greek coleslaw

My apologies for my near week-long absence from posting. It was the result of a technology problem -- namely, a total inability to connect to the internet -- that occurred while I was home for a long Memorial Day weekend. Now that I'm back in Seattle, I can share with you a simple coleslaw that makes regular appearances at our summer family get-togethers. Very simple, but very good. In fact, usually only 3/4 of the slaw makes it to the table because everyone walking past the fridge tries to sneak a bite. OK, maybe not everyone. Just me. And The Athlete. Anyway, the point is that it is delicious and great for gatherings where you actually want to spend time with your guests rather than slave away in the kitchen. Plus, it earns bonus points for not being mayonnaise based.

spring wild rice salad

I'm sure I've waxed poetic here more than once about my love of Pike Place Market in Seattle. The produce is fresh, the flowers are gorgeous and cheap, and the surrounding restaurants and food stands have mouth-watering offerings. However, I don't think I have mentioned the nearby shops yet. (You were waiting with bated breath, weren't you?) One of my favorite places is Antiques at Pike Place. Perhaps their turnover is really high or maybe the vendors just make a point to rotate their wares frequently, but either way you can always count on seeing new trinkets and treasures every time you go. On my last visit two weeks ago, I was delighted to find a wheelbarrow out front full of random saucers and luncheon plates. (A food bloggers dream, for certain, since a new pattern breaks up the monotony of everyday plate pictures.) I want to move soon so it seems impractical to purchase more things only to pack them up in a few weeks, but I did pick out one plate that I just couldn't leave behind. What do you think?

rhubarb cornmeal cupcakes with cardamom frosting

I wasn't kidding when I said I've been thinking about rhubarb ever since I was treated to Tom Douglas's doughnuts and seasonal jam a while back. Not surprisingly, I wanted to stick it in a cupcake. I let the thought simmer in the back of my brain for a few weeks and eventually my inner cupcake compass led me down the path of rhubarb + cornbread + cardamom. It might sound unusual, but let me tell you, this combination is worth trying. (Trust me -- all the cool kids are doing it.)

mango sorbet

Hi, Grandma. It's me again. Grandma, do you remember when you gave me your ice cream maker a few years ago? That newer electric one that you never used? Well, I was awfully glad to receive it. I took it back to South Bend with me and tucked it away, waiting for an opportunity to use it (since ice cream makers aren't everyday electrics for the lactose intolerant). That opportunity didn't come while I lived there, so when it came time to move to Washington, I packed it up and brought it with me, certain that I would eventually have a chance to put it to use. Well, last week I got tired of waiting, so I decided to use it to make a sorbet instead (all the frozen goodness, no nasty side effects). A mango sorbet, in fact, since mangoes were on super sale at the grocery store. So I bought my mangoes and had everything ready to go, but when I pulled your ice cream maker out of the box, half the parts were missing! I guess that explains why you never used it.

vegetarian blt

I live in a school zone, so it's not uncommon for me to see a patrol car or two monitoring traffic on the road in front of my apartment when I leave for work in the morning. Normally they park on the side of the road or on adjoining side streets, but yesterday I pulled out of my garage to find one sitting at the end of my driveway. The driveway is somewhat narrow, so I assumed that if I pulled up behind him, he would move out of the way so that I could leave. After idling halfway up the drive for a few moments, it was clear he wasn't paying an ounce of attention to me, so I cautiously pulled up beside him. The officer in the squad car was targeting cars with his radar gun like he was John Wayne in some sort of shoot-'em-up Western movie, and he was so engrossed in the theatrics of it all that he didn't even seem to notice that he was now shooting through my car at all the passing vehicles. I'm glad he enjoys his work. I'm also glad that when he flipped on his flashing lights as I was leaving, it was to pull over someone else.

chocolate custard cake with raspberry-pomegranate sauce

I am a nice girl, really. Nice, at least, until you call and tell me that the cake I just spent my afternoon making is not welcome at your restaurant. You see, I expect that if I make a reservation (well in advance), fully disclose that I intend to bring a small cake, and ask you to let me know if that will be a problem, you will do so more than 1 hour prior to my reservation. So when you, dear hostess at Bellevue's well-known Seastar restaurant, call and tell me that your "house policy" doesn't allow homemade cakes, I will quickly point out the grave customer service error you have just made and, as you now know, I won't mince any words. Yes, I'll hold while you try to figure out what to do with me, the angry customer on the phone. I'll also smile and reply with a polite "thank you" when you return and say, "Ma'am, your cake won't be a problem." I didn't think so.