Shallow Seas Rosé and a Smoky Corn Side Dish recipe

September 10, 2018 by 6 Comments

It’s September 10, and I don’t know how the time flew by so fast! I hope everyone had a fantastic summer, and that we are enjoying these last long days of sunshine before we are back to Portland winter weather and getting the much needed rains after this hot and dry summer. I am trying to get in as many more days of dinners on the outside front porch as I can, and I have a really amazing rosé wine I’ve enjoyed a couple times that I wanted to recommend to you. The Shallow Seas Rosé from Real Nice Winemakers, is a local wine that has really stood out this summer from multiple rosés I have had – I’ve brought it twice to two different parties with many foodies as attending guests, and at both parties, it was a huge hit.

Shallow Seas Rose from Real Nice Winemakers

The Shallow Seas Rosé has an AVA that is 100% Willamette Valley, sourced from Hyland Vineyard, Olsen Family Vineyard, and Westmount Vineyard. I first had it in the spring where I brought it to a friend’s birthday party and we paired the wine with roast pig and other side potluck dishes, including my smoky corn side dish that I’ll share the recipe shortly.

Shallow Seas Rosé with roast pork and smoky corn? Yes, it is an unusual pairing I know but it worked because this rosé is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling, and has a beautiful blush pink color. The Riesling grapes in the blend gives this rosé and extra acidity and minerality that paired well with the crispy skin of this Chinese roast pig  and smokey corn. These crisp flavors ground the slightly sweet strawberry and peach of the wine, and is what makes it stand out so much from most rosés and pair excellently with a wide variety of dishes. With an SRP of $18 it’s also incredible value too.

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Tortellini Corn and Tomatoes Salad

August 13, 2018 by 4 Comments

Besides strawberries,which I’ve already written about a couple weeks ago with two new recipes, the other summer bounty I love so much is summer corn and tomatoes. This recipe for Tortellini Corn and Tomatoes Salad is my favorite go to during summer and fall to really showcase both these ingredients and letting them shine.
Tortellini Corn and Tomatoes Salad recipe, an easy summer recipe that takes advantage of the fresh taste of summer corn while its sweet and heirloom tomatoes at their juiciest and is perfect for a picnic, potluck, and can be served cold or room temperature
Fresh corn during the summer has a wonderful sweetness that you just can’t beat if you are able to get your ears quickly after they are picked. Cook them how you’d like – Grilled is my favorite but I also provide an optional cheat to add a little sear and smokiness if for convenience you steam or boil them instead, or you want to use niblets to save yourself cutting them from the cob.

As for tomatoes, the ones you get from the Farmers Market are the best – you can get all sorts of different heirloom varieties you may never see at your regular grocery store. This recipe leaves the tomatoes raw and asks for grape tomatoes but you can easily substitute larger tomatoes – I just like grape tomatoes more so they can burst in your mouth as fun texture.

Even better, this batches up really well making it perfect for picnics and potlucks with a larger group, and can be served cold or room temperatures.
Tortellini Corn and Tomatoes Salad recipe, an easy summer recipe that takes advantage of the fresh taste of summer corn while its sweet and heirloom tomatoes at their juiciest and is perfect for a picnic, potluck, and can be served cold or room temperature
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Oregon Strawberries in the Summer

July 16, 2018 by 8 Comments

Every year, in the state of Oregon, there is the anticipation and then the lines in the morning (including people lining up even before the Portland Farmers Market opens) for the famous Hood Strawberries. They only have a season of a few weeks in June, but are so sweet, red, and juicy and clearly, people think so worth it. But of course Hoods are not the only strawberries Oregon has to offer. Let’s look at some more Oregon Strawberries in the Summer. Overall, I truly do believe after eating strawberries in many a state that Oregon strawberries truly are the best. Unlike other states, they spend a long time on the plant that distinguishes Oregon strawberries overall from other strawberries, and they are more sweet thanks to our season of warm days and cool nights and plenty of rain.

Oregon Strawberries at the Portland Farmers Market. Oregon Strawberries at the Portland Farmers Market.

About Oregon Strawberries

Last month at the Portland Farmers Market at PSU, the Oregon Strawberry Commission had a stand at the market. Visitors were invited to taste four kinds of strawberries, and then with a sticker vote for their favorites. In the running that day included the varieties of (with some photos to show the comparison when they cut up):

  • Sweet Ann: this relatively new varietal of has a firm shape that is a little more elongated (for instance, versus the more heart shaped photogenic Seascape, or the rounder Hoods) and a berry flavor that is not too sweet or tart and a medium firm texture. You may find these around all summer.
  • Shuksan: these strawberries are among the first to appear in the market in mid to late May. With its more firm texture they are better for heat and freezing then Hoods which make them great for preserves and jams, baking, or let them soak with a little balsamic vinegar and sugar (a tablespoon per cup or two of strawberries) and pour them over desserts, or you can use them to make strawberry bruschetta. These I think had the best aroma of the four I tried here.
  • Seascape: these have a longer season from late May to September – which means you can still get them now! – and have the best looking shape I think because it is a bit more firm then the others varietals (except for Albions, and many California strawberries you may find at the chain grocery stores, California has bred its strawberries to be a lot of firmer to stand up to shipping). The Seascapes has good body but not too hard. This is the type that I used in the two recipes I share below, and have a bit of tartness along with the sweetness.
  • Hood: very sweet thanks to high sugar content, but are best uncooked since they are more fragile and can get mushy easily. I like them with cream, , and in ice cream, and even when they aren’t looking as pretty I just muddle them in a cocktail. They have a brief 2-3 week period when they are available may be among the most famous variety of the Oregon strawberries. Hood Strawberries are delicate so can’t withstand shipping long distances, and are always on sale to you within a day of being picked because they ripen so quickly. Hood Strawberry season is over now (though you may find it frozen or in jams and such)
    Oregon Strawberries - Sweet Ann strawberries Oregon Strawberries, Shuksan varietal of strawberries Oregon Strawberries, Seascape varietal of strawberries Oregon Strawberries, Hood varietal of strawberries

Voting results!

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Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse Ilani Chimichurri Recipe

May 25, 2018 by Leave a Comment

As we move from spring to summer, thoughts turn to outdoor parties and firing up the grill for corn, hot dogs, burgers, and steaks! Ever since Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse Ilani Casino and Resort opened, I’ve been looking for an excuse to go all the way there to Ridgefield, WA (about a 30 min – 1 hour drive from Portland depending on traffic). When they were offering a Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse Cooking Class, I had the rationalization I needed – I could share tips to you for Memorial Day. Specifically, there was an amazing chimichurri recipe which they served and gave me the recipe which I now pass on to you too.

Excellent wine choices available at the Michael Jordan's Steakhouse Ilani Casino and Resort Excellent wine choices available at the Michael Jordan's Steakhouse Ilani Casino and Resort: Duo of Grass Fed New York Strip and Filet Mignon at a special dinner: the Filet Mignon

So I and a friend (who had the car) drove up and enjoyed a decadent meal with the high quality meats of MJ Steakhouse. This location in the Ilani serves lunch and dinner daily, as well a brunch only on weekends though really – you’re here for the steaks aren’t you?

Since I was going for a special event, I didn’t order off their menu – but if I did, I would totally start with Garlic Bread with Rogue creamery blue cheese fondue.

After that though, I dedicate the rest of my stomach only to the steak, wine, and mashed potatoes please.

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Berry Brie Bites Recipe

February 5, 2018 by 1 Comment

This Berry Brie Bites Recipe is a great easy recipe to put together for a party, and with the pretty red berry topping is especially appropriate for February. You can make your own pie dough using your favorite pie recipe (I used this one by Ina Garten) but no shame in also purchasing pre-made pie dough either – you will need 2 discs, and ones made with butter are better then those with margarine. If you use pre-made dough, this recipe only uses 4 recipes! It’s really that easy – and so perfect for a party or potluck.
Berry Brie Bites, an easy recipe using only 4 ingredients, pie dough, brie, berry jam, and berry of your choice. Perfect for a party or potluck. Berry Brie Bites, an easy recipe using only 4 ingredients, pie dough, brie, berry jam, and berry of your choice. Perfect for a party or potluck.
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