Fun Stuff for Foodies!

Fall set in fast in the Northwest!

2009-09-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

2 days ago it was in the upper 70's in Olympia - now it is 49 degrees. Brrr! Suddenly we've gone from grilling and eating outside to soups, stews and comfort food. As I'm making my grocery list I'm thinking about all of the recipes that taste so good on a cold day about all of the squash I received from my CSA share. I'm picking up ingredients for Squash with Cashews and Fiesta Squash (both recipes on pg. 147). If I make both this week, I'll use up all of the extra squash I've got for now!

The Squash with Cashews is the perfect accompaniment to a pork tenderloin or a chicken stir-fry with asian flavors. I'm making the Fiesta Squash with Chili-Lime chicken breasts.

More Fall menu ideas to come!

Halibut Season + Grilling Season = Yum!

2009-05-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

Fresh halibut is readily available right now, and the weather is perfect for grilling! It doesn't get any better than this!

If you're looking for a healty, flavorful dinner try the Grilled Halibut with Blueberry Mint Salsa on page 123. This colorful recipe will impress any crowd! It is perfect paired with Asparagus Couscous (page 150) and chilled pinot grigio.

If you haven't had enough halibut, try the Spicy Saucy Halibut and the Pecan and Avocado Crusted Halibut recipes as well!

Cooking Demonstration on May 3

2009-05-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

Join us at the Junior League of Olympia's Gift and Garden Event on May 3 to see Garden Expert Ciscoe Morris and one of our Cookbook chefs present "From the Garden to the Kitchen". Come sample Roasted Red Pepper and Corn Relish, Summer Gazpacho and Spicy Carrot Pickles.

Sunday, May 3 at 2:30 pm,St. Martin's Pavilion in Lacey, WA.

March 22-28 is Recipe Week!

2009-03-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

Try a recipe from Northwest Inspirations this week, or make one of your favorites! Post your comments on this blog, our Facebook page or our Amazon page. We want to hear what you think!

March Menu

2009-02-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a great menu to feed a crowd! Start with Hot Spicy Wings (pg. 8) and
Greek-Style Cheese Spread with cucumbers, celery and mushrooms (pg. 24). Then break out a big batch of Chili Like No Other (pg. 65) and Presto Gouda Beer Bread (pg. 54) Try it with pepper jack cheese or some smoked cheddar instead of gouda! Follow it all up with Fabulous Brownies (pg.177).

And here's a great option for your leftover St. Patrick's Day corned beef: Try the Reuben-on-Rye Brunch Pie (pg. 38).

Time for a Fiesta!

2009-01-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

These damp, cold winter days have us all longing for warm, sunny locales. When that isn't possible, the next best thing is Margaritas and Mexican Food right here at home! Carnitas with fresh guacamole, spicy salsa and soft, warm tortillas will do the trick! Tonight I'm serving the Carnitas recipe (pg. 105) with a green salad tossed with crispy tortilla strips and my favorite cilantro dressing (pg. 88).

Coming Soon: Special tasting events February 6 and 7 at the Metropolitan Markets in Federal Way and Tacoma, Washington. These tastings will include great recipes from our book, spectacular wine pairings and chocolate!!!

Blackberry Pie - a taste of summer in November!

2008-11-26T16:32:00.001-08:00

I just made the Blackberry Pie recipe from Northwest Inspirations, and I used frozen Marionberries and got an amazing pie! It brought back memories of warm, sunny August days! I'm also making pumpkin pies and pecan pies for Thanksgiving and I just discovered that if you don't have pie weights or dried beans to fill your pie crust when you're pre-baking it, you can use uncooked rice or cornmeal! Just line the crust with foil first, and dump out the rice or cornmeal afterward. That trick saved me a 4:00 pm trip to the grocery store on the day before Thanksgiving!

Last weekend I served the Danish Oatmeal cookies and people went crazy over them. They taste like Scottish shortbread with a little crunch to them. They were very easy to make - only 4 ingredients. Easiest cookie recipe ever!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Szechuan Carrot Soup - A perfect fall dish!

2008-11-02T14:44:00.000-08:00

Reviews are pouring in and Northwest Inspirations is getting noticed! For our most recent review, including the recipe for Szechuan Carrot Soup, click on the link. http://www.theolympian.com/living/story/640143.html

Books are available around Olympia, on our website at www.jlolympia.org, and soon they will be at Barnesandnoble.com!

Our First Review

2008-10-19T14:34:00.001-07:00

Check out this article about our new cookbook, Northwest Inspirations.

http://www.frpbooks.com/about/news.aspx?section=details&type=default&iid=1417

So many recipes, so little time....

2008-10-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

For a quick dinner that will please any palate, try the Coconut Chicken on page 112! Kids love this, and the whole recipe only takes about 25 minutes to make. While it is in the oven, steam some vegetables and cook some couscous or rice and you've got a great dinner!

It's Here!

2008-10-02T19:08:00.001-07:00

Northwest Inspirations, Flavors of South Puget Sound is here! The books arrived yesterday, and are now available for sale on our website. We are so excited about this book.
The recipe for Clam Chowder on page 61 is the best anywhere! Now that the weather is getting cooler, try it with Presto Gouda Beer Bread on page 54 for a tasty and satisfying fall dinner!

Best Biscuits Ever!

2008-09-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

Someone told me recently that her selling point for the new Northwest Inspirations cookbook is the Buttermilk Biscuit recipe (p. 53). She said her family absolutely loves them - the best biscuits ever. When you get your copy of the book, check these out (I definitely will).

Already winning awards...

2008-09-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

The Mocha Truffle Cookie recipe in Northwest Inspriations recently won first place in a contest for recipes submitted by cookbook publishers! These cookies are like chewy brownies on the outside and soft and gooey like truffles in the middle and have just a hint of coffee flavor.

Two weeks until the book arrives!

2008-09-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Northwest Inspirations - Flavors of South Puget Sound is a cookbook to benefit the Junior League of Olympia. We have been working on the book for almost 3 years, and it will be available for sale on October 1, 2008.