Several items in this week’s A la Carte reflect not just a nationwide occasion to chow down on chicken wings but my own social obligations come Sunday. While my hands will be occupied with cooking a delicious (but not too fancy) dish for a friend’s Super Bowl spread, my heart will be at the Oregon [...]
One of the joys of being known as the newspaper’s food editor is fielding every phone call about any conceivable food-related issue or question, whether it’s a reader wondering how long oil-packed artichokes will keep in the refrigerator or someone looking for a list of all the peanut paste recalls. Today, I was greeted at my [...]
With her television cooking show, cookbook and public and private classes, Kumud Gokani might have long since run out of fresh ideas. But the Ashland resident still has a wealth of information and testimonials to share about the health benefits of spices traditionally used in Indian cuisine. I had the chance to sample some dishes [...]
While Washington hosts an array of inaugural balls, a number of Rogue Valley residents on Tuesday will be throwing their own parties. And at least a few will feature a bread created locally to honor 44th U.S. President Barack Obama. Deux Chats Bakery in Ashland created the “Obama Bread” after November’s election and followed up [...]
Whether I’m writing this blog, interviewing local food experts or even sitting in the audience at a hospital-sponsored lecture, it’s hard to keep my mouth shut about high-fructose corn syrup. Sources I’ve consulted have been sounding the alarm about this scary sweetener for more than a decade. But I often feel like I’m the lone [...]
I recall being duly impressed at an Ashland cookbook club meeting almost two years ago that one member made crepes to serve as dessert stuffed with strawberries and cream. She assured me that the quintessential French pancake was simple to make, provided you had the right recipe. Still somewhat in awe, I filed crepes away [...]
Readers of either the Mail Tribune’s food section or the weekly Parade-like insert called Relish likely noticed references to journalist and best-selling author Michael Pollan. As previously noted in this blog, Pollan wrote “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” an eye-opening account of America’s industrialized food system and a small but growing number of alternatives. If you’re a [...]
As a belated Christmas gift, my husband Will and I cooked dinner Sunday for friends who wanted to expand their kitchen repertoire to minestrone soup. The soup being my department, Will decided he would handle salad and drafted a shopping list for me. Among the items, one simply didn’t jive: “good Italian dressing.” Since when [...]
Instead of a one last celebration of holiday indulgence, this week’s A la Carte featured what most home cooks likely will strive for in the new year: better ways to feed their families on a budget. The Ashland Food Co-op stocked plenty of sparkling wines, rich cheeses and sweets when photographer Jim Craven and I [...]
