Great Oregon Wines at Bargain Prices

Morning sun dancing on wildflowers at Timberline Lodge

Coffee made the sunrise on Mt. Hood

This photograph of sunrise on Mt. Hood was taken seated at Timberline, cup of restoring elixir firmly in hand



This is where you can see all of Oregon, and its famed Pinot Noir. Pair it with the goat cheese, chevre, and fresh berries at Grocery Outlet!

Cherry Pie with Cold Brewed Coffee

Rainier Cherries backlit by the Sun

Shade in the afternoon is a summer treat

This is the easiest and best way to make a pie crust. Put a cup of water in the freezer to chill. Blend two cups room temperature butter with three cups flour, folding, not over working the dough. Slowly add the very cold water, and roll your dough in a circle on a floured bread board. Use a lovely rolling pin, a cotton cover over it helps.
Stem, and pit 4 cups cherries, mix with two cups sugar. You can go less on the sugar. Add a bit of kirschwasser if you want, to you or the mix.
Bake at 350 degrees for forty minutes.
Lay the crust in a deep pie pan, and crimp the top crust on, or sprinkle the dough like a cobbler.
Serve with cold press coffee. Put coffee grounds in French Press, let sit for ten hours, et voila, less acidic coffee, perfect for summer. This really has a smoother taste.
Now, the sun beckons.....breeze, ahhhh

Fresh Tomato Sauce Angel Hair Pasta with Blush Wine



Hanging Around Near Vantage, Washington in late June



Of course summer is the time to drink a rose, also called a blush wine, and Grocery Outlet has a great selection.
Have friends over, always preferable to dining out. To set the mood to cook, it is essential to watch this video from Vogue Paris, marking Emmanuelle Alt's ascension to Editor. It is supermodels covering Wham's Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.  It will give you all the energy you need to cook for loved ones, and you will know exactly what to wear. Watch the film here.
If you still feel like cooking, it must be something light and chic. And seasonal, as seasonal as white Levi's. Locavare is common sense, and common sense is comme il faut. Washington State can be full of surprises if you know where to look.
Wham! Here we go go!
Tomato Angel Hair Pasta
A classic favorite, it is simple and better without cheese. A great pasta sauce can be a light toss of fresh flavors from your garden or local market.
Seafood in a separate dish sauteed in garlic, oil, parlsey, and red pepper flakes goes well with this supper.
1 tbsp olive oil
4 plum tomatoes, finely diced
2 sliced garlic cloves
2 cups white wine
8 ounces angel hair pasta broken in half
pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup fresh chopped oregano
In saute pan, heat oil on medium/high heat.
Add tomatoes and saute, stirring oftem, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute another minute.
Add wine, pasta and oregano and stir to coat. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to meium. Simmer until pasta is done and liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper, garnish with a bit of the fresh oregano. And white sneakers, no laces

Columbia Valley Pinot Noir at Bargain Prices

PINOT NOIR is a top selling Grocery Outlet wine lately. The bottles are substantial, the corks just right, the flavor perfect - wine has overstocks like anything else. The black and white labels are a clue you are on to something, big.
Charles Smith of K Vintners, the famed Syrah producer from Walla Walla, Washington, created The Magnificent Wine Company in 2004 with the goal of bringing outstanding wines into people's homes at an affordable, everyday price. HOUSE WINE Cabernet blend and Chardonnay blend is the flagship brand of The Magnificent Wine Company’s Washington wine portfolio, also home to TABLE WINE Merlot blend and Chardonnay blend, STEAK HOUSE Cabernet Sauvignon, FISH HOUSE Chardonnay and The Originals (Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cab & Riesling). HOUSE WINE is the wine you drink anytime with anything…honest, tasty and real. A term that’s as universally understood among wine drinkers as a STOP sign is among drivers, HOUSE WINE with its simple black and white label and rich blend of fruit is the iconic symbol of the wine drinking experience stripped to its core.

Bacon Sampler for Breakfast

Bacon Sampler

remains of bacon sampler

Breakfast at Timberline Lodge features a Bacon Sampler- four types of bacon served with housemade maple syrup. Serve that to your family, with eggs in tortillas. It made a wonderful breakfast in all the fresh summer snow. They also have a jam sampler, three types of berry jam with delicious warm toast. This is all avsailable at Grocery Outlet - have a super Sunday Breakfast!

View from inside the lodge, warm and well fed!

detail from rawhide chair in lobby

Rainy Days Pair Well with Chocolate Cake

 Jameson Whiskey in Buttercream Frosting

Kitchens are the place to be on a rainy afternoon!

Well this weather is unusual! So enjoy the afternoon and enjoy the quiet of baking, before school lets out. Notice how nice a quiet time can be letting your thoughts flow, and hearing the hum of the blender. Epicurious is a wonderful source for recipes. If frosting a cake seems daunting, here is my favorite quick tip: frost the cake, lumps and all, the scatter the top with rose petals from the garden.

Sauvignon Blanc Pairs Well with Seafood

You don't need a wine rating system or self appointed expert  - often a middle aged man in Mom jeans and a shag haircut- to tell you about wine. Learn foryour self, pair wine with a poem, a friend, a breeze, s sonnet, a cello concerto, a nicely set table, and tanned legs. Books and Paker and ratings are silly. Read some Emerson and be your own judge.

Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the  Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage ("wild") and blanc ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in  Southwest France a possible descendant of savignon, or Wild thing, you make my heart sing.

Sauvignon blanc is planted in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine. Oregon, Washington, and California produce some very nice Sauvignon Blanc blends that can be found a plenty at Grocery Outlet.
Sauvignon Blanc's crisp acidity, bright citrus, and green herbs call for a sauce or dressing laced with lemon and herbs. This salad is a natural match for Sauv Blanc heavy blends.
Seafod Salad with Creamy Tarragon Dressing
Serve this salad on a bed of butter lettuce or a sandwich on crusty bread.
1 lb peeled shrimp
1/2 lb bay scallops
1/2 lb cleaned calamari
1/2 cup mayonnaise, best when you make your own
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp Dijon
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup chopped butter lettuce leaves
1/4 cup drained capers
1 avocado pitted peeled and diced
Boil large pot of water over high heat. Add shrimp, scallops,a and calamari. Take a sip of wine.
Cover, remove from heat, and let steep until the shrimp are pink on the outside and and opaque but still moist inside. Drain the seafood, immerse in cold water and drain again.
Meanwhile, combining mayonnaise, lemon peel and juice, tarragon, mustard, whisk until smooth, or use a blender.
Combine seafood, lettuce, and capers in a large bowl, Gently stir in avocado, toast yourself with a nice glass of wine.

 

Beer, Wine, and Grilled Chicken Salad

This is where Wine Begins!

We are on the brink of summer and outdoor living, so use your grill. GroceryOutlet has grilling supplies and tools, and I bet you can find one of those funny aprons in a drawer somewhere!
Grocery Outlet has a huge variety of beers  - imports, microbrews, IPAs....and of course the wine. For this menu I bought a nice Oregon Chardonnay for me to sip and enjoy while cooking. I love to sip while cooking with the radio on, it is a nice time to focus. When your brain is calm and focused it is happier. For the men in attendance this weekend I bought Snoqulamie Brewing Company beer for my pals.
Taking time to cut and dice, instead of buying prepared sauces and mixes can be an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.
Grocery Outlet had a great meat selection - I like chicken, steaks, or the turkey sausage on sale this week!
GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD
Here, smokey charred chicken combines with bright peas and herbs in a salad that's fresh and hearty. Grilling the chicken ahead of time makes it even easier to put together.
1/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
4 clovees garlic, minced
one chicken, grilled outdoors, creating grill envy on your street
2 cups peas, fresh or frozen
1 minced shallot or small onion
3 tablesppons dijon mustard
1 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
1 or 2 head of butter or bibb lettuce. Grocery Outlet has had this lettuce with the roots still on, a very fresh treat.
Whisk together oil, half the lemon juice and half the garlic, pour over chicken.
Boil pot of water, and when roiling boil toss in peas for two minutes, you don't want to overcook peas. Drain and put in cool water to stop the cookiung process, it is called s'arrette in French. This also helps retain the color.
Grill the chicken for 25 minutes or so.
Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Arrange the lettuce minute and peas on a large serving platter. Dice the chicken and toss in the dressing mixture, and pour remaining mixture over salad. Et voila, a perfect outdoor meal!

Chenin Blanc and Seviche Tostadas

The weather is perfect this weekend so of course the best course of action is to spend as much time outside.  This morning taking my coffee in the backyard, I heard  neighbor Gabriella singing "It's Raining on Prom" from Grease - no worries, I happen to know all is well with her dress and her date, and her mom said she was a hit at assembly.
I heard three lawn mowers from various houses singing in perfect harmony, and at dawn the sprinklers in the front and back performed a pastoral ballet worthy of Gershwin or Copeland, complete with rainbows across the water sprays.
Grocery Outlet has a wide selection of amazing values in wines. At the beginning of the 1970s, Americans began to discover that California's better-quality wines labeled their bottles with the name of the predominate grape variety, rather than standard practice of the day which was to label with  generic names. Made in a style popular at that time, fragrant and lightly sweet, and also easy to pronounce, Chenin Blanc quickly became the best-selling wine of the era
The first course of action is to open a Chenin Blanc, and think of a leisurely supper that welcomes the sunny season. This fruity wine is lightly sweet, much like a song from Grease on the piano. This supper is spicy, a delicious contrast.
Ceviche Tostadas
1 glass Chenin Blanc - for you, a tiens!
1 lb. cooked large shrimp
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
1 jalapeno, halved seeded and sliced
1/2  English cucumber, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1 cup chopped cilantro - such a wonderful scent!
juice of 2 limes
8 tostada shells
1/2 cup crumbled queso or feta
Mix together everything except the tostado shells and cheese, let mixture marinate for ten minutes.
Spoon the mixture onto the shells, sprinkle with cheese.
For dessert, destem strawberries at the time you serve them in parfait glasses, sprinkled with sugar and creme fraiche. Easter chocolates may be stretching it, so any small dark chocolates are always good.

Homemade Corn Dogs

Spring Tulips from Grcocery Outlet Bulbs!

Homemade Corn Dogs
Spring is in full swing, and there are certainly more opportunities for festive food and parties.  These corn digs are a bit daintier and fluffier versions of the fair and rodeo behemoths, and they still go great with mustard and ketchup.
So, put on some cut offs and sunscreeen and let us begin:
1 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup flour
pinch kosher salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
3 tbl sugar
Combine the dry ingredients with a wooden spoon.  Mix 1 1/4 cups buttermilk with 4 tbsp water, add to the dry mixture and set aside.
Heat 4 cups vegetable oil to 375, check this with a candy thermometer, in a high sided 8 quart pot.
Insert a toothpick into the end of mini sausages, or larger sausages chopped into 3 inch sections.
Dip each sausage into the batter, holding the toothpick end, then carefully drop into the oil, frying only 3 at a time.
Turn with a slotted spoon until golden. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
Now invite the entire team over to enjoy!

Meghan's Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Tomatillos

Cilantro fills the kitchen with a wonderful scent

Tomatillos, or Tomate Verde, are lovely to look at with their paper husk around the green fruit. Inever knew what to do with them, but Meghan did. Meghan knows so much, an eye for detail, 

and it brings beautiful results in many things. 

 Tomatillos will keep in the refrigerator for about two weeks. Freshness and green color  of the

husk are quality criteria. Fruit should be firm and bright green, as the green color and tart flavor are the main culinary contributions of the fruit. 

Tomatillos can by very inconsistent in flavor, with some being sour and others 
tasting mild and sweet. If the tomatillos are too tart for your taste, try adding a little sugar to 

balance the taste.

Raw - Raw or uncooked tomatillos are often in Mexican sauces. They add a fresh citrus-like flavor. 

Blanching - Blanching mellows the flavor. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the whole

 tomatillos without the husks,and boil for approximately 5 minutes or until soft. Drain and 

crush or puree the mixture.

 Fire Roasting - Roast under the broiler on a grill, make sure it s hotif the heat is not hot 

enough, the tomatillos wil turn mushy before being charred. The charred or slightly blackened skins will enrich your sauces with a smoky flavor. 

Dry Roasting - This will create  an earthy, nutty flavor. Place the tomatillos in a heavy fry pan, 

preferably a cast iron pan.Turn heat to low and roast for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, 

turning occasionally.

Meghan'sTomatillo Salsa

Take the papery skins off about a pound of tomatillos  and place the whole tomatillos in a saucepan and cover with water. Add 1 roughly chopped onion, 1-2 seeded jalapenos and 3-5 whole cloves of garlic
Boil until very tender, about 10 minutes.
Drain out all but 1 cup of water.
Put the mixture  in a blender, roughly chop 1/2 a bunch of cilantro and add it to the blender with a big pinch of sea salt.
Carefully start blending the mixture, starting slowly so that the hot liquid doesn't splash on you.
Puree until mostly smooth, about 30 seconds, and then put the salsa  
in a bowl.
Finely chop 1/2 an onion, another 1/2 bunch of cilantro and add to  
the salsa.
Salt to taste. 
Place a pan over medium heat and add just enough water to cover the  
bottom of the pan. Add frozen tilapia fillets and cook until heated  
through. 
Heat oven to 375. Cover the bottom of a medium casserole dish with 1/4  
cup of the salsa. Holding a tortilla in your hand fill with 1/4 cup of  
beans and rice as well as a little tilapia and roll the tortilla up.  
Place it in the casserole dish, seam side down. Repeat until all of  
the tortillas are filled. Spoon the rest of the salsa over the top of  
the filled tortillas, sprinkle with cheese and bake at 375 for about  
30 minutes, until the top is lightly browned and the cheese is melted.
 
Meghan went to Grocery Outlet and bought all this for $20:..
 
1 pound tomatillos $1.99
1 pound jalapenos $1.99
3  pounds onions, 2 for $3
1 pound  frozen tilapia fillets $2.99
8 oz shredded habanero jack cheese $1.99
Mission flour tortillas $2.79
2 pounds  jasmine brown rice $2.49
Aunt Penny's organic pinto beans $0.99
And course, Meghan suggests..
Mexican coke $0.89 ea
6 pack Tecate $5.79
dozen eggs $1.59
avocados $0.69 ea
limes 4 for a $1

Lemon Cream Pie

Pink Flowering Almond Bush

Pink Flowering Almond Bush

Pink Flowering Almond Bush

Pink Flowering Almond Bush

Suede Frye Oxfords

So many pretty things in the garden, and the berries and summer fruits are still a little ways away. This pie is light an fresh, and a good excuse for a celebration. Have you you read As Always, Julia? It is the correspondence between Julia Child and Avis Devoto - both fun and informative.

LEMON CREAM PIE

10 ounces crumbled biscotti

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 large eggs

14 ounces sour cream

3 large lemons - for 1/2 cup lemon juice, zest

1 cup heavy cream

2 tbl powdered sugar

Heat oven to 350. In blender, crumble the biscotti, add butter and sugar. Press into pie pan, bake for 10 minutes, let cool.

Whisk together eggs, sour cream, lemon, pour into crust and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool until at least 2 hours.

Whip the cream and confectioners sugar until soft peaks form, spread on the pie and garnish with more lemon zest. 

Invite some one ot share it, and wear the suede oxfords. Suede is so luxe, it shows you aren't out stomping through rain. And a pot of Earl Grey tea is the best with lemon!

Let's Garden!

The seasons change their manners as the year
Had found some months asleep and leapt over them
-Henry IV, Shakespeare
Moses Lake  Grocery Outlet has tools, fertilizer, pots, and friendly people to help you with your garden needs. Of course people are always helpful with advice, but when in doubt turn to Shakespeare.
Tell us about your garden!
Or this lovely proverb: No matter how long the winter, Spring is sure to follow.