Boise Mug Donation

On a quick trip to Seattle last weekend, I got to see my Boise Starbucks mug donation on display in the Eastlake store. The Boise mug, second from the left, was only available for a short time, probably about 7 years ago. I purchased as many as I could find, and still have a few left in storage.

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes made from spuds dug up from a garden bed last night. Here's our recipe: boiled potatoes smashed with cream cheese and butter.

Southwestern Blackened Chicken

I used a cheater seasoning mix for these blackened chicken breasts. The mix contained paprika, garlic chips, pepper, red pepper, oregano, salt and a little bit of brown sugar...and as you can see, I really piled it on.

Spaghetti Squash

One of our garden goodies: spaghetti squash. Slice in half and place squash cut-side down. Bake at 325-350 for about an hour. The pieces become squishy when they're done. Use a fork to rake out the "spaghetti" strands. This squash is very mild. I used it in place of pasta, and it added a slightly sweet and nutty flavor to the dish.

Oktoberfest Apple Strudel

What a nice treat after dinner this week at TableRock - apple strudel. It's a special menu item for their Oktoberfest celebration.

Itty Bitty Grapes

I've always called these tiny grapes 'champagne grapes,' but the box label said they were black Corinth table grapes. Yum! My daughter thought they were really cute and a delicious treat for her lunch box.

Taste Test: Bacon Chocolate

Bacon and chocolate, chocolate and bacon. I've tasted a bacon maple bar before and it was good. Taste test results on this? It was overly salty and I really couldn't taste any bacon flavor. I would think someone could produce something better, because I like a sweet/salty combo. Quick, someone send me some Telluride truffles to restore my taste buds.

Taste Test: Violet Mints

Browsing the aisles at Cost Plus, I came across this little packet. I love the scent of violets, and this was the first time I had seen them sold as a mint. The verdict? Very strong violet aroma, but the taste was more like a generically perfumed mild mint.

Sicilian Strata

This was served up at a Pampered Chef brunch I attended over the weekend. The basics are: chopped onion and peppers, minced garlic and diced bacon - sauteed. Cubed bread lightly toasted in the oven. One dozen eggs, beaten and seasoned with salt and pepper. Monterey Jack cheese shredded. After the first ingredients are browned, stir in the bread, eggs and cheese and then bake at 325 degrees until set and browned on the bottom. Top with diced tomatoes and shredded fresh basil before serving.