Recipes

Big Love Buttermilk Fried Chicken

When Heather Earnhardt opened her tiny cafe, The Wandering Goose, in Seattle, she added a little bit of Southern charm and comfort to the city. From her childhood in the South with her close-knit family comes this collection of traditional Southern favorites that makes use of all of the delicious food ingredients available here in the Pacific Northwest. Her specialty is her biscuits - both sweet and savory - as well as traditional Southern fare such as pickles, pies, cakes, grits and this Big Love Buttermilk Fried Chicken. This delicious recipe comes from Heather L. Earnhardt's Big Food Big Love: Down Home Southern Cooking Full of Heart of Seattle's Wandering Goose.From the Author: "Fried chicken is an emblem of the South and loved the world over: there are as many styles and flavors as there are ways of eating it. Whether it's served hot over a buttermilk biscuit or eaten cold as a midnight snack standing in front of the refrigerator, fried chicken is good any time of the day or night. And it's good for you! If your oil is at the correct temperature, the chicken won't absorb any excess and will come out with a crackling skin and hot, juicy interior. My hope is that you fry enough of this chicken so that there are one or two pieces left for a midnight snack."

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

This Fall roasted cauliflower soup will certainly grace our table more than once this season. It fills the need for belly-warming comfort without being too heavy, reminding us that Summer is just barely over and will thankfully come again. The soup was on the table in under an hour, with little active time. It would make a perfect soup-shot to begin a Thanksgiving or holiday feast, and is easily adaptable to other seasonal vegetables and seasonings.

Tea-Rubbed Eggplant & Halloumi

For your next smorgasbord or mixed grill, try our Asian Tea Rub on eggplant and halloumi. The flavors are delightful and it's quick and easy to put together. Perfect as a side dish for the next time you use your grill, and also makes a great vegetarian entree, too!

Lentil Loaf with Awesome Sauce

I've made this recipe for lentil loaf a million times. It is a go-to dish that keeps coming back around. Why? It's true the loaf is moist and flavorful, healthy, and satisfying. It's true that you can make it with just about any assortment of seasonal vegetables and spices. But the real reason is that the sauce is AWESOME. Seriously. For a family that loves to experiment with new dishes, the fact that we keep coming back to this recipe is a testament to its greatness.Credit goes to The Simple Veganista and her perfectly proportioned recipe for The Ultimate Vegetable Lentil Loaf. We've barely adapted it here. For our tastes, the secret is in the sauce, a simple blend of balsamic vinegar, ketchup and maple syrup, that pairs perfectly with all manner of flavors in the loaf. For this recipe I made it with New Mexico Chili Powder and our new Garlic Salt, but Sassy Steak Spice and Creole Seasoning also work well.

Fresh Herb Falafel

Truly well executed falafel is a revelation to the palate, and this recipe from Rose Water & Orange Blossoms by Maureen Abood provides exactly that. You can also make the falafel mix a day ahead, as well. For more delicious Lebanese recipes, be sure to check out this cookbook - you will want to make every recipe! From the Author: "What a fantastic discovery homemade falafel is! Completely fresh and such a difference from falafel in restaurants, because of the copious fresh herbs and balance of spices. We’ve never cooked with cumin in my extended Lebanese family, but here you can add a pinch if you like."

Harissa Spiced Fig, Merguez, and Almond Salad

We love a good salad, and are always looking for a good salad cookbook to give us inspiration. Salmagundi: A Celebration of Salads from around the World by Sally Butchec has wonderful salad recipes from a variety of cuisines! This recipe for a spiced fig salad, which comes from the book, artfully combining sweet and spicy flavors in a spice-infused honey for predictably delicious results.From the Author: "This is a rather special salad. Actually, figs have the capacity to render pretty much anything special: their appearance is lush for starters - they have but to lie down on a plate or pose in a fruit bowl and they steal the show. They are also feted for their aphrodisiac properties: yup - they are the all-around floozy of the fruit world."

Bajan Chicken Salad

We are always looking for new and fun salad ideas, and Salmagundi: A Celebration of Salads from around the World has a wide variety to try. This Bajan chicken salad, a recipe from the book, combines allspice, cumin, paprika and oregano with a mix of fresh, bright-tasting ingredients for a unique and refreshing flavor.From the Author: "Bajan food is a beguiling mix of Africa and India and the Caribbean. This recipe is a similar jumble—of all the lovely flavors that we sampled on our trip."

Asian Chicken Salad

We're crazy in love with our Cascade Mushroom Mix, featured in this Asian chicken salad with just the right embellishments. We put the mushroom mix in the marinade, where the umami flavor magic made the meat meatier. For this Asian chicken salad, we added carrots, cashews, and bok choy for crunch and added flavor. Adding toasted sesame seeds for the garnish adds a delightful flair.

Zesty Biscayne Chicken Skewers

2 hrs, 15 min

Get ready for a taste explosion with our Zesty Biscayne Chicken Skewers! The vibrant flavors of the Caribbean, bursting with zesty citrus, allspice, and a hint of chile pepper heat, will transport your taste buds to a tropical paradise.Our secret weapon? The Biscayne Citrus Rub marinade, infused with the essence of sunshine and good vibes. Picture this: light beer and Upper Left Madrona Smoked Honey joining forces to create a magical elixir that lets the flavors of the rub truly shine. So grab those skewers and let the Caribbean flavors take you on a culinary adventure.