recipe follows)
tsp salt












Kashmiri masala.
dry roast in a heavy bottomed pan on medium heat:
12 dried red Mexican chilies
1.5 TBSP fennel seeds
2 bay leaves
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp coriander seeds
5 cardamom pods
6 whole cloves
4 one inch cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp asafetida

grind spices (I use a blade coffee grinder)

add to spice mix:
1/2 tsp turmeric
4 TBSP almond meal

spiced apple galette

while I napped this drizzly eve
my oldest son, Zach, whipped together an apple galette. I am jealous of its perfect flaky crust. he says the secret is to rub in the butter, like making biscuits, and add little extra water

possibly the most delicious thing ever...

Shrimp dumplings, Somen, Miso

flavors layered together can equal more than the sum of their parts,
this dinner surpasses all others...

sweetly done plantains

Inspiration in the kitchen:

plantain strawberry shrimp with onions and mushrooms

cure for the winter blues...

figured the best way to face this
dreary, grey Oregon coast day
was by channeling the height of warmest summer

shortcake:
2 C flour
2 TBSP sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
...mix...
... grate in:
8 TBSP cold butter
... roll up sleeves and work butter into flour mixture...

...fold in:
scant cup yogurt
splash pure vanilla extract

... mix until just comes together
... turn out and knead No more than 8 times...

BAKE 350 11 mins

In which we contemplate growth

freshness
diving headlong
into a breaking wave
the dance and subtle song
of color and snap
each bite a discovery
a remembrance
a vibrancy
nourishing

seven aphrodisiac salad

radicchio
arugula
sunflower sprouts
papaya
avocado
roasted kabocha
blackened oyster

beauty in complex things

the inspired product:
homebrewed pizza
chili, papaya, gouda, potato kale in
hazelnut pear cream sauce

beauty in simple things

I stand in awe at the simple beauty of a few ingredients brought to their highest simmered in love and intention.

I submit toppings for a pizza,

red and gold new potatoes
Japanese eggplant
Oregon hazelnuts
maitake mushrooms
beets
bosc pears
sunchokes
red chilies

Nothing quite like a respite...  
    A break from the everyday
here where regeneration caresses
          the sand-strewn shore
here where your mind can calm
and let fall the armor of daily life
     where deep, deep work can be done
          easily
in close-knit circles, and spirals of circumstance
strengthened friendships
     partnerships
that the body and the  mind, now nourished,
  can sit back
     sated, and hover over the flower                 of being

Nourish the body, nourish the Mind

Food nourishes the body and mind: my goal is to always have mindfully prepared, healthful, delicious sustenance for you as you enjoy your retreat.
I will endeavor to highlight local, organic ingredients, with an emphasis on sustainability. Whenever possible, the meals will be served "family style" so as to strengthen the learning circle and facilitate community.