What's in season

Fall Bourbon Cocktail

Those of you who know me, know that I am NOT a bourbon drinker, or a scotch drinker. Everything in that genre of spirits is much more along Sonia's taste, not mine. One of the few exceptions to that rule is Sonia's Fall Bourbon Cocktail. It's one of the few bourbon based drinks that I will raise my hand for when she is making them.

Instant Pot Korean Short Ribs

Recipe by My Korean Kitchen

Granola

Julia found this recipe and made it several times before heading off to college. Ever since, Sonia and I make it regularly, since we could not find a granola that we like enough to buy from a grocery store. Granola

Seed Crackers

We purchased a package of seed crackers from our local grocery store and loved them so much, that we went in search of a recipe to duplicate at home. We ran across this recipe from the True North Kitchen for Seed Crackers, otherwise known as Norwegian Crispbread. It was quite easy and super tasty. The trick is trying to get the batter thin enough to produce very thin yet stable cracker.

Sweet Potato Salad with Warm Pepita Dressing

Budae-jjigae 부대찌개 (Army Base Stew)

Recipe credit to Maangchi.com

Tomato Butter Sauce

A long time ago we received a cookbook as a gift and this Tomato Butter Sauce recipe was in it. Since that time, we have been unable to find a better all-purpose tomato sauce. It is silky and smooth and perfect for so many things. You make it in two stages, first making a basic Tomato-Basil sauce, then using that as a base for the Tomato Butter sauce. Tomato Basil Sauce

Sheetpan Chicken

Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad for dinner has been a staple in our home for 30 years, since Sonia and I were married. I remember making the first one in Toronto many years ago. It has carried with us all the way to Kirkland and is still as good, or better than it was way back when it started. A bottle of oaky California Chardonnay - like Sonoma Cutrer, or our new favorite Rombauer is the perfect accompaniment. There are 4 key elements to a killer Caesar Salad: 1. Really good Reggiano Parmesan cheese (like Vacche Rosse) - and lots of it (at least 1.5 – 2 cups very finely grated – think the texture of powder snow, rather than the long strips you would get off a conventional cheese grater) 2. Smokey bacon - we use a brand called Nueske's from WI – we usually use 6 slices 3. Dressing from scratch - our own recipe with lots of garlic 4. Home made croutons from a fresh loaf of sourdough or crusty Italian bread

Kale Salad

Avocado, Kale & Arugula Chop Salad

This is our new favorite salad recipe. We've experimented with several modifications and have decided that you can do almost anything and it tastes great. Note: since the dressing makes extra (probably enough for 2-3 salads) you could easily double the salad if you're serving a larger crowd/want extras for the week. however, if you're making extra for a weeklong salad, add the avocado and peach as you go, they won't last tossed in the salad at the beginning of the week. (Serves 4 as a side, 2 as a main)

Avocado & Shrimp Chopped Salad

A great summer salad that you can play with by adding things that you really like or subtracting things that you don't like (e.g., onions). Courtesy of Eating Well.

Budae-jjigae 부대찌개 (Army Base Stew)

Recipe credit to Maangchi.com

Moroccan Cauliflower and Couscous Salad

This Moroccan Cauliflower and Couscous Salad is bursting with flavors from the spices - coriander, turmeric, and paprika, and the combination of cauliflower, couscous, almonds, raisins, parsley, and mint. A fantastic accompaniment, or great on its own as a vegetarian option for dinner.

Morrocan Roasted Cauliflower with Butterbean Puree, and Chermoula

We've been inspired recently by a series of Cauliflower recipes, and by Morrocan spices and flavors. Several of those recipes led us to develop this roasted Cauliflower dish, topped with Chermoula, a Morrocan chimichurri-like sauce - see our recipe here. We've had it both as a vegetarian main course and as a side with a protein (e.g., halibut, shrimp, chicken, etc.) And according to the Mayo Clinic - when it comes to nutrition, cauliflower is a superstar. It's **high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy**. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium.

Roasted Chicken with Cauliflower and Herby Yogurt

This one-pan chicken recipe is easy to prepare, tasty, and just a bit spicy, thanks to the Aleppo pepper, which is common in Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cooking. The recipe calls for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, but we've used boneless, skinless thighs and have also experimented with boneless chicken breast, and the flavors still work well. Just be wary of overcooking the chicken in whatever form you use.