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Puff Pastry Mushroom and Blue Cheese Strudel

Puff Pastry Mushroom and Blue Cheese Strudel

Puff Pastry Mushroom and Blue Cheese Strudel

 

1 sweet onion

¼ stick butter

1 roasted red bell pepper

3 cloves garlic (chopped)

4 cups wild mushrooms (sliced)

2 cups spinach

4 ounces Crater Lake Bleu Cheese

¼ cup sherry wine

Salt and pepper to taste

1 full sheet puff pastry

 

Caramelize onions in butter, set aside. Julienne roasted bell peppers, set aside. Sauté mushrooms and garlic until soft. Deglaze with sherry. Add spinach and cook until liquid is evaporated. Set aside and cool. Mix onions, peppers, mushrooms, spinach, blue cheese, salt and pepper. Lay puff pastry on cutting board, put filling in middle of puff pastry horizontally, flip bottom of puff pastry to cover top of filling and flip top of pastry to cover bottom half of puff pastry (like a burrito). Make sure ends are sealed, brush with egg wash and bake at 400° until golden brown.  Once strudel has cooled, cut horizontally and serve with whatever side you prefer (sautéed white beans, black-eyed peas).

Grilled Blue Cheese and Sorrel Sandwiches

Grilled Blue Cheese and Sorrel Sandwiches

Grilled Blue Cheese and Sorrel Sandwiches

 

For these sandwiches, I like to use Diamante bread from Essential Baking Co. – the salt crust and the rosemary leaves add a whole new dimension – or Macrina bakery’s potato bread, which has a particularly nice chewy, crisp texture when it’s grilled. I like to use Oregon Blue Cheese just because it’s somewhat local, but Gorgonzola or the quintessential Roquefort will make the sandwich at least as good, if not better.

 

4 slices rustic white bread

2 T. butter

4 ounces blue cheese

4 large leaves of sorrel

Freshly ground black pepper

 

Butter one side of each slice of bread and put the bread buttered-side-down on a griddle or in a skillet large enough to accommodate all four slices. Turn on the heat to medium or medium high and crumble the blue cheese over the surface of the bread. Stack the sorrel leaves with all the stems pointed in the same direction, and roll them, lengthwise, into a little bundle. Trim off the stem end and cut the bundle crosswise into -inch slices to make thin little ribbons of the leaves. (Incidentally, this is called a chiffonade.) Distribute the cut sorrel evenly over the surface of the cheese and grill the sandwiches open-faced until the cheese is melted and the buttered side of the bread is browned and crisp. Close the sandwiches and cut each one in half. Serve hot.

Quick Caramelized Spruce Tip Syrup

Quick Caramelized Spruce Tip Syrup

Quick Caramelized Spruce Tip Syrup

This is not true mugolio, but it only takes a few minutes to make, instead of a month. Use it to flavor ice cream, panna cotta, cheesecake, a mousse, Italian meringue, there’s plenty of possibilities. One of my favorites is the way the French serve their fresh cheese-with a little drizzle on top.

 

4 packed C. spruce tips

2 C. sugar

2 C. water

Instructions

 

Grind the spruce tips and sugar in a food processor, then mix with the water, bring to a rolling boil, turn off the heat and allow to sit overnight. The next day, strain the syrup, then return it to the pan, cooking until it takes on a light amber color and the consistency resembles warm honey. Transfer the syrup to labeled, dated container and refrigerate until needed. If the syrup becomes very thick when it’s cold, thin it with a bit of cold water until it reaches your desired consistency.

Spring Vegetable Stew

Spring Vegetable Stew

Spring Vegetable Stew

The great thing about a stew is that you don’t have to be all that exact.  I’ve given measurements as a guide, but you could easily adapt this recipe to accommodate your personal preferences.

 

6 to 7 (12 ounces) baby artichokes

10 ounces shelled fava beans (from about 2 1/2 to 3 pounds unshelled fava beans)

8 ounces snap peas, ends trimmed

8 ounces shelled peas (from fresh or frozen)

handful of fiddlehead ferns (optional)

3 ounces pancetta or guanciale, thinly sliced

2 T. extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling over the finished dish

2 medium leeks (~ 1 heaping cup), thinly sliced (or spring onions)

1 3/4 C. vegetable stock or water

1 bunch of asparagus, chopped into 1-inch pieces

1/4 cup parsley, chopped

2 to 3 T. mint, chopped

zest and juice of half a lemon

sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

serve with grilled bread, rubbed with a clove of garlic, sprinkle with sea salt

 

To prepare the artichokes: Fill a bowl with cold water and lemon juice (the lemon prevents oxidation and blackening).  Slice the tips of the artichokes cross-wise to remove their pointed tops.  Peel off the tough outer leaves of the artichoke until you reach the pale, tender, lighter colored leaves.  Place the artichoke in the acidulated water.  Repeat with the remaining artichokes. Blanch the vegetables: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer.  Drop in the artichokes, cook until tender, about 8 minutes.  Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Slice the artichokes in half lengthwise. Prepare an ice water bath.  Drop the fava beans into the simmering water, cook 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and drop the beans into the ice water bath.  Slide the fava from their thick outer covering. Set aside. Drop the snap peas and fresh peas, if using, (if frozen you don’t need to blanch) into the simmering water, cook for a minute or two. Remove with a slotted spoon and drop into the ice water bath.  Drain and set aside. Last, drop the fiddleheads, if using, into the simmering water (you’ll want to blanch these last since they turn the water a brownish color) and cook for 5 minutes.  Remove with a slotted spoon and drop into the ice water bath.  Drain and set aside. Making the stew: In a large, high-sided pan, heat the olive oil.  When hot, add the pancetta and cook until the fat is rendered.  Add the leeks and sauté until soft and lightly golden, about 5 minutes.  Add the blanched artichokes and stock, and simmer 5 minutes.  Add the asparagus, season with a little salt and pepper, and simmer another 3-5 minutes.  Add the peas, fava beans, and fiddleheads, and simmer another 3-5 minutes (all vegetables should be tender, but still have a bit of a bite).  Add the lemon zest and juice and fresh herbs, and stir to combine.  Taste and re-season with salt and pepper. To serve:  Drizzle with a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil and serve with crusty bread.

Morels And Brick Cheese on Rye, With Ramp Leaf Aioli

Morels And Brick Cheese on Rye, With Ramp Leaf Aioli

Morels And Brick Cheese on Rye, With Ramp Leaf Aioli

2 slices caraway rye bread sliced 1/2 inch

Room temperature unsalted butter as needed

1.5 ounces fresh whole morel mushrooms rinsed, cleaned, and inspected for debris on the inside.

Kosher salt and pepper

1 T. Lard other animal fat, or high heat cooking oil such as grapeseed

1.5 ounces brick cheese sliced

1 tsp. chopped fresh ramp bulbs

1 recipe ramp leaf aioli follows

 

Spread each side of bread with butter. Place the bread buttered side down in the cast iron pan. Arrange the cheese slices on the bread and cook on low-medium heat, until the bread is nicely toasted and the cheese is melting. In a separate pan, heat the lard or grapeseed oil until lightly smoking, add the morels and cook over medium high heat until brown and caramelized, about 4-5 minutes. Add a tsp. of butter to the pan, then add the ramps. When the morels are totally cooked, season with salt and pepper. Allow the morels to drain on a paper towel briefly to shed excess oil if needed. Place the morels on top of the cheese on one slice of bread, top each with some of the ramps from the pan, then add a T. of the ramp leaf aioli. Place the other slice of bread on top of the slice with the morels and sauce. Press the sandwich lightly to make it stick together.

 

 

Ramp Leaf Aioli

 

1 ounce fresh wild garlic leaves about 10 large leaves

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

1 cup mayonnaise preferably homemade

1 tsp. champagne vinegar

 

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the wild garlic leaves and cook for 5 seconds, until just wilted. Immediately refresh the ramp leaves in an ice bath to preserve their color. Squeeze the leaves dry in a towel, then mince finely. Puree the leaves in a highspeed blender or a food processor with the mayonnaise.  Afterwards, pass the sauce through the chinois or mesh strainer to remove any stringy leaf particles and give it a velvety texture (optional). Stir in the champagne vinegar, season to taste with salt and pepper and reserve until needed.

Fritto Misto of Ramps, Asparagus, Fiddleheads with Citrus Mint Aioli

Fritto Misto of Ramps, Asparagus, Fiddleheads with Citrus Mint Aioli

Fritto Misto of Ramps, Asparagus, Fiddleheads with Citrus Mint Aioli

4 C. canola oil

2 C. all-purpose flour

¼ cup cornstarch

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Zest of 1 lemon

Zest of 1 lime

½- 1 cup ice cold club soda, diluted with 2 T. lemon juice

1 ½ to 2 pounds mixed fiddleheads, ramps (or green onions) and asparagus, cleaned and dried

Maldon salt, to season

Citrus Mint Aioli, to serve (recipe follows)

 

Place the oil in a 6- to 8-quart pot and heat it to 375ËšF. In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder. Add salt and citrus zest and mix well. Slowly add in water or club soda until the consistency is like a loose pancake batter. Once the oil has come to temperature, working with a few pieces of the vegetables at a time, dip them into the batter, coating them well and letting the excess drip off, before adding to hot oil. Working in batches, place vegetables in oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pot and fry until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the vegetables and place on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with maldon salt. Hold in a warm place while frying the rest of the vegetables. Be sure to bring the oil back up to temperature before adding the next batch. Serve warm with the citrus mint aioli.

 

Citrus Mint Aioli

 

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

¼ cup fresh mint, chopped

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

Juice and zest of 1 lime

½ cup canola oil

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

 

Place garlic, salt, egg and egg yolk in a blender and blend until smooth. Add mint and combine. Slowly stream in half the oil and then add citrus juice and zest and then continue to add the rest of the oil until thick and emulsified. Adjust with salt, if needed. Serve with fritto misto.

Fiddlehead & Mussel Soup

Fiddlehead & Mussel Soup

Fiddlehead & Mussel Soup

4 T. Butter

¼ C. thinly sliced Shallots

1 T. thinly Sliced Garlic

1 fresh Thyme Sprig

1 Bay Leaf

3 lb. Mussels, washed and debearded

½ C. dry White Wine

1 C. Chicken Broth

 

Place the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. When the butter is melted and bubbling, add the shallots and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the shallots and garlic are translucent. Add the thyme and bay leaf and cook for 1 more minute. Add the mussels, stirring to coat them evenly with the butter. Cook, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Add the white wine, turn up the heat to medium high, and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes to bum off the alcohol, then add the chicken broth. Bring the mixture back to a boil, cover the pot, and turn down the heat to low. Steam the mussels until the shells open and the flesh is plump and full, about 5 minutes. Discard any that do not open.  Drain the mussels and their cooking liquid through a colander into a large pot or bowl. You should have between 2 and 3 C. of liquid. Let the mussels cool in the colander. When the mussels are cool, remove the meat from the shells. Discard the shells and set aside the mussels in a cool place until ready to use.

 

4 T. (/2 stick) unsalted butter

1/4 cup thinly sliced shallots (1 large or 2 medium)

1 T. thinly sliced garlic

1 1/4 pounds ostrich fern fiddleheads, cleaned

Reserved mussels cooking liquid (above)

1 1/2 C. heavy cream

1/4 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary or 1/3 tsp. dried

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

2 tsp. kosher salt

4 grinds of white pepper (1/8 tsp.)

1 T. finely minced fresh chives

 

Heat the butter in a large pot over low heat. When the butter is melted and bubbling, add the shallots and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots and garlic are tender and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the fiddleheads. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add the mussel cooking liquid and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the cream, bring back to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 5 to 6 more minutes. Remove the pot from the stove and remove the fiddleheads with a slotted spoon or strainer. Set aside /4 cup fiddleheads. Place the remaining fiddleheads in a blender and add half the soup. Puree until smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the remaining soup and, starting on low, blend briefly to combine. Add the rosemary, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, salt, and white pepper and blend briefly to incorporate. Return the soup to a clean pot. Heat the soup just to a boil, whisking occasionally. Place the mussels and reserved fiddleheads in a small pot, ladle in a small amount of the soup, and place over low heat. When hot, divide the mussels and fiddleheads among 4 to 6 soup bowls and ladle in the soup. Garnish with the chives.

Ramp & Shrimp Grits

Ramp & Shrimp Grits

Ramp & Shrimp Grits

1 lb. Shrimp, shell on

¼ C. dry White Wine

1 Shallot, thinly sliced

1 ½ tsp. Salt

1 C. Quick-Cooking Grits

4 T. Butter

¼ tsp. Pepper

4 cloves Garlic, minced

2 tsp. Lemon Juice

½ C. Ramp Pesto

2 T. Crème Fraiche

2 T. fresh Chive, sliced in ½” pieces

 

Peel and devein the shrimp, saving the shells. Place the shrimp shells in a medium saucepan. Add the white wine, shallot, and 4 C. cold water. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a bubbling simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the shells steep in the liquid for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid into a 4-cup measuring cup and discard the shells. Add enough cold water to make 4 C.. Place in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 tsp. of the salt, and bring to a boil. Whisk in the grits, bring to a boil, then cover and cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until creamy. Hold in a warm place while you cook the shrimp.  Place the butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. When the butter is melted and bubbling, add the shrimp, the remaining [/2 tsp. salt, and the pepper. Toss the shrimp in the butter and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are just pink. Add the garlic and finish cooking, another 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice. Stir the ramp pesto into the grits, then stir in the creme fraiche. Divide the grits among 4 to 6 bowls and top with the shrimp. Garnish with the chives.

Wild Ramp Pesto

Wild Ramp Pesto

Wild Ramp Pesto

1 bunch (about 6 ounces) ramps

½ cup walnuts (toasted in a skillet for 5 minutes until golden)

½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

½ tsp. kosher salt to taste

⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil (or ½ cup—you kind of have to eyeball it)

Squirt of lemon juice

½ cup flat-leaf parsley (optional)

 

Wash ramps throughly and cut off the leaves of the ramps.  Chop the ramp leaves and walnuts just a bit and put them in your food processor. (Optional: add parsley.) Add most of the cheese (save a sprinkle for serving) plus salt. Pouring the olive oil in slowly, process contents until they combine and look, well … pesto-y. Taste for seasoning and add a good squirt of lemon juice. Served as a side with warm pita and bulgur with butternut squash and chard

Sautéed Razor Clams with Hazelnut Lemon Sauce

Sautéed Razor Clams with Hazelnut Lemon Sauce

Sautéed Razor Clams with Hazelnut Lemon Sauce

 

¼ C. flour

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 razor clams, shucked and cleaned (about 5 ounces)

2 T. olive oil

½ C. pinot gris or other dry white wine

½ tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 T. toasted, chopped hazelnuts

1 T. minced shallot

¼ C. unsalted butter, cut into pieces and chilled

1 T. minced flat-leaf (Italian) parsley

Flat-leaf (Italian) parsley sprigs, for garnish

 

MIX THE FLOUR with a pinch each of salt and pepper on a plate. Dredge the clams in the flour, patting to remove excess. HEAT THE OIL in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the clams and sauté until golden brown, about 30 seconds on each side; do not overcook. Transfer the clams to a plate and keep warm. ADD THE WINE and lemon juice to the skillet, stirring to dissolve flavorful bits. Boil to reduce slightly, about 1 minute. Add the hazelnuts and shallot and cook for 30 seconds longer. Whisk in the cold butter until it has melted and the sauce has a rich consistency. Stir in the parsley, adding salt and pepper to taste. ARRANGE THE CLAMS on a warm serving platter or individual plates, pour the sauce over them, and garnish with sprigs of parsley. Serve immediately.

Northwest Forest Mushroom and Oregon Hazelnut Strudel

Northwest Forest Mushroom and Oregon Hazelnut Strudel

Northwest Forest Mushroom and Oregon Hazelnut Strudel

1 pound assorted forest mushrooms

2 tsp. shallots, minced

2 tsp. garlic, minced

3 T. butter

1 T. lemon juice

3 T. dry sherry

4 tsp. white wine

1 cup heavy cream

2 1/4 cup hazelnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped.

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

 

¾ C. lukewarm water

1 large egg. Beaten

¼ tsp. white Vinegar

2 ½ C. Bread Flour

¾ tsp. Salt

2 T. melted Butter

 

Prepare the strudel dough. Combine the water, egg. salt and vinegar mixing well. Place the flour in a mixing bowl, add half of the liquid and mix a few seconds. ADD remaining liquid and continue to mix until smooth, about I minute. Add the melted butter, mix until blended. Knead the dough slightly by hand to check for consistency. Coat with a drop of oil and place In a covered bowl. Allow the dough to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using. Combine 1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese. Reserve this mixture to use in rolling the strudel. Mince the assorted mushrooms. Sauté the shallots and garlic in butter until lightly toasted. Add the mushrooms and lemon juice, continue to cook until the liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated.  ADD the white wine and sherry to the hot pan and stir into the mushrooms. ADD the cream, salt and pepper. Reduce the liquid by half and add the remaining cheese and hazelnuts. PLACE in a shallow pan to cool. STRETCH the strudel dough. Butter lightly with drawn butter. PLACE the cooled filling at one end of the dough and roll as per all strudel preparations, brushing each turn of dough with drawn butter and sprinkling with the reserved hazelnut/ Parmesan mixture. BAKE at 400* F for approximately 25 minutes. COOL slightly before slicing.

Bay House Creamy Onion Soup with Bay Shrimp

Bay House Creamy Onion Soup with Bay Shrimp

Bay House Creamy Onion Soup with Bay Shrimp

This soup was on the menu of The Bay House in Lincoln City for many years. It’s good any time of the year but especially good during Walla Walla sweet onion season, which coincides perfectly with the local bay shrimp season.

 

1/4 cup olive oil

4 pounds sweet onions, peeled and finely chopped (about 16 cups)

3 T. white basmati rice

1/4 cup white wine

2 cups clam juice

1 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 cup marsala wine

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups whipping cream

8 ounces tiny cooked shrimp

Fresh thyme leaves, for garnish

 

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until caramelized (golden brown), about 25 to 35 minutes.  Stir in the rice, white wine, clam juice, dried thyme, marsala, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer gently for about 30 minutes or until the rice is very tender, stirring occasionally. Transfer the onion mixture, in small batches, to a food processor (no more than a third full). Carefully pulse a few times and then purée until smooth. Return to pot and stir in cream. Reheat over medium heat until hot.  To serve, place about 2 T. shrimp in each bowl and fill with hot soup. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves. Serve hot.

Mussels with Saffron Mayo

Mussels with Saffron Mayo

 

Mussels with Saffron Mayo

 

1/2 tsp. saffron threads

2/3 cup good mayonnaise, such as Best Food’s

1 tsp. grated lemon zest

1 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

 

3/4 tsp.. fleur de sel or sea salt

1 1/2 pounds mussels, cleaned

1/3 cup dry white wine

 

For the mayonnaise, soak the saffron in 1 T. of hot water in a small bowl for 5 minutes. Whisk in the mayonnaise, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper and refrigerate until ready to use. For the mussels, combine the fleur de sel and 1/2 tsp. pepper and set aside. Heat a large, dry (12-inch) cast iron skillet over high heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until very hot. Add the mussels in a single layer and cook them for one minute, until they start to open. Add the wine and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mussels are fully opened and just cooked. (Discard any that don’t open.) Off the heat, sprinkle the mussels generously with the salt and pepper mixture. Serve hot from the skillet with individual bowls of saffron mayonnaise for dipping.

Razor Clam Fritters

Razor Clam Fritters

Razor Clam Fritters

 

4 Cups minced Razor Clams

1/2 Cup cooked minced bacon-undrained

8 green onions-minced

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/8 tsp. Black pepper

1 tsp. Trader Joe’s Everyday Seasonings or equivalent

1/2 Cup All- purpose Batter Mix (Pride of the West brand)

1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 Cup milk

1 1/2 Cups coconut oil or canola or avocado oil

 

Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add milk, eggs and seasonings to taste. Sir well until the consistency is like pancake batter. Add bacon, minced onions and clams (optional mushrooms, rolled oats, peppers, garlic shallots etc.).   Heat the coconut oil to a depth of one inch in a large skillet on medium heat. Spoon the fritter batter into the heated coconut oil and cook till golden. Flip the fritters and cook until golden.

Autumn Salad with Cider Vinaigrette and Candied Hazelnuts

Autumn Salad with Cider Vinaigrette and Candied Hazelnuts

Autumn Salad with Cider Vinaigrette and Candied Hazelnuts

 

Canola oil, for deep-frying

½ cup powdered sugar

1 cup hazelnuts

 

2 T. cider vinegar

1½ T. sherry vinegar

1½ tsp. whole grain mustard

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

½ tsp. salt

¼ cup canola oil

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 T. walnut oil

Freshly ground pepper

1 pound mixed bitter greens such as Treviso radicchio, Chioggia radicchio, dandelion greens, frisée, arugula, mizuna, and watercress

2 Fuyu persimmons

1 sweet-tart apple such as Crispin or Pink

¼ lb. fresh Goat Cheese

Salt & Pepper

 

TO MAKE THE CANDIED HAZELNUTS, pour the oil to a depth of 1½ inches into a heavy-bottomed saucepan and heat to 350°F. While the oil is heating, line a sheet pan with parchment paper, put the sugar in a bowl, and bring a saucepan filled with water to a boil. Add the nuts to the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute. Using a wire skimmer or a strainer, scoop out the nuts, shake off the excess water, and add the nuts to the sugar. Toss the nuts to coat them completely with the sugar. The sugar should form a light paste. Then, working in batches to avoid crowding, carefully spoon the nuts into the hot oil, spreading them out so they don’t stick together. Fry for about 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the nuts to the prepared sheet pan, spreading them in a single layer, and let cool completely, then coarsely chop and set aside. (The nuts can be prepared up to a week in advance; store in an airtight container at room temperature.) TO MAKE THE VINAIGRETTE, in a small, wide bowl whisk together both vinegars, both mustards, and the salt. Pour in the oils in a slow, steady stream while whisking constantly, continuing to whisk until emulsified. Season with a few grinds of pepper, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside. If using Treviso radicchio, core and cut crosswise into 1-inch-wide strips. If using Chioggia radicchio, core and slice thinly crosswise. If using dandelion greens, discard tough stems and tear into bite-sized pieces. Remove any tough stems from the smaller greens. Cut off the crown and a thin slice from the bottom of each persimmon, then peel them, being careful not to cut into the flesh. Cut into quarters through the stem end, cut away the core from each quarter, and then cut each quarter lengthwise into ¼-inch-thick slices. Quarter the apple, leaving the skin on, and cut away the core. Cut each quarter lengthwise into ⅛-inch-thick slices. In a large bowl, combine the greens, fruits, nuts, and goat cheese. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the top and toss to coat evenly. Season with a pinch of salt and some pepper and toss again. Mound on individual plates, making sure to distribute the fruits and nuts evenly. Serve right away.

PNW Singing Scallops Steamed with Miso, Ginger and Ponzu

PNW Singing Scallops Steamed with Miso, Ginger and Ponzu

PNW Singing Scallops Steamed with Miso, Ginger and Ponzu

 

2 to 3 lbs. live pink scallops (or clams)

¼ C. peanut oil

1 tsp. sesame oil

¼ C. thinly sliced shallot

2 T. peeled ginger, finely chopped

2 T. finely chopped garlic

¼ C. Shaoxing Chinese rice wine or sake

1½ T. red miso

2 T. butter

¼ C. muscovado sugar

½ C. ponzu

Fresh lime juice to taste

1 bunch of cilantro

 

Scrub the scallops well, and soak in cold water to purge sand. Heat the oils in a large pan. Add shallot, ginger and garlic, and cook on medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add rice wine or sake, and bring to a boil for about 2 minutes. Mash miso and butter together and add to the pan, along with sugar and ponzu. Simmer for a few minutes, stirring to dissolve miso. Add scallops. Cover and steam until open, about 1 to 2 minutes. (If the scallops don’t open in that time, they are likely dead and shouldn’t be eaten. Unlike clams, which can take up to 10 minutes to open, singers start to open as soon as they hit the heat.). Add lime juice and chopped cilantro to taste, or dress whole cilantro stems with a little oil and salt, and char them on a plancha or hot griddle. Serve with cilantro stems on top and grilled bread on the side.

Sauteed Salmon with Roasted Beet Thickened Yogurt Salad

Sauteed Salmon with Roasted Beet Thickened Yogurt Salad

Sautéed Salmon with Roasted Beet Thickened Yogurt Salad

1 pound whole salmon fillet
1 bunch red beets with greens
12 oz. yogurt
One clove garlic
Fresh dill, about a T. chopped
A few drops fresh lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Canola or grapeseed oil
Cheesecloth

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.  Rinse the cheesecloth under cool water. Fold it over one and then a second so you have four layers, and then use it to line a strainer placed over a bowl. Spoon the yogurt into the cheesecloth and set aside to drain. This will take anywhere from two to six hours depending on how thick you prefer it, so it can’t hurt to refrigerate it. Roasting the beets bring out their sweetness, which is essential to this dish. I look for beets with the greens attached because it seems the fresher they are, the sweeter they are. Plus the greens make for an effortless side dish cooked up with chopped onion, seasoning, and olive oil. First, trim the greens leaving a couple inches of the stalk on the beets. Rinse the beets and poke each one with a knife so they can release steam when they roast. Place the beets in an oven-proof container like a ceramic dish or stainless steel pot with a quarter inch of water and cover tightly with a lid or foil. Pop them in the oven, and depending on size they can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 90 minutes or more. Check them in about 40 minutes. They should offer no resistance when you pierce them with a paring knife, otherwise keep roasting. Set aside and cool. This can be done a day in advance, just refrigerate the cooled beets. To assemble the dish make sure the yogurt is nice and thick. It will have lost as least half the water, and will look like soft cream cheese. Peel the beets, the skin will slip off easily with a little help from a knife, and then grate them and set aside. Take a peeled clove of garlic and mince. Add a generous pinch of salt and mash the garlic with the flat side of a chef’s knife by swiveling it back and forth. This method turns it into a paste by drawing out the juices, maximizing the garlic flavor. It’s a great technique for flavoring home-made mayonnaise. Just don’t overdo it! Add the garlic, thickened yogurt, chopped dill and a little salt and pepper to the grated beets. Mix well – it will turn a shockingly bright fuchsia. Taste and adjust the seasonings. It might need a few drops of lemon juice for balance. Then put in a clean container and refrigerate. Meanwhile, pat the salmon dry. If it’s a whole fillet, remove the pin bones with a pair of sturdy tweezers or needle nose pliers. Season the fish on both sides. Meanwhile, place a skillet over medium heat and when hot add a T. of oil. Slip the fish in skin side down and sauté. It should sound like a gentle hiss rather than sputtering and popping. After about 7-8 minutes the side of the fish will start to look cook. Flip the filet. If you want it medium rare, keep it on for 2 minutes more. If you like it cooked most of the way through, about 4 to 5 minutes. Serve on a platter or oval dish with the beet salad spooned around the salmon and garnish the salmon with chopped dill

Fillet of Salmon, Sautéed with Granny Smiths and Cider

Fillet of Salmon, Sautéed with Granny Smiths and Cider

Fillet of Salmon, Sautéed with Granny Smiths and Cider

 

4 T. (1/2 stick) butter

4 salmon fillets (6 to 8 ounces each)

1-1/2 tsp. kosher salt

2 large Granny Smith apples, sliced

1/2 C. apple cider

Freshly ground black pepper

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 T. of the butter.

 

Sprinkle the salmon fillets with salt and lay them, skinned side up, in a single layer in the skillet. Let cook, undisturbed, for 5 minutes, or until a crisp, brown crust forms. Do not try to move the salmon too early, or the surface of the fish will tear. Remove the fillets from the pan and add the apples. Stir-fry the apple slices for a moment, arrange the salmon fillets, cooled side up, on top of the apple slices, and pour on the apple cider. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the salmon to plates and with a slotted spoon, lift out the apple slices and place them around the salmon. Swirl the remaining 3 T. of butter into the juices left in the pan, whisking to form a smooth sauce. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper, and pour the sauce immediately over the salmon and apples. Serve at once.

Oregon Pear and Hazelnut Salad with Oregon Blue Cheese

Oregon Pear and Hazelnut Salad with Oregon Blue Cheese

Oregon Pear and Hazelnut Salad with Oregon Blue Cheese

 

1 head butter lettuce

Vinaigrette

1 roasted pear, ripe, peeled, cored and chopped

1/4 C. rice vinegar

1 tbsp. granulated sugar

1/4 C. hazelnut oil

salt and pepper to taste

2 roasted pears, ripe and peeled

1 oz. hazelnuts, toasted and chopped

1/3 C. Oregon blue cheese

 

Wash and spin dry lettuce, breaking larger leaves into 4 inch pieces. Add pear to blender along with rice vinegar, to prevent pear from browning. Add the sugar, salt, pepper, and hazelnut oil and puree until smooth. Place the cleaned, torn lettuce in a bowl. Arrange the dressed lettuce on chilled plates. Slice each pear in half and spoon out the cores. Lay the halves on a cutting board, flat side down, and slice each half on a bias into 7 or 8 even slices. Press the sliced pear halves lightly to fan them out and carefully transfer the pear fan to the lettuce. Scatter hazelnuts and crumbled blue cheese over each salad and serve.

Huckleberry Hotcakes

Huckleberry Hotcakes

Huckleberry Hotcakes

3 C. flour

¾ C. rolled oats

¼ C. oat bran or 100-percent bran cereal

4 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt (optional)

4 eggs

4 C. buttermilk, plus more if needed

¼ C. vegetable oil

1 to 2 C. huckleberries, fresh or frozen (blueberries make a good substitute if huckleberries aren’t available)

 

Stir Together the flour, oats, oat bran, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, beat the eggs, then stir in the buttermilk and oil. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir gently until just blended. If the batter is too thick, stir in a little more buttermilk. HEAT A GRIDDLE or a large, heavy skillet, preferably nonstick (if not nonstick, brush lightly with oil). Stir the huckleberries into the batter. Pour ¼ C. batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Cook until bubbly on top, then flip and continue cooking until nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Serve with your favorite syrup or fresh fruit jam.

Salad of Herbs and Flowers

Salad of Herbs and Flowers

Salad of Herbs and Flowers

Northwest chefs are guilty of excess in many areas. The sheer abundance of good things we have to work with drives us to experiment with combinations that would be merely ridiculous in regions with a smaller variety’ of fresh local produce. Raspberries garnish grilled salmon, and in the summer when basil becomes almost ubiquitous, it is slipped into everything from salads to desserts. Somehow, in this Oz-like setting where rainbows are as regular as rain, and hundreds of acres of brilliant red and purple, tulips grow against a backdrop of majestic mountain ranges, we feel comfortable serving and eating outrageously colorful things.  So, salads are regularly filled with tiny violas, yellow and orange nasturtiums, and the occasional petals of a day lily. In spring, don’t put it past a Northwest chef to serve the petals of unsprayed tulips in a salad. They’ taste like snow peas and have the texture of the best butter lettuce. Experiment with other edible flowers in season but be sure to use only unsprayed garden flowers and avoid experimenting with blossoms that are of dubious edibility’.

6 to 8 cups mixed baby salad greens, washed and dried

2 to 3 tablespoons Fresh Raspberry and Basil Vinaigrette (recipe follows)

24 to 36 basil leaves

6 tulips (in spring) or day lilies (in summer)

18 nasturtium blossoms

18 violas. Johnny-jump-ups, or pansies

3 chive blossoms

1 cup fresh raspberries

 

Pick through the salad greens, removing any undesirable leaves. Pile in a large salad bowl and toss with the vinaigrette. Add the basil leaves and toss lightly to avoid bruising the basil. Arrange the petals of the tulips or day lilies on each of 6 chilled salad plates, then divide the dressed greens evenly among them. Tuck 3 whole nasturtium blossoms into each salad, scatter the petals of the violas over the greens, then pluck the petals from the chive blossoms and scatter those over as well. Finally, sprinkle each salad with a few raspberries and serve at once.

 

Fresh Raspberry and Basil Vinaigrette

 

Ordinarily a raspberry vinaigrette is made with raspberry-flavored vinegar. This dressing incorporates whole raspberries, and the pulp of the berries allows the oil and vinegar to emulsify to a creamy consistency.

 

1/2 cup raspberries

3 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

2/3 cup light olive oil or vegetable oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

12 fresh basil leaves

 

In a blender, combine the raspberries, vinegar, sugar, oil, salt, and pepper; puree the mixture at high speed. Force the puree through a fine strainer to remove seeds. Cut the basil into fine ribbons and stir in. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons for each salad. Dressing keeps, refrigerated, for at least 1 week.

Apple Baked Pork Tenderloin

Apple Baked Pork Tenderloin

Apple Baked Pork Tenderloin

 

3, 1 lbs. Pork Tenderloins

2 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Black Pepper

4 C. Apple Cider

2 Bay Leaves

6 small baking Apples (I used Granny Smith)

1 stick Unsalted Butter

 

Preheat the oven to 425 and cut each tenderloin in half lengthwise to make 6 even 8-ounce portions. Season each tenderloin with a portion of the salt and black pepper. Place the tenderloins in a baking dish and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. While the tenderloin is baking, heat the cider and bay leaves in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Peel and core the apples but leave them whole. Add them to the boiling cider and bay leaves. Cook for 5 minutes or until the apples have been heated through but are not mushy. Add the apple cider and apples to the baking dish with the pork tenderloin. Bake until pork is cooked, about 20 minutes or 160 degree internal temperature. Set aside the pork and apples and pour the juice into a saucepan over high heat. Stir in the butter to create a smooth sauce. Cut the pork and serve with the apples and sauce. Note: One thing that can happen is the apples disintegrate while in the oven, as happened to me. In this case I just left them in while I stirred in the butter, and it added an interesting note to the sauce. Try out different types of apples for different flavor profiles with this one and enjoy.

Sautéed Fiddlehead Ferns

Sautéed Fiddlehead Ferns

Sautéed Fiddlehead Ferns

Fiddlehead Ferns

2 cloves of garlic, sliced

4 scallions, white and light green part sliced

Juice of half a lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Parmesan cheese, to taste

Olive oil for the pan

 

To prep your fiddleheads, cut the touch stems off, including any brown parts. Run them under cold water in a colander, then place them in a bowl of water and swirl around. Dry them on paper towels. Heat the olive oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the scallions and the fiddleheads, cover, and cook for 4 minutes. Uncover, stir, and continue to cook for another 4 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Squirt the juice of half a lemon on top. Spoon onto plates and serve with a grating of parmesan cheese over the top.

Grilled Alaska Salmon with Crisp Garlicky Chickpeas

Grilled Alaska Salmon with Crisp Garlicky Chickpeas

Grilled Alaska Salmon with Crisp Garlicky Chickpeas

Nonstick oil spray or olive oil

4 C. (2 ounces) baby arugula

4 watermelon radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced

4 (4-ounce) Alaska salmon fillets, frozen

1/2 C. extra virgin olive oil

1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and patted dry

2 tsp. dried oregano

2 tsp. garlic, minced

1 tsp. kosher salt

3 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tsp. lemon zest

Freshly ground pepper

 

Heat your grill to 400ºF. Divide washed arugula and watermelon radishes between 4 plates and set aside. Rinse seafood under cold water to remove any ice glaze and pat dry with paper towel. Tear an 18-inch-wide sheet of foil, so that it’s 4 inches longer than the fish. Spray-coat the dull side of foil and place seafood on foil, if using skin-on fillets, place skin-side down first. Brush both sides of fish with oil. Bring sides of foil together and fold over several times to seal; roll up ends to form a packet. Place packet on grill, seam-side down, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove packet from grill; open and add salt and pepper to taste. Crimp foil loosely to close and return packet to grill, seam-side up. Cook an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat just as soon as seafood is opaque throughout. Place one salmon fillet on each plate atop the arugula. While the fish is cooking, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chickpeas, oregano, garlic, and salt. Cook the chickpeas, stirring occasionally, until crispy and starting to crackle, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and use a slotted spoon to divide chickpeas among the 4 plates of salmon. Whisk lemon juice and zest into remaining oil in pan, then drizzle heaping T. or so over the salmon and arugula on each plate. Season with freshly ground pepper and additional salt if needed and serve.

Cornmeal Pancakes with Huckleberry Syrup 

Cornmeal Pancakes with Huckleberry Syrup 

Cornmeal Pancakes with Huckleberry Syrup

 

Picking huckleberries along the trails around Mt. Hood is an Oregonian rite of passage. The tiny berries pack a big flavor punch, like wild blueberries. Simmered with honey and lavender, they transform into a thick syrup with a floral yet piney aroma that perfectly captures those late-summer hikes. It’s fantastic with these fluffy7 and light hotcakes. Don’t skimp on the butter; it makes the pancakes irresistibly moist and accentuates the corn flavor. If you can’t find huckleberries or if they are out of season, substitute fresh or frozen regular or wild blueberries.

 

3 C. huckleberries or blueberries

1/2 C. raw honey

1/2 C. dark brown sugar, densely packed

Freshly grated zest and freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon (about ¥» cup)

1 tsp. finely ground dried lavender buds

Pinch of ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

 

1 1/4 C. buttermilk

2 large whole eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 C. finely ground cornmeal

1 C. all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)

1/4 C. packed dark brown sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

5 T. unsalted butter, melted

Vegetable oil as needed

Crispy cooked bacon for serving

Make the huckleberry-lavender syrup: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine all the syrup ingredients plus V4 C. water and bring to a simmer. Cook, mashing with a spoon, until the berries are soft and the juices have begun to thicken, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large glass measuring cup, pressing on the solids to discharge all of the juices. Discard the solids. If the syrup seems a little thin, return to the saucepan over medium heat and simmer a few minutes more. It will also thicken as it cools. Cover to keep warm until ready to serve. Make the pancakes: In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract until well blended. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, V4 C. brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. Stir in the melted butter. Let the batter rest and thicken for up to 10 minutes while you heat the griddle. Heat the oven to 25O°F and place a baking sheet on the center rack to keep the pancakes warm until ready to serve.  Warm a griddle or skillet over medium heat, lightly coating it with oil if necessary and wiping off any excess. Working in batches, use a V4 C. measure to pour the batter for each pancake. Cook each until the bottoms are golden and the edges are beginning to look set, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn and cook on the second side until golden, about 1 minute more. Transfer the cooked pancakes to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter until all has been used. Serve hot with the warm huckleberry-lavender syrup and crispy bacon

Foraged Oregon Grape and Lemon Curd

Foraged Oregon Grape and Lemon Curd

Foraged Oregon Grape and Lemon Curd

 

Foraged Oregon Grapes are transformed from tart and bitter to an unctuous curd suitable for eating from a spoon.

1 cup Oregon Grape puree

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons lemon zest

1 1/2 cups raw organic cane sugar

6 eggs

8 tablespoons butter cubed

 

To create puree, place a heaping cup of clean Oregon Grape berries into a blender or food processor and pulse a couple times until juices start to release. Do NOT over puree. Place berry puree, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar and eggs into a heavy bottomed saucepan. Over medium heat and whisking constantly, cook the mixture until it thickens (coats back of a spoon and whisk leaves traces in curd).

Remove from heat and pass through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Whisk butter into hot curd until well combined. Place a sheet of parchment or plastic wrap directly on top of curd and chill until cold. Serve within one week or freeze.

Neskowin Blueberry Salmon

Neskowin Blueberry Salmon

Neskowin Blueberry Salmon

1 cup Oregon blueberries

2 Chinook salmon filets, 6-8 oz. Each

½ fresh ruby red grapefruit

½ cup crushed pineapple

2 fresh limes

fresh ground black pepper

½ teaspoon chili powder

1 small Anaheim chile

2 tablespoons butter

¾ cup brown sugar

 

Generously butter a glass baking dish and spread pineapple in the dish. Sprinkle liberally with fresh ground black pepper. Slice the chile into very thin rings and arrange over the pineapple. Squeeze the juice of two limes over the chile slices, then lay the salmon filets over the sliced chile. Peel and trim the grapefruit, and cut it into bite-size chunks and arrange those over the salmon. Top with Oregon blueberries, sprinkle with brown sugar, and season generously with chili powder. Bake at 425° till top is bubbly and salmon is opaque. Serve with rice and fresh steamed asparagus or artichokes.

Crab Salad with Shallot Dressing

Crab Salad with Shallot Dressing

PNW Crab Salad with Shallot Dressing

2 pounds fresh, cooked crabmeat

12 cups mixed salad greens (see note)

1 cup fresh, whole tarragon leaves

10 tender celery ribs

3 firm, medium-size shallots

1 firm, small cloves garlic, pressed

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

3/4 cup olive oil

 

Flake crabmeat and mound in the middle of a large salad bowl. Wash the salad greens and spin dry. Set aside. Remove the leaves of the tarragon from the stems, wash, pat dry and set aside. Wash, trim and cut the celery ribs in half lengthwise. Cut crosswise into thin slices. Place the greens, tarragon and celery around the crab in the salad bowl. To make the dressing, peel and mince the shallots, add pressed garlic. Place them in a small bowl and mix in the lemon juice, sugar and poppy seeds. Drizzle this mixture over the salad greens and lightly toss the greens and crab together. Then drizzle on the olive oil and toss again. Serve salad on individual plates; accompany with warm sourdough bread. Note: Use a combination of butter or red leaf lettuce, curly endive, watercress or small leaf exotic greens.

 

Yield: 10 servings

Calories: 272

Fat: 18g

Fiber: 1g

Huckleberry Pancakes

Huckleberry Pancakes

PNW Huckleberry Pancakes

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tablespoons oil

1 cup milk

4 ounces huckleberries, fresh or frozen, plus extra, for serving

Whipped butter and maple syrup, as an accompaniment

 

Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Then, stir in eggs, oil, and milk until mixed. Do not beat the mixture. Pour 2 to 6 ounce ladles of batter on a lightly oiled griddle. Then, add 1 ounce of huckleberries to each pancake. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Place the pancakes on a large plate. Then garnish with huckleberries, whipped butter, and hot maple syrup.

Pacific Northwest Blackberry Filled Doughnuts with White Chocolate Ganache and Toasted Hazelnuts

Pacific Northwest Blackberry Filled Doughnuts with White Chocolate Ganache and Toasted Hazelnuts

Pacific Northwest Blackberry Filled Doughnuts with White Chocolate Ganache and Toasted Hazelnuts

1 cup whole milk

2 T. sugar

1 tsp. fine salt

1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast (2 1/2 tsp.)

2 T. warm water

2 T. vegetable oil, plus about 10 cups for frying

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp. lemon zest

3 1/2 to 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting

1 cup blackberry jam

White Chocolate Ganache, recipe follows

1 1/2 cups hazelnuts, toasted and finely chopped

 

Bring milk to a simmer in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, then remove from heat and stir in sugar and salt. Pour into a large bowl and let cool slightly. While milk is cooling, dissolve yeast in warm water in a small bowl, stirring. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir the yeast mixture into the milk, along with 2 T. oil, eggs, and zest. Stir in 2 1/2 cups flour with a wooden spoon to make a very soft dough. Spread 1 cup flour on work surface and put dough on top, scraping it from bowl with a rubber spatula. Knead dough, incorporating all of flour from work surface and adding just enough additional flour (if necessary), about 5 minutes; dough should be slightly sticky. Transfer dough to an oiled large bowl and sprinkle lightly with additional flour. Cover bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let dough rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and roll out with a floured rolling pin until 1-inch thick. Cut out rounds with a 2-inch cutter. Place on a sheet pan and cover doughnuts with another kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. While doughnuts rise, heat oil in a deep 4-quart pot until it registers 365 degrees F on a thermometer. Fry doughnuts 2 at a time, turning once or twice, until puffed and golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Place jam in a pastry bag fitted with a 1-inch plain tip and poke the tip into the center of each doughnut (entering from the side) and squeeze in some of the jam. Ice the top with some of the ganache and sprinkle with hazelnuts.

 

White Chocolate Ganache:

1 cup heavy cream

1 pound good-quality white chocolate, finely chopped

 

Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Place white chocolate in a large bowl, pour hot cream over, and let sit for 1 minute; whisk until smooth. Let cool until slightly thickened

Butter Lettuce salad with Summer Fruits and Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Butter Lettuce salad with Summer Fruits and Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Butter Lettuce salad with Summer Fruits and Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Portland summers are perfection. The weather is glorious and the farmers’ markets brim with local fruit, lettuces, and Willamette Valley hazelnuts. This salad is a summer celebration meal you can put together after a successful trip to the market.

 

3 T. sherry vinegar

1 shallot, finely minced

3/4 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/3 C. hazelnut oil

 

1 head butter lettuce, leaves washed, dried, and torn into bite-sized pieces

2 packed C. baby arugula

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

4 ounces fresh chevre (goat cheese), such as Portland Creamery

2 ripe peaches, sliced or diced (grilled if desired)

3/4 C. fresh blueberries

1/2 C. chopped roasted hazelnuts

 

Make the hazelnut vinaigrette: Combine the vinegar, shallot, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper in a small bowl and marinate about 10 minutes. Add the hazelnut oil and whisk until blended. Set aside. Make the salad: In a bowl, combine the lettuce and arugula. Drizzle with 2 T. vinaigrette and toss, adding more until the leaves are lightly coated and glistening, but not dripping. Taste and season with the salt and black pepper. Crumble the chevre on top, followed by the peaches, blueberries, and hazelnuts. Drizzle with a little more vinaigrette and serve

Brown Butter Chanterelle Crostini 

Brown Butter Chanterelle Crostini 

Brown Butter Chanterelle Crostini

 

Golden yellow chanterelles grow in abundance in the forests surrounding Portland, and those in the know have their own secret foraging spots. But even if you are not a forager, you can easily find these delicacies in local markets every spring and fall. I add these buttery beauties to all manner of dishes, but I especially love them simply sautéed with brown butter to let their subtle flavor shine through. Here I have added a touch of cream to increase their luxe quotient.

3/4 baguette, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices

Olive oil

4 T. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1 large shallot, minced

2 cloves garlic, one cut in half, one minced, divided

1 pound chanterelles, cleaned and roughly chopped

2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves or more as needed

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 C. dry vermouth or white wine or more as needed

1/2 C. heavy cream, plus more to taste

Garnish: freshly grated Parmesan

 

Heat the oven to 425°F. Place a bowl or measuring C. near the stove. Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil, and toast until just golden, about 10 minutes. Rub the cut garlic on each slice twice. In a large sauté pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter smells nutty and the milk solids turn brown. Remove from the heat and strain into the bowl; using a spatula, scrape the brown butter bits out of the pan and into the strainer. Reserve the contents of the strainer. Wipe the pan with a paper towel and place over medium-high heat. Add the melted butter and the shallot. Sauté until tender. Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute more. Add the mushrooms and thyme, season with the salt and black pepper, and sauté until the mushrooms are tender and have given off their liquid. Add the vermouth and stir, scraping any brown stuff off the bottom of the pan (add more vermouth if necessary, to deglaze the whole pan). Cook until the pan is mostly dry. Stir in the cream and browned butter bits from the strainer and simmer until the mixture is thickened and sauce-like. It if seems dry, add a little more cream. Taste and season with more salt, black pepper, and thyme.

7 Spoon the mixture onto the toasted bread and garnish with the Parmesan.

Pan-Seared Halibut with Lemon Relish

Pan-Seared Halibut with Lemon Relish

Pan-Seared Halibut with Lemon Relish

1 lemon, quartered (about ¾ cup)

2 small shallots, thinly sliced into rings (about ¼ cup)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup pitted, coarsely chopped green olives, such as Castelvetrano

2 tablespoons capers, rinsed and patted dry

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¾ cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Ingredients: For the halibut

1½ pounds skinless halibut fillet, cut into 4 pieces

½ teaspoon fennel seed, freshly ground

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

 

To make the relish, remove the pithy ends of the lemon quarters, and thinly slice the rest, discarding any seeds Add the lemon slices to a bowl along with the shallots and salt. Cover, and set aside for 45 minutes or until the lemons release some of their juice. Add the olives, capers, pepper flakes, and the cup of oil. To allow the flavors to develop fully, set the relish aside to marinate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

Pat the halibut dry with a paper towel. In a small bowl, combine the fennel seed, salt, and pepper, and sprinkle it all over the halibut. In a nonstick skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil until it shimmers Add the halibut, and cook, undisturbed, until browned on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip, add the butter to the pan, and reduce the temperature to medium. Continue to cook, basting the halibut with the butter, for 2 minutes, or until the fish is opaque in the center. Stir the parsley into the relish, spoon the relish over each piece of fish, and serve immediately.

Crab Risotto with Fine Herbs

Crab Risotto with Fine Herbs

Crab Risotto with Fine Herbs

1 T. oil

½ cup onion, finely chopped

2 cups arborio rice

¾ cup Chardonnay

3 cups light chicken stock, at a simmer

6 oz. shelled crab meat

2 T. fresh parsley, minced

2 T. fresh chives, minced

1 T. fresh chervil, minced

1 T. fresh tarragon, minced

2 T. whole butter

Freshly ground black pepper

1 lemon, juiced

Salt to taste

 

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and stir frequently. Sauté until onions are translucent, approximately 2 minutes. Add rice and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add wine and cook until evaporated. Begin adding simmering broth, ½ cup at a time, and stir constantly until the broth has been absorbed. Total cooking time is approximately 20 minutes or until rice is tender.

Add the crab and remove from the heat. Stir in the herbs, butter and lemon juice. Season to taste and serve immediately.

Grilled Oregon Chinook in Matsutake Ginger Broth

Grilled Oregon Chinook in Matsutake Ginger Broth

Grilled Oregon Chinook in Matsutake Ginger Broth

1/4 cup tamari or shoyu

2 ounces fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced

1 tablespoon chili paste

2 tablespoons lemon zest

1/2 tablespoon sugar

6 (6-ounce) portions wild salmon (Chinook)

1/8 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups julienned carrots

1 cup cleaned and diced leeks

1 cup julienned scallions

Seasoned broth, recipe follows

Sticky rice cakes, recipe follows

6 ounces matsutake mushrooms, grilled and sliced

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

 

1 large onion, peeled and chopped

3 sticks celery, chopped

2 quarts water

1 piece konbu (dried giant kelp)

1 cup tamari or shoyu

4 ounces fresh ginger rootr, sliced

1 tablespoon chili paste

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

1 ounce katsuo bonito shavings

 

5 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

5 tablespoons sugar

4 teaspoons sea salt

3 1/3 cups short-grain rice, washed

4 cups water

1 (4 by 4-inch) piece konbu

 

Preheat grill. Combine the tamari, ginger, chili paste, lemon zest and sugar and pour over the salmon portions in a shallow dish. Turn the fish to coat it evenly, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. Remove the salmon from the marinade and blot dry with paper towels. Brush the salmon with the oil on all sides. On a hot grill cook over hot coals for 2 to 3 minutes to brown and mark the fish nicely, turn and continue cooking to desired doneness, 2 to 3 more minutes. Simmer the carrots, leeks and scallions in the Seasoned Broth, until al dente, about 4 to 6 minutes. To serve divide the broth with vegetables between 6 bowls, top each with a sticky rice cake, mushrooms, and a grilled portion of salmon. Finally, sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds. Seasoned Broth:  Bring all ingredients, except the bonito shavings, to a simmer in a saucepan. Cook over low heat for 45 minutes, remove from the heat and gently stir in the bonito shavings. Allow the broth to rest for 20 to 30 minutes before straining. Strain and discard solids.  Sticky Rice Cakes:  Bring the rice vinegar, sugar and sea salt to a boil in a small saucepan, remove from the heat and set aside. Place rice, water and konbu in a heavy bottom saucepan and cover, bring to a simmer over medium heat. When the rice begins to boil reduce the heat to low, stir it gently once and continue cooking, covered until all the liquid is absorbed. Allow the cooked rice to cool 10 to 15 minutes covered with a clean towel. Turn the cooked rice out onto a tray or large bowl and fan it to cool. Using a large scoop or your hands moistened with a mixture of the vinegar and water portion the sticky rice into 6 balls and flatten them to form cakes. Lightly wrap the cakes and hold in a warm place until serving time.

Oregon Hazelnut Pancakes

Oregon Hazelnut Pancakes

Oregon Hazelnut Pancakes

3 cups buttermilk pancake mix

1/4 lb. Oregon hazelnuts, chopped

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon vanilla

water as needed

 

In a food processor or blender, grind hazelnuts into a meal (some small chunks are fine). Mix nuts with 1 cup water and seasonings. Add to mix with more water (approximately 1-1/2 cups) to proper consistency. Cook on griddle.

Pub Burgers with Bacon and Beer Cheese

Pub Burgers with Bacon and Beer Cheese

Pub Burgers with Bacon and Beer Cheese (PNW)

 

Of all the many brew pubs in Portland, I can’t think of a single one that doesn’t have a burger on the menu. Burgers and beer just go well together, so why not put a little beer right on the burger itself? A light lager or pilsner adds just the right flavor, without too much hoppy bitterness. Flavorful grass-fed beef from Oregon’s local ranches make the best burgers, especially when mixed with a little bacon fat to keep them juicy.

4 slices bacon

1 1/3 pounds ground grass-fed beef

2 cloves garlic, grated on a fine grater

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

4 potato buns or other burger buns

Condiments: mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup

4 slices of Tillamook Cheddar, if desired/

 

4 ounces extra-sharp Tillamook Cheddar, cut into chunks

1 scallion, ends trimmed, roughly chopped

1 clove garlic

¼ C. lager or pilsner beer, such as pFriem Export Lager

2 T. cream cheese or butter

1 T. Worcestershire sauce Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

 

Make the beer cheese: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the cheese, scallion, and garlic until finely chopped. Add the beer, cream cheese, and Worcestershire sauce and process until pureed. Taste and season with the salt and black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use; beer cheese can be made several days ahead. Make the burgers: In a sauté pan over medium heat, cook the bacon, turning occasionally, until brown and crisp, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and transfer the bacon grease to a small bowl or measuring cup. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the beef, 1 to 2 T. bacon grease (use the larger amount if the beef is lean), garlic, 1 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. black pepper and mix with your hands until well combined. Shape into 4 burgers about V2 inch thick. Using the back of a spoon, make a shallow 1-inch-wide indentation in the center of each burger. (This will help them cook evenly and prevents them from shrinking.) Heat the grill to medium (35O°F to 450° F). Place the burgers on the grill and, with the lid closed, grill until charred on one side and they release easily from the grate, 4 minutes. Turn  (add cheddar now, if using) and cook the other side until a thermometer inserted in the side and pushed all the way to the center reads 155°F, about 4 minutes more. Place the buns, cut sides down, and grill until lightly toasted, about 1 minute.  4 Spread the buns with your choice of the condiments. Place the burgers on the buns, spread each patty with the beer cheese, top with the bacon, and garnish as desired.

Dungeness Crab Cioppino

Dungeness Crab Cioppino

Dungeness Crab Cioppino (PNW)

3/4 C. extra-virgin olive oil

8 large garlic cloves-6 finely chopped, 2 whole

3 jalapenos, seeded and minced

2 red bell peppers, finely chopped

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 large bay leaf

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 C. dry red wine

One 28-ounce can peeled tomatoes, finely chopped, juices reserved

Four 8-ounce bottles clam broth

11/2 C. water

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 C. packed basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

4 steamed Dungeness crabs, about 2 pounds each

2 dozen littleneck clams, scrubbed

2 pounds firm, white-fleshed fish fillets such as halibut, skinned and cut into 1/2-inch chunks

2 pounds large shrimp, shelled and deveined

2 pounds mussels, scrubbed

1 pound sea scallops, halved vertically if large

 

In a very large soup pot, heat 1/4 C. of the olive oil until shimmering. Add the chopped garlic, jalapeños, bell peppers, onion and bay leaf and cook, stirring occasionally, over moderately high heat until softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until nearly evaporated, about 1 minute longer. Add the chopped tomatoes and their juices and cook over moderately high heat until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the clam broth and water, season lightly with salt and generously with pepper, and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until the broth is reduced to about 8 cups, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a mini food processor, combine the basil leaves with the whole garlic and process until the garlic is finely chopped. Add the remaining 1/2 C. of olive oil and the crushed red pepper and process the basil puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Working over the sink, pull off the flap on the undersides of the crabs. Remove the top shells and discard. Pry out the brownish insides and pull off the feathery lungs and discard. Rinse the crab bodies in cold water and quarter them so that each piece has body and leg. Add the crabs and clams to the pot. Cover and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the clams begin to open, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the crabs to a large platter. Add the fish, shrimp, mussels and scallops to the pot, pushing them into the broth. Return the crabs to the pot, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the clams and mussels are fully open and the fish, shrimp and scallops are cooked through, about 8 minutes longer. Ladle the cioppino into deep bowls and drizzle each serving with some of the basil puree. Serve with crusty bread and pass the remaining basil puree separately.

Wild Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Watercress Crepes

Wild Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Watercress Crepes

Wild Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Watercress Crepes

 

Crepes:

 

2 eggs

1 1/4 cups low-fat milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 to 2 tablespoons melted butter

 

Mushrooms:

 

2 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)

8 ounces wild mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

1 medium shallot, minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 bunch watercress, stems removed

4 ounces herbed goat cheese

 

To make crepes: Place the eggs, milk, salt and flour in a blender and process until smooth. Let the batter rest at least 15 minutes (or up to 2 days) before using. Place an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Brush the pan lightly with melted butter. Pour a 1/4 cup batter into the hot pan, wait a few seconds, then tilt the pan in all directions to spread the batter into an even circle. Cook over medium heat until the top is dry, about 1 minute. Loosen the edges with the tip of a spatula, slide it underneath the crepe and carefully turn it over. Cook the other side for about 30 seconds, then slide the crepe onto a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter, stacking the cooked crepes on the plate. To make mushrooms: Heat a large sauté pan over high heat. When hot, add 1 tablespoon of the butter and half the mushrooms. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are seared, golden brown and dry. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining butter and mushrooms. When all the mushrooms are cooked, return them to the pan, set the heat to medium and add the shallot. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the shallot is beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, 1 minute more. Season to taste with salt and pepper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the watercress and toss to coat. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add one crepe and spread about 1 tablespoon of the goat cheese on top. Sprinkle with warm sautéed mushrooms and cook until cheese begins to melt. Top with a small handful of watercress, fold the crepe over and slide onto a plate. Repeat with the remaining crepes and filling (save some of the watercress for garnish). Serve 2 crepes per person, topped with watercress.

PNW Roasted Fall Mushroom Bruschetta

PNW Roasted Fall Mushroom Bruschetta

PNW Roasted Fall Mushroom Bruschetta

 

4 cups seasonal mushrooms (chanterelles, oyster, shiitake, or cremini), roughly chopped

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing bread and drizzling

¼ cup minced garlic

1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

12 pieces of sliced baguette, cut 1/4 inch thick diagonally

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

 

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Combine the mushrooms, oil, garlic, onion, rosemary, and parsley in a large bowl. Stir to combine, then salt and pepper to taste. Spread the mushroom mixture in an even layer on a large baking sheet, and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the mushrooms are lightly caramelized. Meanwhile, brush the baguette slices with oil on both sides. Sprinkle lightly with salt. When the mushrooms are done, toast the bread for about 5 minutes, turning once, or until light golden brown on both sides. Arrange the warm baguette toasts on a serving platter. Top with the warm mushroom mixture, drizzle with additional oil, and garnish with chopped chives and Parmesan. Serve immediately.