Fresh Yaquina Bay Oysters...

Polenta, Black Pepper, and Old Bay 

Crusted Oysters...

Simple 

Satisfying

Delicious 

Sesame Honey Tahini Dressing

Sesame  Honey Tahini Dressing

Simple Fabulous dressing...  

add to bowl in this order...  

1/2 part rice vinegar
1/2 part olive oil
3 parts raw sesame tahini
1 part wild Honey
4 parts local Yogurt...


stir gently, until nearly combined,

allowing the magic and mysterious swirls to form...

garnish with yogurt and black sesame seeds

Coconut Black Bean Cakes...

Delicious Dinner for a Sunny Day:
Coconut Black Bean Cakes (recipe follows)
Whipped Yams and Onions
Jamaican Jerk Plantains and Pineapple
Fennel Beet Slaw
Spring Greens w Honey Poblano Vinaigrette

Coconut Black Bean Cakes
combine:
3C. cooked Black Beans, cooled
2 eggs
1/3 C rolled oats
1/4 C. gluten free flour (I like Bob's Red Mill)
1 medium sweet onion, diced
a few mushrooms, grated
large handful spinach or kale, chopped
few garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp turmeric (ground)
1 tsp coriander (ground)
1/2 tsp mustard seed (ground)
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp chipotle
pinch nutmeg
1tsp baking powder (optional)
sea salt, fresh pepper to taste


combine and let mixture sit for a few minutes...
mixture should just come together to form a shaggy dough, similar to biscuits,
adjust flours, or eggs if necessary...

form into burgers, ~1/2" thick,
dredge in dried coconut

pan fry in neutral oil (I like grapeseed) until golden on both sides,

Home brewed fettuccine & ravioli...

Spinach pasta dough,
Stuffed or tossed with Portobello
Artichoke, Sweet Red Pepper, & Sweet Potato
(Lots of garlic of course!)

comfort food: cannellini bean, spinach cutlets...

oh, favorite!

combine:
3C. cooked cannellini beans, cooled
2 eggs
1 C TVP, rehydrated
1/2 C garbanzo bean flour
1/4 C quinoa flour (optional)
2TBSP coconut flour (optional)
1/3 C wheat flour
1/3 C rolled oats
1 medium sweet onion, diced
a few mushrooms, grated
large handful spinach or kale, chopped
few garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp paprika
pinch nutmeg
1tsp baking powder (optional)
sea salt, fresh pepper to taste


combine and let mixture sit for a few minutes...
mixture should just come together to form a shaggy dough, similar to biscuits,
adjust flours, or eggs if necessary...

form into odd polygons, ~1/2" thick,

pan fry in neutral oil (I like grapeseed) until golden on both sides,


I adore these with whole wheat toast and a simple onion gravy...

Brunch Fare: Quinoa Curried Homefries, Poached Eggs, Florentine Cream

"curried" potatoes...

par-boil 8 medium russet potatoes, then chop coarsely
fry in a few tspn's neutral oil with:
1/2 large onion, chopped...

sprinkle in
2 TBSP turmeric
1/4 cup Quinoa flour
1TBSP sweet paprika
1/2tsp Oregano
pinch Thai chili flakes

freshly ground:
1 TBSP mustard seed
1/4 tsp fennel seed
pinch fenugreek seed
pinch cumin seed

salt and pepper to taste,

slowly fry over medium heat, allowing aromas to permeate the house,
finish with :

handful dried currants,
light drizzle of agave syrup

cook a few mins longer,

enjoy with creamed spinach and poached eggs ;)

kids favorite dinner: baked eggs in spaghetti nests

simple to produce, savory and hearty...

cook spaghetti until al dente...
toss with a little garlic infused olive oil
preheat oven to 350...
twist cooked pasta into nests in muffin tin...
toss a few sautéed oregano dredged mushrooms and sweet onions inside.
add a little of your favorite sauce, thinned out slightly with water ...
crack an egg over the top
finish with more sauce and bake for ~15 mins...

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