One of my absolute favorite recipes of all time. I first discovered this in Georgeanne Brennan’s 1998 cookbook Holiday Pumpkins. Her books are a great resource for home gardeners and anyone with an interest in herbs or French food. This recipe caught my eye because it’s such an unusual combination of squash, poblano and pomegranate….
Swedish rye bread
I’m not a baker. It requires an exactitude I just do not possess. But when the holidays roll around I feel compelled to try and make the Swedish treats I so enjoyed while growing up. They get harder to find as I grow older and I find it fun making and sharing them with my…
Stranger cookies
My grandmother was a great baker. She had several signature desserts, including a stunning lemon meringue pie that fascinated me completely. I couldn’t stop playing with the meringue. Stranger cookies are what I called them as a kid, but these are officially known as Ranger cookies. A unique and hearty flavor profile of coconut, dates…
Pot roast – an easy classic
Nothing says, come in from the cold and cozy up like a pot roast dinner. This is easy to make in a slow cooker or in the oven when you are doing other stuff around the house. I made this one using my Lodge cast iron Dutch oven. Start with a chuck roast. I usually…
Egg nog all season long
I love egg nog. I look forward to the holidays just for the opportunity to drink egg nog and be merry. I even love it in coffee. I learned this great easy recipe from NPR for classic egg nog. When I first started making this, I thought it needed to be drank within a few…
Pipián Verde – pumpkin seed mole
I was lucky enough to eat at Poppy in Seattle for restaurant week, not once, but twice! Poppy is the restaurant of one of my favorite chefs and herb gardeners, Jerry Traunfeld. His food is Ah-mazing! What an incredible inspiration for me to eat there. One of the (many) dishes I enjoyed was his chicken…
Chicken soup for the soul
If you’ve been reading this blog, you probably think I eat too much soup. I just can’t help it. It’s so easy to make, so versatile and so delicious. Chicken soup is a perfect light meal for both before and after thanksgiving although maybe swap turkey in the after version. First up is the classic….
Panade and French Onion Soup
I looooooooove French onion soup. So simple, so warming, so delicious. I make it often when I have broth and a fresh bag of onions. And I generally, skip the bread and go with a much more modest dusting of Parmesan instead of melted gruyere, which makes for a low-calorie dinner. It’s very easy to…
Garlic and other garden updates
A month ago, I planted some garlic, peas, and fava beans. Crops which I’ve successfully fall planted for spring before. But this year the PNW has been unusually warm and dry, and as a result everything sprouted now. I’m not really sure what this means for any of the plants come spring. I also got…
Fall pesto with sage and hazelnuts
Craving a pesto to go with your fall vegetables? The combination of sage and hazelnut is a winner. Easy to make and big on flavor. Use 1 cup fresh sage leaves, 1/4 cup hazelnuts, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, 2 cloves of garlic and 1/3 cup of oil. This makes about 1-2 cups of pesto. Use…
Overzealous Home Cook 