By NIchole Banducci I love a good salad. They’re such a great opportunity to cram a bunch of veggies into one meal, while delivering on flavor. Bonus points for a salad that can hold its own at any time of year. This hearty antioxidant salad certainly makes the grade! To me, each salad needs to…
Island Epicure
By Marjorie Watkins and Suzanna Leigh Marjorie With the thermometer on my balcony reading 40 degrees, the temperature in the kitchen is cool enough to make a baked dish for dinner. How about a custard or a quiche? People have been eating mixtures of eggs and milk heated to thicken them since at least ancient…
Island Epicure – Interview at 99
By Marjorie Watkins and Suzanna Leigh Suzanna: Marjorie, you are almost 100 years old! Marjorie: This is true. A few months away from 100. Suzanna: And you are healthy, too. You say you never have a headache or the flu. How is that? Marjorie: Magic potion. It is a very tasty solution. It is cloves…
Pickled Onions
By Craig Bailey, “Fiddlehead Bistro,” Saranac Lake, NY Ingredients • 2 cloves garlic, halved • 1 star anise • ½ tsp anise seed • 1 tsp coriander seed • 1 tsp cumin seed • 4 peppercorns • 1 tsp mustard seed • 1 very small piece of cinnamon stick • 1 bay leaf • 2…
Cabbage Salad with Warm Shallot Vinaigrette
By Caitlin Rothermel When we first moved to Vashon, we had the pleasure of working with Len Wolff, one of the most professional and responsive realtors on the Island. Recently, Len and his wife Nancy started a new venture with the magazine, “Good To Be Home,” which is how I first came across this recipe. …
The Island Epicure – Mushroom Herb Soup
By Marjorie Watkins and Suzanna Leigh Nothing warms us on a cold winter’s day – or night – as well as a bowl of hot soup, whether it is the beginning of lunch or dinner. This recipe comes from the Caucasus range of mountains, where they say the men all live to the age of…
Arroz con Leche
By Cynthia Sadurni Arroz con leche, rice pudding Mexican style, is one of those comfort food desserts of my childhood. It is sweet and wholesome, almost like a loving hug. This delicious and easy to prepare sweet treat comes to us from Spain, and before that, well, that is quite a long story! There are…
Island Epicure – Honey is Healing
By Marj Watkins My father cherished his half-dozen bee hives. The bees never stung him. He placed some hives in his friend’s orchard, where they helped the fruits to thrive by pollinating the flowers. Honey is one of the oldest sweeteners in the world. Many variations of honey are cherished around the world, both for…
Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple Salad
By Nichole Banducci You’ve gotta try this perfect, unexpected fall / winter salad. It’s a family favorite during the holidays, but honestly, I can sit down with a plate of it at any time. Roasted squash, onions, and apples provide a uniquely delicious base, highlighted by tart cranberries, crunchy pecans, and salty/sweet manchego cheese. The…
Island Epicure – Chicken Soup Season
By Marjorie Watkins with Suzanna Leigh Winter winds mean it’s chicken soup season! For soup stock, you can use canned chicken broth or chicken broth cubes and water, or you can make your own broth with chicken bones. My grandmother Fanny taught me how to make the bone broth. Fanny and Albert, my grandfather, came…