I had been looking forward to the interview all day. What could entice a food writer more than Madeleines hot out of the oven? And then baker Lori Forrest threw cold water on the delicious moment: “There’s so many Madeleine pans unused in this country.” Didn’t I know it. Among the reasons I was so [...]
Although we’re well past the point of April showers coaxing new life across the landscape, the supermarket produce section remains bleak. If it weren’t for California asparagus and strawberries, there wouldn’t be much of anything worth purchasing in April, at least anything hailing from this hemisphere. So I’ve been eating asparagus and strawberries (not together) [...]
Pizza in my house has evolved over the years from delivery, take-out or take-n-bake to dressing up frozen, rising crust pizzas with favorite toppings to — finally — rolling out fresh dough and letting our imaginations run wild. The purchase of a pizza peel about two years ago, coupled with the baking stone my husband [...]
A taste of Oregon history can literally be savored next month with the release of “Eating It Up in Eden: The Oregon Century Farm and Ranch Cookbook.” Published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the state’s Century Farm and Ranch Program, the cookbook’s release also coincides with events that celebrate Oregon’s 150th year of statehood. [...]
Today’s A la Carte story on local community-supported agriculture programs outlined what shareholders receive by participating in this clever farming model. What it didn’t convey all too clearly is the ideology that makes CSAs possible in the first place and preferable for many participants. The philosophy at work is “sustainability,” a buzzword that’s crept into [...]
My enthusiasm for brunch was cemented at an early age, when my grandma still helped me slide an egg-and-Hollandaise-topped English muffin from the Red Lion’s steam table onto my plate. Decades later, I never miss an opportunity to enjoy eggs Benedict — provided somebody else prepares it. Poached eggs and custard sauce simply don’t hold [...]
I suspected that the topic of eating to stave off diabetes, featured in this week’s A la Carte, would generate considerable interest. Sure enough, a day after the story came out, the Ashland Food Co-op class (which had plenty of room Wednesday morning) is full. I’ve already fielded one reader’s gripe, but I’ll offer this [...]
If you’ve ever felt like you can’t possibly sort through all the health claims, fancy packaging and “new” food products to determine what’s healthful at the grocery store, take a step back and ask “How long has this food nourished humans?” It might be a tricky questions to answer. But once shoppers realize that strawberry-flavored [...]
When I was growing up, Easter wasn’t complete without a Cadbury creme egg. And considering that they’re relatively expensive, it was often the centerpiece of my Easter basket surrounded by cheaper jelly beans and M&Ms. More than the flavor, I marveled at the way the egg’s oozy center — yolk and white — stayed discernibly [...]
I’ve made it a habit for the past couple of years to purchase a lamb from a local rancher and 4-H adviser. The meat, touted in a previous post, is top-notch and, in the end, cheaper per pound than buying cuts from the supermarket. It’s too bad that my husband, Will, doesn’t share my fondness [...]
