Addiction

I get addicted to certain breakfast foods and eat them daily until I never want to have it again. It's what gets me out of bed in the morning. Currently I am obsessed with this combo: 

Eltana everything bagel

Whole Foods lemon hummus

Sliced radish

Minced chives

Pepper

I first had a bagel with hummus and radish in Portland at the Taste Bud food truck but have since perfected it (added pepper and chives). I like to eat this with coffee, yogurt, berries, and a green juice. Healthy and satisfying start to your day.

Slice of Heaven

I'm not a huge cake person so I'm always hoping for something to wow me. I had the Simply Desserts Chocolate White Chocolate Cake this past weekend and it rocked my world. It was heaven on earth. Can't wait to order it for our next family birthday party.

What's your favorite cake in the greater Seattle area? Anything out there I need to know about? 

Ught Oh!

Only 4 weeks left of summer and so much left to do with the kids. Yikes. I'm feeling like a big failure.

Japanese Garden
UW Water Activities Center
Local Farmers Markets
U-Pick Farms
Woodland Park Zoo
Seward Park
Magnuson Park
Madison Park
Matthews Beach
Ella Bailey Park
South Lake Union Park
Seattle Mini-Ferry from UW to South Lake Union
Volunteer Park
Golden Gardens
Burke Gilman Trail
Discovery Park
Sculpture Park & the Seattle Waterfront
Pike Place Market
Kelsey Creek Farm Park
Ballard Locks
Monorail
Pacific Science Center
Space Needle
Mountlake Terrace pool
Seattle Aquarium
Chihuly Garden & Glass
Jetty Island
Bainbridge Island
Vashon Island
West Seattle
Gas Works
Ride the Duck
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Museum of Flight
Seattle Art Museum
Snoqualmie Falls
Enchanted Village/Wild Waves
Mariners Game
Sounders Game
Seattle Great Wheel
Vancouver

Reading Assignments

Lots of interesting articles here....


How to Raise a Child: ‘Teach Your Children Well,’ by Madeline Levine

A Final Message From My Mother

Two Classes, Divided by 'I Do'

Friends of a Certain Age: Why Is It Hard to Make Friends Over 30?

The 'Busy' Trap

Pinterest, Tumblr and the Trouble With ‘Curation’

The Making of an Olympic Sex Symbol

Love, Money and Other People’s Children

Small Farmers Creating a New Business Model as Agriculture Goes Local

(There is a photo with this article of Wilson Fish at the Ballard Farmers Market, and you can see Tim, the guy I buy my fish from every Sunday. He's the best. If you go there, wait for Tim and tell him I sent you. And tell him you saw him in the New York Times!)

Have you read anything interesting lately? If so, send it my way.

Good News, Bad News

The good news is that Nordstrom is partnering with Topshop and will be selling Topshop items in their stores this fall. The bad news for Seattleites is that you have to drive to Southcenter to get the goods. Southcenter is closer than London though so I guess I shouldn't complain.

"Nordstrom + Topshop: Breaking Banks this Fall"

pinyadayada

Cute custom, handmade pinatas from a local artist: pinyadayada. Such a fun touch for your next party.  

Jersey Salad

Photo credit: Can You Stay for Dinner

I took a pizza cooking class at The Pantry at Delancey several months back and loved it. It took months to even get into a class because they sell out so far in advance and in the blink of an eye. When I finally got in it was well worth the wait. I learned recipes and tricks for making dough and sauce, tips about cheese and toppings, and strategies for making great crust. I learned how to stretch and throw pizza dough without a rolling pin which is a fun skill to have under your belt.

In addition to all the tips and recipes, Brandon told us how to make their delicious Jersey Salad. Now anytime I make pizza at home, I have to make this as well. It's never as good as it is at Delancey, but neither is my pizza, and it's still dreamy to get a bit of Delancey at home.

I highly recommend the pizza class they offer (if you can get in). It's informative, fun and you get to eat pizza and jersey salad! Heaven!

Jersey Salad

Romaine
Carrots, long shreds
Red Cabbage, sliced thin
Croutons, I like PCC brand from their deli department
Parmesan cheese, finely grated

Dressing:

Olive oil
Red wine vinegar
Garlic powder - "way more than you would think"
Freshly grated parmesan - "more than you would think and close to rind if possible"
Dried oregano
Salt
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Splash of fish sauce or worschester sauce ("for MSG feel"), optional

These are a few of my favorite things....

I have no self control at Delaurenti so this is the appetizer I brought for our father's day dinner at the in-laws (along with a second tray of open-faced prosciutto sandwiches). You can buy everything you need at Delaurenti for a great appetizer platter. There are so many more things to include but I was getting "the look" from hubby so I had to speed it up.

Some faves:

Garlic rubbed crostinis
Fra'mani Nostrano Salami
Kerrygold Dubliner
Roasted garlic (make or buy)
Fresh chevre
Lesley Stowe Cranberry Hazelnut Raincoast Crisps
Olives
Cornichons

Pasta alla Amanda

My friend Amanda is a great cook and always makes it look easy. She threw together this pasta the other night and I loved it. Typical Colleen, I'm making it tomorrow night. I'd make it tonight but I'm missing some ingredients.

She used Lagana Foods fresh pasta which is great. You can buy it at Delaurenti, Whole Foods and other stores around the Seattle area.


Pasta alla Amanda

Lagana Foods Campanelle pasta
Yellow onion
Red pepper
Yellow pepper
Orange pepper
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Salt & pepper
Parmesan, freshly grated
Feta, optional

Preheat oven to 350.

Slice the peppers and onion into thin strips (maybe 3/4"-1"). Toss with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Roast for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally so they don't burn.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. When veggies are done roasting, season water with salt and cook noodles. Sprinkle veggies with lots of freshly grated parmesan. When noodles are done, drain and toss with the peppers and onion mixture. Add more balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with feta and serve.

Happiness is....

Delancey!

I told my husband we could go anywhere he wanted for Father's Day.  Usually this is his chance to get Chinese food since I normally veto it but his #1 request was Delancey. I couldn't have been more thrilled. To mix it up I tried the Romana, a favorite from long ago. I ordered it without anchovies and added sheeps milk feta. Perfection. I'm counting the days until I can get back for it. As usual, hubby ordered the sausage and couldn't be happier. A perfect meal to celebrate Father's Day.

Romana - my way

Tomato sauce
Garlic
Anchovy
Kalamata olive
Chile oil
Oregano
+ Sheeps milk feta

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Schoooooooooooool's Out For SUMMER!

My daughter's last day of school is tomorrow so I've been gathering a list of fun things to do this summer. I was a bit nervous about how to fill the days before making the list. Now I'm worried there's not enough time to do all these fun things.

There are obviously a million other parks in the city. I tried to just list parks that offer more than just a play area.

Have I missed anything great? If so, let me know and I'll update.


Summer in Seattle with Bambinos List


Japanese Garden - one of my favorite places to take the kids or to hit solo

UW Water Activities Center - rent canoes or rowboats (they are open for business during Sound Transit construction, call 206-543-9433 for more info)

Local Farmers Markets - Ballard, University, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, Columbia City and more

U-Pick Farms - take the kids to pick berries, then home to eat them fresh, freeze them or make delicious pies, crisps and cobblers (then bring me one since I don't bake)

Woodland Park Zoo

Seward Park - kids play area, ride around on bikes, walk through trails, make sure to hit Columbia City Bakery on the way!

Magnuson Park - play area, ride bikes

Madison Park - kids play area and beach area, pack a picnic

Matthews Beach

Ella Bailey Park - love this park, great view of Seattle

South Lake Union Park

Seattle Mini-Ferry from UW to South Lake Union

Volunteer Park - kids play area, wading pool, conservatory and museum

Golden Gardens

Burke Gilman Trail

Discovery Park

Sculpture Park & the Seattle Waterfront

Pike Place Market

Kelsey Creek Farm Park

Ballard Locks

Monorail

Pacific Science Center

Space Needle

Mountlake Terrace pool - with lazy river

Seattle Aquarium

Chihuly Garden & Glass - "they say" it's great for kids too

Jetty Island

Bainbridge Island - dying to try Hitchcock but without the kiddos

Vashon Island - perfect day trip... stop in at Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle on your way to the ferry, hit the farmers market, grab lunch at Monkey Tree, play at the park (if you have kids), then head home and catch the beautiful view of Seattle from the ferry.

West Seattle - what to do? where to go? open for feedback!

Gas Works Park - picnic and kite flying

Ride the Duck

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Museum of Flight

Seattle Art Museum

Snoqualmie Falls

Enchanted Village

Mariners Game

Sounders Game

Dreaming of Leftovers

The more I go to Delaurenti, the more I get addicted to their products. I love their grilled artichokes so much. I have eaten them plain, in salads, and served them on antipasto platters. Tonight I tried them in pasta for the first time and loved it. I made the Pioneer Woman's Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes. It was AMAAAAAAAAAZING.

I used Delaurenti's grilled artichokes and their fresh pasta (1lb of the fettuccine noodles). The noodles were great and cooked in 1 minute! Yes, 1 minute! The Pioneer Woman's recipe called for 1 cup of cream which seemed like overkill to me. I used half that amount and it was still creamy and delicious. I also always use canned whole tomatoes instead of diced or crushed. When you buy the whole ones, you get the best tomatoes, rather than the ones where they cut out the ugly parts. They also taste better because they don't absorb as much from the can and taste metallic or tinny. Finally, you don't get all the chopped white parts or ends. It's just a better way to go (a tip I learned from Mario Batali's show many years ago and again from Brandon at Delancey). Just use your hand to crush them. Works great and takes only a minute or two longer. Worth every second.

Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes
Adapted from The Pioneer Woman

2 T olive oil
1 T butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
1 medium container grilled artichoke hearts from Delaurenti, cut in half
3/4 can (28oz) whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, crushed in your hand, plus juices
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/8 t (or less) nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
1 lb fresh noodles (spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine)
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1-2 T fresh chives, minced

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.
Melt olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft, roughly 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute for a few more minutes.

Add artichoke hearts and tomatoes. Stir and reduce heat to low. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in chicken broth and increase heat to medium. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Once the temp has reduced, stir in cream.

Salt the pasta water and add noodles. Boil according to directions. Scoop out noodles and transfer to the bowl with the sauce. Sprinkle with parmesan and chives, then stir to combine. Serve and enjoy!

Les Tartines

Ever since I had les tartines at Le Pichet, I've been really into making them at home for lunch. They take two minutes to make and you feel like you're picnicking in Paris. This recipe with Dijon and prosciutto is my favorite, but the butter and chevre is also delicious.

I've been buying the Pain du George from Essential Bakery. It is sold at the bakery, Delaurenti, PCC, and other grocery stores. Any fresh country bread will do though.

With Prosciutto

Country bread
Prosciutto (I like the Italian Prosciutto di Parma from Delaurenti)
Good quality Dijon
Cornichons

Spread dijon over piece of bread and top with prosciutto. Serve open-faced with cornichons on the side.


With Chevre

Country bread
Butter
Fresh chevre (I like the basil flavored one from Delaurenti)
Cornichons

Spread bread first with butter, then with chevre. Serve open-faced with cornichons on the side.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

I can't wait to see the new Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit.

I'm eager to read other reviews but thought this review from The Stranger was interesting... 

"Class Art"

How to Explain Why You Feel How You Feel When You’re Standing in Dale Chihuly’s New Museum

New Seattle Obsession

This weekend I returned to Columbia City Bakery after not being there for a few years. It wasn't that I didn't like it the first time - it's just a million miles from my house. We tried a half dozen things and it was all delicious but I went especially crazy for the strawberry rhubarb danish. So much so that I convinced hubby to go back two days later. They have a huge selection of pastries, desserts, fresh bread, pre-made sandwiches, quiche, tortas and more. Worth a trip for a delicious breakfast or to stock up for a picnic at Seward Park.

Le Déjeuner à Le Pichet

There's not much better than lunch or brunch at Le Pichet. It's a lovely little French cafe that serves consistently good food. My friend Maria and I went there for a long-overdue lunch and as usual, enjoyed every last bite.

My Le Pichet stables are:

OEufs plats, jambon et fromage
Quiche du jour
Salade verte
Pommes frites

We opted to vear from our normal path though and ordered a few new things....

Salade aux pois-chiches marinées, thon, artichauts et olives noires
“Italian tuna conserve tossed with marinated chickpeas, baby artichokes, Niçoise olives and rosemary-red wine vinaigrette”
 
Les tartines (we ordered half of each and chose a prosciutto-style ham from the charcuterie board for that half)
"Open-faced sandwich on country bread with mustard, cornichons and your choice from the charcuterie board or with warm chère, butter and cornichons”

Everything was delicious. And while it's never quite the same at home, I did think it would be an easy meal to re-create. If you get some fresh bread and good quality goat cheese or prosciutto you could easily make the open faced sandwiches. And here's the simple salad...

Salade aux pois-chiches marinées, thon, artichauts et olives noires

Italian tuna (buy great quality tuna from somewhere like Delaurenti)
Nicoise olives
Artichoke hearts (you can get great ones from Delaurenti's deli case)
Garbanzo beans
Fresh parsley

Dressing

Red wine vinegar
Lemon juice
Dijon mustard
Shallot
Garlic
Anchovy
Rosemary

I called the restaurant to find out what was in the dressing. They didn't give me quantities so just play around with it. It was on the creamier side I'm sure due to the dijon and anchovies.

Recommended Reading

A few interesting articles you might enjoy...


The Flight From Conversation


Amazon Leaps Into High End of the Fashion Pool


Culinary Force Behind Vij’s, Is Opening a Seattle Restaurant


A Working Mom Defends the 'Lululemon Stay-at-Home Mother'


To Heal, First Eat


Arsenic in Our Chicken?



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Why Don't I Eat More of This?!

This...

becomes this...

I was recently feeling like I needed to jump start another health kick because I've been drinking too much and too often. It helps me drink less wine if I focus on eating healthy and drinking healthy. I'm currently loving all things Chaco Canyon and what better place to go when you're trying to eat healthy?! 

There are many great things to order there but one day recently I wanted to go the extra step and get something super healthy. I ordered a bowl with brown rice, steamed veggies and tahini sauce. Holy moly. I was expecting something that tasted so healthy you want to chuck it in the garbage and go get a croissant. Not the case. It was delicious.

I've since ordered it several times and this week I made it myself. I haven't had tahini that good so I did a Chaco drive-by and bought a side of tahini. I steamed my own veggies for a few minutes (kale, cabbage, carrot, chard), tossed them with a touch of salt, pepper and lemon juice, and put them on top of leftover brown rice, then smothered it in tahini sauce. Serve with a juice, smoothie or kombucha and you are golden. Delicious AND healthy.

If you know how to make great tahini dressing, share your recipe por favor so I don't have to do the Chaco drive-by.

A Slice of My Life

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My husband asked where I wanted to go for our anniversary dinner in a few weeks. Dumb question. Delancey of course. I think he meant somewhere a little more fancy and formal given the holiday but I say nonsense. It is, sadly, closed from May 7-15 so no such luck (and heads up to anyone venturing that way).

Moving on, Delancey is offering kale as a topping, available to add to any of their pizzas. We ordered a white pie with kale and preserved meyer lemon and a Brooklyn with kale. Both were delicious. Who knew kale could be such a fantastic pizza topping. And of course, don't ever forget to order the sausage pizza with spicy pickled peppers added. It's glorious!
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Seattle Food Tour

A friend asked for some recommendations of good places to hit in Seattle so I whipped up this list. Thought I would share in case you're out and about this weekend, looking for good grub. I included my favorite menu items as well.

Breakfast
- Cafe Besalu
- Honore
- Cafe Flora (Rancho Colorado Scramble with cheesy grits and extra beans)
- Eltana (everything bagel with spicy garlic or salt bagel with hummus)

Lunch
- Dot's Delicatessen (BLT with fries)
- Matt's in the Market (great sandwiches)
- Thrive (Buddha Bowl)
- Chaco Canyon (lentil burger, side salad, black bean chili with brown rice)
- The Other Coast (Rajun Cajun)

Dinner
- Delancey (Jersey Salad, sausage pizza + spicy pickled peppers or White Pie + sausage and preserved meyer lemon)
- Cantinetta (die for their pastas)
- Golden Beetle (love everything I've ever had there)
- Dinette (crazy for their toasts, salads and pastas)
- Joule (just had an insane dinner there)

Coffee
- Volunteer Park Cafe (love their cookies too)
- Caffe Fiore

Smoothies or Juice
- Healeo (Skin Detox, Pure Simple Health, smoothie with coconut, almonds, and dates)

Happy eating!.
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