Makin' Muffins

This morning I gathered the troops to whip up a batch of muffins. It was the first time I really let Emma get in there and "help" and she was NOT about to give up her spoon! Isla and I had to play zone defense when we were scooping the batter into the muffin tins because Emma kept nose- diving for raw handfuls. (She only got 4).

 Unfortunately this post will not include a recipe because our "muffins" closely resemble a hockey puck in weight. I blame the recipe, not these adorable chefs!

Dinner Party!

On Saturday night I had the pleasure of hosting my very first "field" dinner (i.e dinner on our back lawn) in honor of Graham's 29th birthday. I dream of making these dinner parties a regular occurrence when we own a "farm" someday. But I must admit I was quite pleased with how our little backyard turned into an outdoor oasis in the meantime.

The birthday boy requested a Franco-Italian 5-course meal and his Mrs happily jumped at the opportunity to make it fancy and special. When our guest arrived, we lounged on the patio and nibbled on an antipasti of salami, pecorino romano, parmesan, crackers, marinated artichokes and assorted olives along with glasses of a chilled Italian Prosecco and Raspberry Lime-infused water.

Graham's been dreaming of hanging white lights in our backyard for years and we finally made it happen. The ambiance they created was perfect!

  We have beautiful friends (as the following pictures illustrate). And we felt so blessed to have these very special people gather to honor Graham. Jaymie and Aleah are pictured below (Justin & Eli, we missed you!)

Britta & Jon

Jeremy & Rachel

Isla & Olivia. Amazingly enough, there were 6 kids present at the party but we managed to get them all to sleep by the end of the night - they filled every nook and cranny of our little place!

Jason & Earecka (sorry Ben & Oliver - you guys must not have slowed down long enough for me to get a picture!)

Once (most of) the kids were in bed, we began the sit-down portion of the evening with an appetizer: Pinot Grigio-Steamed Mussels with Garlic Toasts (my first time cooking mussels!) Graham picked out a delicious white wine that the our lovely sommelier Jason poured for us (2011 Les Pouches Saumur Blanc).

 For a little added excitement, each guest found a little slip of paper under their chair on which was written a unique sentence that they were to casually incorporate into the conversation at some point in the evening. This proved to be both challenging and quite hilarious!

Next I served a Roasted Beet Salad with Toasted Pistachios, Blue Cheese Cream and Walnut Vinaigrette (along with glasses of 2010 Briccontondo Barbera). I'd never made this recipe before but I must say the combination of blue cheese and beets was divine!

Because I worked during the day on Saturday, Graham prepared the majority of our main dish: Braised Beef Short Ribs with Wine & Cream, Roasted Mushrooms and Polenta rounds. This course was paired with a 2009 Incanto Vino Nobile de Montepulciano and a 2010 Sainte-Croix Syrah-Merlot.

 We finished with cups of decaffeinated espresso and Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes with Vanilla Ice Cream and Harvold Farm Raspberries. 

The meal was leisurely and we stayed outside the whole time. The party wrapped up just before midnight when our guests gathered up their sleeping kids and headed out. I'm already dreaming up my next opportunity to do this again...

Raspberries

Graham keeps asking me when I am going to start my food blog and I so badly want my answer to be "Right this minute!" The little hands that grab at my ankles and the voices that vie for my time make me skeptical it will ever happen but if I don't start now, when will I? Soooo, with that, I gladly present to you my very first food post in a long, long time! Hopefully there will be more to follow.

It's raspberry season and so what better time to share some of my favorite recipes that put these red beauties to good use? We went picking a few weeks ago and came home with 19 pounds to play with. My very favorite recipe for fresh raspberries is homemade freezer jam. I have my mom to thank for this annual tradition. We've been picking berries ever since I can remember and I used to enter jars of my jam in the local county fair to earn some spending money (thank you 4-H!) The recipe is not healthy by any means but since when has jam been considered a health food? Though he often tries to deny it, this jam was one of the reasons my husband married me. He got his first taste of this homemade stuff some 7 years ago on a Valentine's Day breakfast picnic and he's been hooked ever since.

I've made this recipe enough times to know not to mess with the ingredient measurements. The amounts should be exact (yes, I realize that's a LOT of sugar!!) or the jam won't thicken properly and you'll end up with jars of raspberry soup. Been there done that. If you've been itching for a delicious spread, make this. We love it on both toast and scones. Enjoy!

Quick and Easy Raspberry Freezer Jam

3 1/4 cups crushed fresh raspberries (do not puree - it should still have bits of fruit in it)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

Combine crushed berries and lemon juice in a large bowl. Gradually stir in 1 box of fruit pectin and mix thoroughly. Set aside for 30 minutes, mixing every 5 minutes to dissolve pectin.

Pour corn syrup into fruit mixture and mix well (this prevents sugar crystallization during freezer storage). Add sugar gradually, stirring constantly until completely dissolved and no longer grainy.

Pour into 1-2 cup size jam jars, leaving 1/2-inch space at the top for expansion during freezing; cover. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours or until set. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or store in freezer for up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator before serving.

Makes 7 cups. 



Raspberries

Graham keeps asking me when I am going to start my food blog and I so badly want my answer to be "Right this minute!" The little hands that grab at my ankles and the voices that vie for my time make me skeptical it will ever happen but if I don't start now, when will I? Soooo, with that, I gladly present to you my very first food post in a long, long time! Hopefully there will be more to follow.

It's raspberry season and so what better time to share some of my favorite recipes that put these red beauties to good use? We went picking a few weeks ago and came home with 19 pounds to play with. My very favorite recipe for fresh raspberries is homemade freezer jam. I have my mom to thank for this annual tradition. We've been picking berries ever since I can remember and I used to enter jars of my jam in the local county fair to earn some spending money (thank you 4-H!) The recipe is not healthy by any means but since when has jam been considered a health food? Though he often tries to deny it, this jam was one of the reasons my husband married me. He got his first taste of this homemade stuff some 7 years ago on a Valentine's Day breakfast picnic and he's been hooked ever since.

I've made this recipe enough times to know not to mess with the ingredient measurements. The amounts should be exact (yes, I realize that's a LOT of sugar!!) or the jam won't thicken properly and you'll end up with jars of raspberry soup. Been there done that. If you've been itching for a delicious spread, make this. We love it on both toast and scones. Enjoy!

Quick & Easy Raspberry Freezer Jam

3 1/4 cups crushed fresh raspberries (don't puree-- it should still have bits of fruit in it)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1) Combine crushed berries and lemon juice in a large bowl.

2) Gradually stir 1 box of fruit pectin into fruit and mix thoroughly. Set aside for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minues to dissolve pectin.

3) Pour corn syrup into fruit mixture and mix well (this prevents sugar crystallization during freezer storage).

4) Stir in sugar gradually. Stir constantly until sugar is completely dissolved and no longer grainy.

5) Pour into 1-2 cup size jam jars, leaving 1/2-inch space at the top for expansion during freezing; cover.

6) Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours or until set. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or store in freezer for up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator before serving.

Makes 7 cups. 



My Restaurant "Bucket List"

I just love eating out but usually have the hardest time deciding where I'd like to go. I like to try new places but rarely can think of my "bucket list" of restaurants I want to try when put on the spot. Graham requested I create a written list that can easily be referred to when date night opportunity arises. So here we go, the beginning of my running list!

Spinasse - This place supposedly has the best homemade pasta in all of Seattle.
Sitka and Spruce - A newer restaurant that is receiving rave reviews.
Dahlia Lounge - A Tom Douglas restaurant. I've never eaten his food but he's pretty well known so figure I should try it!
Cactus - A Kirkland hotspot. Although it's not my typical gourmet-type dining choice, people rave about it and so I'd like to try it someday. We attempted to pay them a visit once but Graham wasn't feeling so hot and so we left before we'd even been seated.
poppy - This place seems fun with lots of little bites.
Tavolata - Another place that is supposed to have awesome homemade pastas.
Emmer and Rye - This place looks right up my alley, focusing on seasonal, local cuisine.
Dixies Barbeque - Someday I'd like to go here to "Meet the Man" as this place notoriously calls their HOT sauce. I also really would like to get my hands on a hush puppy and this seems like a pretty good bet.

But then there are always the tried and true favorites that are worth going back to. Here are a few of my top pics:

Eastside Favorites
Barking Frog Restaurant - Attached to the Willows Lodge. You really can't go wrong here. Everything I've ever eaten has been phenomenal. My favorite time to visit is during Seattle Restaurant Week or Dine Around Seattle because you can get 3 courses for quite a steal.
Cafe Juanita - Amazing Italian food served out of a deceptively-boring looking house in Kirkland. To. Die. For.
The Herb Farm - Probably the most expensive meal that will ever pass through my belly but also probably the most amazing dining experience of my life. If anyone ever wants to take me here again, I will love you forever and bake you cookies for life (or something). I am hopeful I will be able to find an occasion special enough to return here.
Purple Cafe and Wine Bar - The food here is always delicious and you can get out the door without breaking the bank, particularly if you bring your own bottle of wine (which they cork for free). My favorite location is the Woodinville one.
The Original Pancake House - I am a sucker for breakfast and this place usually hits the spot!
Gilbert's on Main - I love their weekday petite breakfasts and their gruyere and spinach bagels with whipped cream cheese and homemade jam make me drool.
Cantinetta - I've been to the Bellevue location once and can't wait to go back! It's hip and totally delicious.

Multiple Locations
Julia's - I've only been here for breakfast and the only thing I've ever ordered off their menu is the pancakes but I love them. And will continue to return for them. I always get the buckwheat cakes and order them with everything (blueberries, granola, poppy seeds, chocolate chips and pecans). These always make me a very happy girl.
Paseo - A hole in the wall Caribbean restaurant that serves the best sandwich I have ever eaten. Don't bother with the rice bowls and just order the sandwich marked "Most Popular." You won't regret it. It is amazing. Be sure to note their hours (they are closed Sun/Mon) and that they take cash only.
Pho Than Brothers - How can a meal be bad when it begins with a cream puff? This is another hole in the wall place with delicious pho soup. Squint when you enter (unfortunately cleanliness isn't always their focus) and order #3 (pho with eye of round and well done flank). Graham and I have been known for enjoying $7 date nights by splitting a large (the servings are HUGE!)

Seattle
Brad's Swingside Cafe - This place is so small it doesn't even have a website (but there is apparently one coming soon!) We have been here numerous times on special occasions and have never been disappointed. The Italian food served is complex-we were once told by a waiter that even the salad dressings have no less than 20 ingredients!! The chef sure knows how to marry flavors and I am a huge fan.
Long - This is a more upscale Vietnamese place but we always leave surprised at how inexpensive our total bill is. We like to go here with friends and share various dishes family style. Their spring rolls are delicious and I certainly wouldn't leave without ordering the Grilled Beef Short Ribs or the Braised Savory Coconut in Browned Pork (I think they meant Browned Pork Braised with Savory Coconut...)
Salumi - We've only been here once but their artisan-cured meats are mouth-watering (and I didn't think I liked salami!) We ate salami sandwiches but were also told their meatball sandwiches are worth returning for. They are open for lunch only on Tuesday-Friday and we've been warned to get there early as a line usually forms to circle the block.
Barolo Ristorante - I've been here for happy hour on a couple of occasions but have never dined in the restaurant. The atmosphere is fun with candles dripping wax everywhere and it is usually jam-packed. I recall really enjoying the lamb burger.