tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41365438068255161812012-02-16T07:32:04.650-08:00From my stomach to yours! Ruminations on food, with an occasional side dish of travel.AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-69359038501439469302012-01-17T11:25:00.000-08:002012-01-17T11:26:52.723-08:00

During a recent visit, my mom politely reminded me that I haven't posted here in nearly two months... It's not that I haven't wanted to write. It's just that I haven't had much to share. In the 3 months that we've lived in LA, I can count on two hands how many times I've turned on the oven to create a proper meal. LA is the land of salads and fast stove top sautes. Plus, we've been adjusting to

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-52778385891206235032011-11-10T10:17:00.000-08:002011-11-10T11:21:41.932-08:00

I am in love with California's bounty. No dis on Seattle intended - after all, our homegrown tomatoes and state-grown apples are things of beauty. And the fresh salmon, flown in from Alaska, is heaven, one slab at a time. It's just that SoCal's produce - much of which grows year-round - is fresh, delicious, plentiful. Just look at the size of those shallots! And artichokes! It's also 

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-14938581352523367762011-10-26T09:42:00.000-07:002011-10-26T09:48:07.627-07:00

I've been absent. The past few weeks have been go, go, go! In September, we visited LA. In October, we moved to LA. My last few weeks looked like this: Rented apartment in Westwood Nate accepted job Returned home to Seattle - go time! Sold furniture Packed house Cried Enlisted more help to pack house (Thanks, mom!) Listed house for rent, found tenants Continued packing Said goodbyes Packed

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-75286611679734009442011-09-19T21:54:00.000-07:002011-09-19T21:54:45.444-07:00

Our next move? The view from the hilltop Silverlake apartment is sweeping. To the right and down, houses cluster together amid the trees. Off in the distance, mini skyrises form geometric blocks flanked by the famed Hollywood sign rising monolithically in the backdrop. Further afield: a gauzy haze covering what I know to be Santa Monica and the Pacific. Dreamy. I could get used to this. We're

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-12718009402305415702011-08-05T18:52:00.000-07:002011-08-05T18:52:53.622-07:00

Jack, meet Ginger. Ginger, meet Jack. Jack - this gal Ginger... she's just your type. A little sweet, a little spicy, and she'll keep you warm on a cool night. But she's also just as comfortable on a summer evening. She's refreshing, surprising. Even a little zingy.  Ginger - let me tell you about Jack. He's strong and rugged. A classic. But he's also sweet. He'll feel like a warm hug enveloping

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-55099307298011077102011-06-27T20:48:00.000-07:002011-06-27T20:48:22.926-07:00

Tonight's was a simple meal: garlic bread and tomato soup. But there was more than met the eye. I had set out to recreate two beloved restaurant menu items. One new - the garlic knots from C&O Trattoria in Venice Beach. I've only tasted them once (well, on one occasion. On that on one night, I probably ate half-a-dozen!). And one old - the beguiling Glenwood tomato-cheese soup I ate bowl after

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-13934121233536735682011-06-03T15:21:00.000-07:002011-06-03T15:21:22.630-07:00

Amy Dishes is officially entering the terrible twos- though let's hope they aren't so terrible. It's been two years - 730 days - since my first post. I think I've stuck pretty well to my mission, with a few deviations here and there. This past year has been a bit slow due to my schoolwork, but I'm getting back on track. I'm happy to have you all as readers and encouragers and look forward to

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-21364327427278468712011-05-23T21:43:00.000-07:002011-05-23T21:43:33.418-07:00

Last month Nate and I took a whirlwind four-day trip to Los Angeles. He was attending a writing conference with Robert McKee (author of Story, the screenwriter's bible). I tagged along to see friends and family. Everyone warned me about how horrible LA is - the traffic! the prices! the people! But, you know what? All of that proved to be untrue. I drove south to Oceanside one day to visit my

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-2119519771116190812011-05-11T15:33:00.000-07:002011-05-11T15:36:49.405-07:00

Sometimes, things just come together. I’ve taken what feels like a nearly 9-month long hiatus from cooking. No, not because I was pregnant – but because I’ve been in school. I went back in fall to get a marketing management certificate through UW. Only one course per week, but it’s left me with little brainspace to do much else. My cooking skills have definitely suffered. We’ve eaten a lot of (

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-44496353316122242882011-04-27T13:26:00.000-07:002011-04-27T13:26:58.548-07:00

The plot thickens, my friends. More than a year ago, I posted about my ongoing quest to find the recipe for the tomato soup served in Eugene, Oregon's Glenwood Cafe. The soup is tangy and perfectly seasoned, but its mystery lies in its shredded cheese - which never melts, no matter how hot the soup. Just a few weeks ago, a new comment appeared on that post. Seems someone else was sleuthing for

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-46360011349097545042011-04-21T21:53:00.000-07:002011-04-21T21:53:21.404-07:00

Aloha! I've been meaning to document last month's trip to the Big Island of Hawaii for some time now. Seems work and school and life have gotten in the way. But I wanted to share a few images from the trip, and some treasures we brought back from Kona. On our last full day on the island, I posed the question aloud to myself: What will I bring home from this trip? I wasn't thinking about the sand

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-10140608710487103442011-03-12T22:57:00.000-08:002011-03-12T22:57:20.019-08:00

I love my rock n roll, though I've never been a huge Stones fan. But for the past couple of, I haven't been able to get "Brown Sugar" out of my head. It started when I popped into our local coffee shop, Cafe Javasti, for a sip. Javasti is known for its house-made scones, coffee cakes, and muffins. And I profess they have the best cupcakes in town (move aside, Cupcake Royale and Trophy). On

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-3404758803234425412011-02-18T14:28:00.000-08:002011-02-18T14:28:49.310-08:00

Looks like those crafty Canlis brothers are at it again. Their chef, Jason Franey, is up for a Food + Wine magazine "Best New Chef" award. They're on the campaign trail, posting daily pictures to their Facebook/Twitter accounts with the guys wearing "vote for Jason" signboards. The black and white photos hark back to presidential campaigns of yore, emitting Don Draper cool. But, according to a

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-72421650246702514092011-02-02T14:56:00.000-08:002011-02-02T14:56:54.732-08:00

I haven't seen this in quite a while: It so inspired me that I took a walk, sipped a coffee, sauntered slowly home, then took 10 minutes in the Garden of Neglect to take care of unfinished business. Finally, on this 2nd day of February, my fall, close-up-shop work on last summer's garden is done. Who wants to be outside in the rain and sleet, tugging out barren roots and breaking down tomato

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-85656058820962420222011-01-12T15:25:00.000-08:002011-01-12T15:25:14.970-08:00

For my 34th birthday last month, Nate and I flew south to my all-time favorite city, San Francisco, for a long weekend. We've taken quite a few short trips to the Bay Area over the years. Now there's less pressure to see all the sights. Instead, we can relax... Hence sleeping in past official breakfast time and dining on soup for breakfast at farm:table. Broccoli soup & apricot preserves pie

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-83572409392506251232011-01-01T17:38:00.000-08:002011-01-01T17:38:39.713-08:00

Turkey, bacon, avocado, tomato = a delight In a world that is heading decidedly meatless (at least here in the PacNW), I am a rebel. Early this year that my doctor put the kibosh on my vegaquarian ways, sending me home with a Rx for meat. And so, to begin this new decade, I began adding meat to my menu rather than subtracting it. It wasn't easy at first. I was squeamish just thinking of

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-18683811898646128072010-12-26T19:37:00.000-08:002010-12-26T19:38:25.008-08:00

I'm not much of a baker, but my sister-in-law, El Fab, is a master. Every Christmas when she's in town, we spend a day baking a treat for Christmas dinner. One year it was gingerbreadmen, gingerbreadwomen, and enough gingerbreadcats to concern Bob Barker. Last year, we doled out Santa's Favorite Cake - a red velvet/peppermint concoction. This year, we're looking overseas to a French

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-62884673878767761282010-11-12T11:59:00.000-08:002010-11-12T12:00:43.136-08:00

I've only been to Canlis once. I grew up in Seattle, hearing about the legendary, low-slung restaurant overlooking Lake Union. In the 80s, Canlis was untouchable: a luxurious place reserved for the uber-wealthy who dripped in diamonds. In the 90s, Canlis' excess seemed outrageous in the era of dirty combat boots and flannel. By the early aughts, I downright dismissed the notion of ever wanting

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-57300221181939804882010-10-25T22:40:00.000-07:002010-10-25T22:40:50.098-07:00

Calaveras, a common symbol of Dia de Los Muertos, welcome me to Austin Everything I previously knew about Texas, I learned from the screen. I've watched "Dazed & Confused" countless times, and I'm obsessed with TV's "Friday Night Lights." I'd only been to Texas airports, connecting in Dallas and Houston but never stepping outside of the ports. My sister-in-law even lives in Big D (aka Dallas)

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-1369634366229793162010-10-04T16:57:00.000-07:002010-10-06T09:25:49.116-07:00

It's been quite some time since we last spoke of meat. Here's a glimpse into where I'm at, now more than half a year into my meat-eating foray. I've garnered a new love for turkey sandwiches, cheated a few times with bacon, and even ordered chicken saltimbocca this weekend (yes, with the pancetta). Notice what these all have in common: Someone else was doing the dirty work of preparing my meats

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-47515788744954437812010-09-26T09:15:00.000-07:002010-09-26T09:15:00.297-07:00

Music. Words. Both are things that define me to the core. I've been music-obsessed from the start. My mom tells that as a toddler, I'd teeter up to the record player (one of those massive, furniture-piece consoles with turntable + speakers + storage) and bob along to Lou Rawls. I apparently had a penchant for "Groovy People." When MTV launched in 1981, I was there. I can't prove that I

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-31729174620970062032010-09-20T19:09:00.000-07:002010-09-20T19:14:40.770-07:00

Summer has shown its last rays of sun, replaced by rain. Torrential downpours, even. Yesterday, during a break from the drops, I headed out to my garden patch to harvest a handful of cherry tomatoes. I had to get to them before the pelting rain split them open. While there, I also yanked up bushels of baby carrots, tugged out 4 baby bulbs of garlic, and took stock of the growing season on a

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-65391803324381767022010-09-09T15:01:00.000-07:002010-09-09T15:44:38.645-07:00

I've been sitting on this story until it was good and steeped, ready to roll out to the world. I'm giddy with excitement to announce to you that my dear pal Rebecca has officially launched Deluxe Foods, an artisan house selling jams, jellies, and chutneys. Basically, anything good and sweet that will come in a jar and be served alongside toast. Or meat. Or cheese. (She's crafty that way; when

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-12383660139930833942010-08-23T21:33:00.000-07:002010-08-23T21:37:12.868-07:00

Dear Vancouver, I'm sorry it's been so long since you've heard from me.  It's not that I didn't want to stay in touch. I've simply found myself so busy... Remember when we had so much fun together in the early 2000s? Great meals, wonderful shopping... those times we watched Indy cars spin around the track. You've really grown up since then, ramping up the chic factor and erecting big arenas

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-14913372994545598822010-08-12T22:34:00.000-07:002010-08-12T22:34:14.475-07:00

Thanks to a rush of social engagements and some extra free time, I've eaten a veritable smorgasbord of new tastes over the past few weeks in Seattle. Some of my favorites: Slices of sweet, luscious Pence Orchards peaches at Metropolitan Market (and, now, found in my fruit bowl). Bonus: As part of his Peach-o-Rama festival at Met Market, Jon Rowley charts the peaches' sucrose levels with his

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-23678666071755096942010-07-31T13:05:00.000-07:002010-07-31T13:05:11.230-07:00

Today, my mom and I set out to pack a peck of pickles. Or a baker's dozen of quart jars. I'm not even sure what a peck is... We've long planned this summertime event. The last time we made pickles was August 1986. I was nine, immeasurably blonde and tan from all-day-every-day swimming sessions. I'm guessing I wore something neon, maybe some jelly bracelets, Aqua Socks, and leggings. Wham! was

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-56002645818480861482010-07-23T14:54:00.000-07:002010-07-23T14:58:11.928-07:00

As we headed into the new fiscal year at my dayjob, I learned my hours were to be reduced to 32/week. I think everyone feared this news would be upsetting -- but I can't stop smiling. I'd been secretly hoping to go 80% at some point. Imagine what I could do with one extra day a week...read a book, watch The Price is Right, bake pies, freeze popsicles, brine pickles, swim in the lake... All of

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-77414042346993256412010-06-29T12:50:00.000-07:002010-06-29T12:53:07.355-07:00

Show and tell time! I just have to share this super-clever birthday party idea that my friend Allison did for her son's first birthday. Check out these "burgers" - they're vegan, gluten free. And, sweet! That's right, they're dessert burgers (plus fries). How freaking cute, right? Allison wanted me to be sure to credit Bakerella for the idea (here's Bakerella's post). But I think Allison

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-76979629918036820192010-06-25T13:16:00.000-07:002010-06-25T13:16:34.382-07:00

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-47688067783455078982010-06-19T15:15:00.000-07:002010-06-24T12:45:15.913-07:00

  “I’m composing!” is a common line heard at Chez Duchene. We’re a family of artists; writing our main game. So today, after returning from an exciting initial session with my photographer friend about her book (more on this to come), I walked in excited to tell Nate about my morning. “I’m composing!” was the response from Nate, hunkered over his laptop, lost in a scene of his new screenplay.

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-26744340342706342702010-06-14T12:29:00.000-07:002010-06-14T12:35:05.727-07:00

We've had an unseasonably cool and damp "spring" so far in Seattle. According to one stat, we haven't seen the temperature ascend to 75 since last fall. Like I've done many mornings in the past few weeks, I woke up and turned on the heat again this morning. Brrr. So, despite that the calendar says "June," I'm convinced that it's more like April. I can't tell what my garden thinks.

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-87831876748289723562010-06-09T20:51:00.000-07:002010-06-09T20:52:08.265-07:00

It occurs to me that I've never shared Part 2 of my "How I Became a Vegetarian -- and How I Fell" story. [Here's a link to Part 1 in case you want to catch up where I left off] Flash back to 1996. My new food plan -- a plant-based diet heavily influenced by Mediterranean foods such as pastas, tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil (coincidentally, less straining on a college-student's budget) -- quickly

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-75986003110490218262010-06-06T20:55:00.000-07:002010-06-06T20:56:54.038-07:00

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-4092621598869363112010-05-31T10:53:00.000-07:002010-05-31T10:53:31.044-07:00

I've nearly burned down the kitchen twice. The first time, I was attempting to fry falafel. As I plopped the nuggets into the hot oil, the sizzling quickly gave way to smoldering to, truly, great balls of fire. Fortunately I was quick to recall that baking soda puts out grease fires, as does smothering the heat. Crisis averted (though I've never again attempted falafel at home). The second time

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-91080569857306346282010-05-27T12:55:00.000-07:002010-05-27T12:56:47.305-07:00

How funny to find myself on the flipside. I've told you the beginnings of my story on going vegetarian. More about this will come in due time. But today, I'm chuckling with a strange revelation. Legions of foodies, bloggers, and regular folk are trying vegetarian diets for fixed periods of time, like Meatless Monday. I guess, technically, I'm now one of them. Some participate in Meatless

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-3527711388679184292010-05-26T20:16:00.000-07:002010-05-26T20:18:05.806-07:00

I can't stop staring at this. A little trick of PhotoShop and, voila. It makes me smile.

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-1343171758074847692010-05-19T09:59:00.000-07:002010-05-19T10:41:53.228-07:00

Last summer in Seattle was, perhaps, our greatest on record. At least to the knowledge of my three-decade memory. The sun shone hot, warming my shoulders and my soul, for weeks on end. It beckoned me outside, away from my dayjob or post-work trips to the gym. A sultry temptress, she. I frolicked at the park, plunged off the highdive into the cool waters of Lake Washington, and sat on the front

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-58385239666644786252010-05-12T10:01:00.000-07:002010-05-12T20:50:14.058-07:00

As many college students do, I lived on pantry staples during my off-campus-apartment days. Beans and rice - oh so nice! Anything in a can was in the menu plan. And lotsa pasta (it barely cost a thing). My roommate introduced me to this dish, a recipe she'd received from her aunt in Seattle. It amped up our rote, bland meals with a gourmet flair, yet still fit the bill for being (mostly)

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-35538170912205699272010-05-10T17:47:00.000-07:002010-05-10T17:52:37.644-07:00

I have an unnatural obsession with tortilla chips. Like these little guys. I truly cannot go a week without restocking them to the pantry. Same goes for Maranatha creamy peanut butter. My husband and I buy a jar a week. We have seriously looked into buying it in bulk from our local co-op and probably should embark on that journey soon (though we fear how quickly we'd go through an entire case).

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-78942600440757507972010-05-06T08:14:00.000-07:002010-05-06T08:23:05.977-07:00

After a spirited conversation with my dear friend at Dream, Imagine, Happen last night, I awoke renewed and invigorated and full of ideas (as is often the case after our chats; that lady is an inspiration!).First up, I'm going to try to spend at least a morning or two -- in the wee small hours of the morning, that is -- writing or brainstorming in this space. With a clear head, unpoisoned yet by

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-66745741002495627162010-05-05T19:31:00.001-07:002010-05-05T19:36:11.442-07:00

I love holidays, food, and Mexico. So Cinco de Mayo is definitely one of my all-time faves. Here are 2 shots of tonight's dinner (homemade guacamole, vegetarian tortilla soup, and a strong margarita on the rocks) + a pic of myself and my dear friend E (who lives in LA and whom I miss terribly).Happy Cinco de Mayo!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-46413221243388639982010-04-29T11:33:00.000-07:002010-04-29T11:36:43.646-07:00

Just another quick post here today to share an article I stumbled upon via my favorite local co-op, PCC Natural Markets.One of their bloggers, Dr. Tom Ballard, presents a very insightful and useful article on how to determine if you're getting enough protein. As someone who's been fighting this battle for the past 2 months, I found it fascinating to learn that protein #s are one thing -- and

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-11144486213414832402010-04-25T18:31:00.001-07:002010-05-02T17:30:22.562-07:00

There's been alot of recent hype around Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. The cheeky, charming Brit's vision is simple: overturn the existing school-lunch system in America -- extricating any and all processed foods and replacing them with real, whole food ingredients. The simultaneous goal is to re-teach our nation how to eat and cook real food, rather than processed junk that can lead to a host

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-29773717078403108022010-04-19T15:30:00.001-07:002010-04-19T15:31:39.263-07:00

Just checked the start of my food-tracking. Wow - it's been 2 months already since I started eating poultry? I guess it's time to pen how I've been feeling... on the task list.The short answer is: It's getting easier, but I am still not cooking poultry at home.More to come!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-14222735430302559052010-04-06T14:30:00.000-07:002010-04-09T08:47:46.799-07:00

A friend recently asked me for tips on what to do/see in Seattle on a weekend. In return, I put together a solid list of what can be achieved in one day. If you're thinking of making a trek up here, here's what I suggest!Morning: Grab coffee & a pastry at one of our many, many, MANY coffee shops. No links included here. Coffee shops in Seattle are not tough to find. :) Hop in the car and drive to

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-64886581842657862762010-04-01T11:31:00.000-07:002010-04-01T14:24:33.287-07:00

Some of you know that the renovations at Chez Duchene are never really over. Since living in our home for 6+ years, we've remodeled 2/3 of it. This year, we've taken it outside. Finally, some plant life and landscaping.I had a conversation with my hairstylist a few weeks ago. While I sat in her chair, she told me her theory on plants and animals in her care: "They must pay their rent," she said.

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-60977300238464000242010-03-28T16:26:00.000-07:002010-03-29T14:08:01.854-07:00

I don't know about you, but in my circle, we hibernate from November-February, hiding indoors from the grey and rain, ducking out for meals at our standby, close-to-home comfort-food restaurants, and, well, merely survive.But once the hyacinths sprout, tulips poke through the damp clods of dirt, and the clocks jump forward an hour, the veil lifts. We emerge, jubilant, trading our wellies for

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-60588295726734183722010-03-24T07:53:00.000-07:002010-03-25T11:53:24.554-07:00

Last week, Nate and I celebrated our 7th anniversary (a few days early) with a week in Puerto Rico. The sun shone hot, an Atlantic breeze providing an occasional respite from otherwise heavy, sticky air. We spent the first couple days wandering the blue-brick streets of old San Juan and admiring pastel-washed facades.We strolled along the water up to El Morro, ausing for breaks from the heat

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-89446047794397193532010-03-11T15:00:00.000-08:002010-03-11T13:47:51.191-08:00

Hi all, If you're already here, then you've found me. Just a quick note, though, to update your bookmarks and/or spread the word (thanks in advance!) that I have a new website: www.amydishes.com. I also have changed my twitter account to @amydishes.Thanks for following, and more posts soon!XO!*A

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-91502345184579773802010-03-01T14:57:00.000-08:002010-03-01T15:06:26.385-08:00

It snuck up on me slowly and quietly. A sigh here, a growl there, an occasional flippant comment.I didn't even notice. But poor Nate, who lives with me and is witness to all facets of my personality (read: my moodiness) was noticing a trend. Ever since I started eating poultry again, I've been in a foul -- or is that fowl? -- mood.Truth be told, I haven't really felt all that well, either, which

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-24479073680166713212010-02-26T15:35:00.000-08:002010-02-26T15:48:14.947-08:00

I'm allowed to waiver in my decision, right? I'm giving myself this grace. Somedays, nothing sounds better than a smoked turkey sandwich, piled high with bird and cheese and roasted veggies on a hearty bread.Others, like today, all I want are veggies and legumes and simple foods. Crackers, cheese, peanutbutter slathered on apples. To go back to the way things were.Last night I over-indulged in

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-45314097408071243312010-02-15T18:20:00.000-08:002010-02-15T19:29:37.797-08:00

Last Friday, I set myself a to-do item for the weekend. To get an accurate handle on how much protein I was really eating -- and how much I was lacking -- I knew I needed to look at the numbers. So I put an action item on my calendar to consult a protein chart, print it out, and see what foods have the most wallop for my calories/fat/cholesterol/conscience.I found a couple charts, and, using my

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-61840692222549250092010-02-12T12:06:00.000-08:002010-04-19T22:28:52.272-07:00

I was a vegetarian for effectively 10 years of my life, first shunning red meat at the end of middle school when I connected the dots between the doe-eyed cows I adored and my lunchtime hamburger. From there, it took another 5 before I fully cut out all meat products.Nearly all of my friends in high school were vegetarian -- many even vegan. We hung around in the straightedge scene, known for its

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-73560382069535108742010-02-11T12:13:00.000-08:002010-02-15T19:16:11.255-08:00

To borrow some screenwriting terms, yesterday I crossed the first threshold—eagerly flinging the doors open to enter my new world. I dreamt up what meat I might eat, landed on chicken, and went for it. Today, I find myself refusing the call. I feel daunted by the notion that I need to eat more -- or turkey -- today. The magic is already worn, the glimmer fading. Doubt and questioning of myself,

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-38473553826696996222010-02-10T14:00:00.000-08:002010-02-11T12:13:14.883-08:00

Today I went to Starbucks post-gym workout, flipped through the selections of to-go meals, and selected a curried chicken/couscous/quinoa salad. The first foray was really unmemorable. The flavors bland, the protein count not even that high (relative to my normal vegetarian/fish-based lunches). Sort of a throw-away, really. I just needed to get over the hump.I ate most of the chicken, leaving

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-26149125859835545512010-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:002010-02-12T13:58:26.858-08:00

To track my adventures and progress in meat-eating, I’m starting a food journal -- tallying the foods I’ve eaten over the past few days (noting that these are indicative of the past several years), and thinking about what’s next. I posted a note on Twitter imploring my foodie friends to help me reintegrate meats -- white meats first. I don’t even know where to start.I’ve find myself daydreaming

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-16837664693672653882010-02-07T12:53:00.001-08:002010-02-08T11:17:38.979-08:00

In ode to a favored episode of Seinfeld, tonight I took my first ever attempt at making tamales.The humble, corn-husk-wrapped pillows seems so simple. You can buy one at virtually any Mexican restaurant or taco truck -- even at a cockfight, as George Costanza shows us.Yet the little buggers aren't the quickest things to make. Tamales require soaking and steaming and settling.The affair began long

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-62929570187391141582010-01-20T09:34:00.000-08:002010-01-22T18:10:56.036-08:00

Holiday madness came and went. I baked and ate and cooked and ate and ordered takeout and ate and dined out and ate some more (and drank alot of ginger tea to remedy the indigestion).And now day-job madness beckons, as do trips to the gym to work off all that eating.But I've been feeling remiss in blog posting and had so many things to share over the past month. It's time for a quick rundown!-

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-1100731704612546102009-12-17T15:22:00.000-08:002010-05-22T18:15:59.473-07:00

On a recent dreary Saturday morning, already jam-packed with plans, I added one more layer to the docket: Visit the U-District Farmers market to commune with the farmers and load my tote with a variety of heirloom and organic apples. Trying not to get too off-track (I'd calculated a max of 20 minutes to spend at the market before running to Starbucks for a cuppa and hitting the road for my next

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-68892591667232064332009-12-02T16:42:00.000-08:002009-12-02T16:30:32.395-08:00

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and heightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sightFor the ends of Being and ideal Grace.I love thee to the level of everyday'sMost quiet need, by sun and candle-light.I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.I love thee with a passion put to useIn my old griefs, and

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-59353381436589525952009-11-27T13:22:00.000-08:002009-11-27T13:31:23.568-08:00

Thoroughly enjoying the four-day-long vacation. Kicked it off Wed night by joining the masses and baking a pie for Thanksgiving. Apple. (More on this soon!)Today, I holla for challah. This is the first time I've made this sweet-bread treat, and so far, so good. After a minor Cosby Show incident (flour all over the kitchen - and me), and discovering that Nirvana's Bleach (recently reissued by Sub

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-80615566742914925832009-11-24T08:23:00.001-08:002009-11-26T12:47:04.474-08:00

On a dreary Monday night (which, fortunately, was more like a Wednesday due to the short holiday week), I donned my Capitol Hill finest (all-black + tall boots) and hit the slopes to dine at Plum Bistro.I'd been hearing over and over how great this all-vegan restaurant was, but banking on past experiences (see Teapot) + my love for Seattle vegetarian restaurant supreme Cafe Flora, I wasn't

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-41432317654370887912009-11-15T17:12:00.001-08:002009-11-15T17:12:39.706-08:00

Regaining inspiration amidst the grey rain. But are you following me on Twitter for quick dishes? @mozgal !

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-5481727099491373282009-11-01T20:28:00.000-08:002009-11-01T20:37:06.888-08:00

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-68751189918080439562009-10-26T16:56:00.000-07:002009-10-28T16:45:43.961-07:00

It was a date nearly a decade in the making. On Sunday night, amidst the latest rain-and-wind storm, we made our way to north Capitol Hill for a toasty, down-home meal at Kingfish Cafe. Finally. I've literally been wanting to eat at this soul food treasure since the place first opened nearly 10 years ago.Back then, when sisters Laurie and Leslie Coaston opened the joint, the line for a table was

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-79650730976407064462009-10-21T14:43:00.000-07:002009-10-22T13:02:23.481-07:00

A chill is in the air. The leaves are morphing into russet-tinged cracklers under foot. Low, grey clouds stack the landscape with nary a peep of filtered sun shining through. Fall has arrived.With it, my cravings for decadent, warm foods. On my notepad of "to do" items - a list that is supposed to be for work items, with jots of personal reminders - I've been scratching down ideas for holiday

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-66519668161249627692009-10-19T18:20:00.000-07:002009-10-19T18:25:57.280-07:00

No one is a fan of Mondays. At least, no one in their right mind.To ease the pain of starting the week, I can't think of a better setup than this:Vegetarian chili, bubbling on the stoveSweet cornbread, baking in the ovenMonday night football, playing out on the teleTwo orange cats, drifting in and out of slumber on the chair and floor, respectivelyInspired husband, writing feverishly in the other

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-59237945925316591502009-10-14T16:01:00.000-07:002009-10-14T16:40:07.858-07:00

This weekend, the New York Times magazine commemorated all things food in a special Food Issue. Included is an essay from one of this generation's finest authors, Jonathan Safran Foer. (He's the author of Everything is Illuminated. I stumbled upon him years ago when he penned a piece for Real Simple magazine. It was a piece so moving that I cried - a feat which never happens when I'm reading.

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-14580747071055480332009-10-05T11:32:00.000-07:002009-10-06T13:22:54.377-07:00

This weekend brought a reunion of many sorts, fueled by a Saturday night show of reunited Seattle hardcore bands. There were so many familiar faces in the crowd and so many awesome memories of music and hanging out and falling in love (this is the scene that united Nate and I in the first place). Also, so many memories of how to keep vegans from going hungry.A tenet of the straightedge scene, in

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-81677837687698545102009-09-25T09:18:00.000-07:002009-09-25T09:19:41.671-07:00

Woot! Urban Eats starts next week -- 3 courses for 30 bones. Anyone wanna join me?

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-50430432628907744582009-09-24T11:53:00.000-07:002009-09-24T13:45:41.749-07:00

I wrote a few weeks ago about the opening of Tavern Law, a new speakeasy-type bar nestled into an inconspicuous shopfront.Today's Seattle Times has a great article on the joint, as well as a listing of some other "undercover" bars around town. The irony isn't lost on me - giving press to these faux speakeasies, when real Prohibition-era speakeasies could never have survived a day had they been

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-11616685482398118922009-09-23T20:27:00.000-07:002009-09-23T20:46:35.100-07:00

From the very first time I visited Eugene, OR on my college-scouting mission, I knew I'd end up in school there. Sure, the town was cute and not too far from home. Yes, I had family living there, which made it feel not so lonely. The college itself was pretty great as well. But it was the tomato-cheese soup that sealed the deal.Just off campus from the U. of Oregon sits an inconspicuous old home

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-12650602196390451012009-09-21T09:28:00.000-07:002009-09-21T09:33:17.754-07:00

Just a quickie here to tell you that it looks like Skillet St. Food has finally recognized that Seattle is a vegetarian-friendly place - and created their own veggie burger. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to Skillet with hopes of eating, only to have them dashed when all that's being served up is meat, meat, meat. The new burger features a delish-sounding concoction of toppings:

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-21068094075193703282009-09-06T10:59:00.001-07:002009-09-07T20:37:14.300-07:00

Enjoying a lovely Sunday a.m. Americano and peach brioche at Colville St Patisserie. The food in Walla Walla is amazing! A true oasis.

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-36063971933392337162009-09-05T18:33:00.001-07:002009-09-07T20:38:00.729-07:00

May have died and gone to heaven surrounded in anise-sherry cream sauce over crab canneloni at creek town cafe in walla walla.

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-37880112893649824272009-09-03T10:15:00.000-07:002009-09-03T11:27:24.363-07:00

This weekend marks the six-year anniversary of when we officially moved in to our little abode north of Greenlake. Part of the reason that we bought a house in the first place, so goes the joke between my husband and I, was so that we'd never have to move again. All the sorting, packing, lifting, re-sorting, unpacking -- it's just too much. Especially when one has an overflowing heap of kitchen

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-44894753983964030402009-08-27T11:22:00.000-07:002009-08-27T12:36:48.267-07:00

So excited! The newly renovated space at 88th and Roosevelt is finally open! It used to be The Jones, which was tasty if pricey. For the past several weeks, mass construction has been happening -- lots of seats and tables and etc sitting on the front patio instead of patrons sipping drinks. The curiosity has been killing me! Finally, a week or so ago, the haunt's new sign went up, confirming the

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-57864073653800804742009-08-27T08:26:00.001-07:002009-08-27T08:28:14.146-07:00

I just received info about this contest from Alaska/Horizon airlines in my inbox. How to decide which to enter? Cheese & chocolate making sounds great... as does wine or spirit-making...Decisions!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-33150403274406204782009-08-25T10:33:00.000-07:002009-08-25T21:05:29.758-07:00

Yesterday might have been it. The sun shone brightly, the warmth creeping across my face as it streamed through the windows. Fresh corn sat on the counter. But there was a tinge in the air of things to come -- fall, specifically.All good things have to come to an end, but it pains me nonetheless to see summer go until next year. Especially this one. It's been a doozy.The one bright spot of the

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-41299036956726359742009-08-24T09:38:00.001-07:002009-08-25T20:52:35.874-07:00

This Friday, I finally checked some places off the list that I'd been wanting to visit for some time.The night began with a gamble: My cohorts and I wanted to explore the throwback bar Tavern Law--on opening night, no less. In a pleasant surprise, we got in straightaway (this was before 7 pm; by the time we shuffled out after 8, the place was getting packed).I dug the vintage vibe and retro decor

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-367366259909492462009-08-17T10:18:00.000-07:002010-05-22T18:16:38.281-07:00

Right about now, I'm considering myself an especially lucky gal. My veggie garden consists of only one tomato plant (which has produced two - count 'em) toms to enjoy. But the crisper drawer in the fridge is overflowing with gifts from gardener friends. Green beans. Tiny onions. Fresh carrots. An abundance of cucumbers and zucchini. This weekend, my dear friend Rebecca added an interesting

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-1540955080760500522009-08-14T15:21:00.000-07:002009-08-17T13:19:58.839-07:00

Sitting here at the newly revamped "15th Ave Coffee & Tea" in Cap Hill. This is the former site of a traditional Starbucks (a store at which my guy worked for a number of months, in fact). The place has been transformed into an independent coffee house style joint. No Sbux logos anywhere, for example. Varietal, artisan offerings (coffee & pastry). And there's even wine/beer - something I plan to

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-51000439361698486262009-08-11T18:51:00.001-07:002009-08-17T13:20:45.091-07:00

Just drove past a new Ezell's chicken in Shoreline. Oprah will be pleased.

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-18448654063229090582009-08-05T22:38:00.001-07:002009-08-05T22:38:50.068-07:00

Drooling over the "Top Chef Masters" vegan concoctions for Zoe Deschanel. Am now so hungry and want them to come to cook at my house!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-4632727599409708302009-08-02T15:47:00.001-07:002009-08-02T15:47:44.810-07:00

Just OD'd at the Theo Chocolate Factory. If you go, sample the coconut curry choc & "big daddy" bar. More to come after I have some sustenance to offset sugar!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-34108747354609678152009-07-27T07:53:00.000-07:002009-07-27T09:23:44.424-07:00

Stay out of the kitchen! That's the old adage, which I plan to highly subscribe to this week as temps soar above the 90s in Seattle for 5+ days. We're not a city known for our heat, which means we are not prepared (A/C is more scarce here than sunshine in January). No cooking will be done in this retro-throwback cocina this week.Fortunately, Nate's fabu sister, ElFab, is visiting this week. She's

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-14477025674660342262009-07-21T13:18:00.001-07:002010-05-22T18:17:09.311-07:00

I made a visit to the wallet-emptier store this weekend (no, not Target...though anytime I enter that haven, I come out $50 lighter). This time I mean Costco. I walked in hungry -- never a smart move. I walked out with many random (yet tasty) treats, including a 12-pack of salmon burgers. This is actually the only item I went in searching for. I've had them many a time on a bun, and boy howdy!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-52468770358555242792009-07-17T13:57:00.000-07:002009-07-17T19:53:11.605-07:00

Sitting here at the Ballard Cupcake Royale and happy to report that Sue McCown's revamped cake recipe is indeed a success! This little baby cake (strawberry shortcake) is indeed moister, tastier, and much happier than previous versions of the cake. I guess now I can't refer to Royale as "the other cupcake place in town" anymore.

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-22196625352604954352009-07-13T16:00:00.001-07:002010-05-22T18:18:01.874-07:00

This weekend was all about the berries. Loads and loads of them, in fact. My dear college friend Becky was in town and had graciously offered to pick up Oregon berries on her way out of town for all of us living one state north. I placed my order for a flat of marionberries, anxiously anticipating a pie's worth. What I got was two pies' worth, stained fingers, and a couple of bellyaches from

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-11137587711727659262009-07-06T20:39:00.001-07:002009-07-13T15:58:42.371-07:00

Just had a divinely simple yet tasty warm tomato/feta salad -- and Nate cooked! Will post recipe stat!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-87191966218470325232009-07-06T14:04:00.000-07:002009-08-17T13:21:32.100-07:00

I was already thinking about dinner and it was still hours away... Actually, I'd been thinking about this meal since I embarked on a recipe-organizing project a few weeks ago and stumbled across an old favorite. (As an aside, take my mother's sage advice about 'organizing' recipes. Actually, for this, and numerous other, reasons - mothers have the best advice! Back to the recipes: If you ever

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-52473859294569519322009-06-26T16:41:00.000-07:002009-06-29T09:23:00.568-07:00

Every Friday of late, Nate's taken to concocting a simple pleasure - fruit salad. He dubs this "Fruit Salad Friday." (As an aside, I call this day "Vinyl Friday" because I always start the weekend with a spin or two of some of my favorite LPs in the late afternoon.)Anyway, back to the salad. It's so simple, yet so perfect -- bite-sized chunks of crisp apple and chops of soft pear, tangled

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-24380310897285029862009-06-23T20:35:00.000-07:002010-05-05T19:38:26.691-07:00

It happened this fall on a cold and blustery evening. Enough was enough. Bastante! I exclaimed. The orange cats scampered from the kitchen as I pounded my fist on the tile counter and vehemently reached toward the mass of cookbooks stacked on the corner shelf.Vegetarian tortilla soup would be mine.For years, the tortilla soup craze had gone on around me. I, being a non-chicken eater, was left in

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-50550077403156860432009-06-18T21:33:00.001-07:002009-06-23T10:29:15.752-07:00

Just had *the most amazing* gnocchi in san diego at Trattoria la Strada. Delectable dumplings in a light creamy tomato sauce. Tiramisu not half bad either!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-88862889119617989432009-06-18T11:09:00.000-07:002009-06-18T11:24:21.079-07:00

In San Diego frolicking in the sun, so this post will be brief!Last night I tasted blue crab for the first time (At least that I can recall; it's possible I had it as a child while visiting relatives on the East Coast. Mom can step in and correct me!). Heaped atop a Louie salad, it was, in a word, delicious! Nate even swears this East Coast crab is better than Dungeness... I'm not comfortable

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-43479711875078211782009-06-11T09:37:00.000-07:002009-06-24T15:20:00.545-07:00

I've long thought of Brussels sprouts as a fall food... they're hearty, they're healthy, and, when cooked, they emit an earthy stench common of so many autumn produce staples.And yet, this spring (creeping quickly into summer), I can't get enough of the little buds.Growing up, I only knew one way to eat Brussels: steamed whole, with a little lemon juice on top to cut the intensity. That's still a

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-42509122067558486702009-06-10T11:17:00.000-07:002009-06-12T08:25:57.173-07:00

It is with great excitement that I report the following: Trophy Cupcakes will finally open their new U-Village location tomorrow! Festivities run throughout the day, with promises of a shop stacked full to the brim with the little cups of heaven. I didn't see anything about freebies, but I can't imagine they won't offer samples.My husband is constantly baffled by how I, a non-cake-liker, can be

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-6277608581247424622009-06-09T08:31:00.001-07:002009-06-09T09:51:35.572-07:00

Still thinking about those gourmet smores from this weekend's campout. Toffee chocolate was a bit too rich; added raspberries to the classic setup just divine. Mad props to Lys for the idea!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-12493318209827158222009-06-05T11:40:00.000-07:002009-06-05T11:41:25.767-07:00

if you like black licorice, this is a must try!

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4136543806825516181.post-16955213229566075052009-06-03T19:06:00.000-07:002009-06-04T13:28:42.469-07:00

a few weekends ago, nate and i treated our moms and stepdads to brunch at our casa. the menu was divinely simple, comprised mostly of foods that could be made a day ahead so as not to feel rushed the morning-of. we ate an asparagus-swiss cheese-caramelized onion strata and some fresh fruits for the main course, chased by nate's handmade scone-biscuits and fresh strawberries. the chocolate

AmyDishesnoreply@blogger.com0