You Won't Miss the Clams with this Seared Scallop Chowder

Seared Scallop Chowder from Pike Place Market Chowder

Usually at this time of the year I find myself at Pike Place Market in Seattle. There’s no better way to dive into the heart of Seattle’s culinary scene than to pay a visit to Pike Place Market with over 500 merchants packed into its nine diverse acres. Seattle’s 100 plus year-old  Pike Place Market is a hub of delicious and authentic cuisine and is my favourite market within driving distance. Pike Place Market provides an amazing range of culinary delights for those looking to be inspired.

It was not in the cards this fall to travel to Seattle but I was inspired by a taste memory from a foodie tour with the incomparable Jan Marie Johnson, founder of Seattle Bites Food Tours.  That first visit during my tour we visited nine hot spots, ranging from charming specialty mom and pop eateries, to one of a kind artisan food shops to beloved neighborhood cafes. All of the merchants we visited embrace an entrepreneurial spirit that delights locals and tourists alike.

Game Changers French Toast with Berry Butter

French Toast with Berry Butter

(photo from Pioneer Woman Cooks soon to be replaced by my own)

I don't need to tell you how times flies. One moment we will be starting a new work week and then all of a sudden here it is Friday again. Our group has now reached #21 on the list of Gourmet Live's 50 Women Game Changers. The past few months have flown by as we experiment with dishes from each of the 50 influential women on "the list" so far. Whether you agree or disagree with the authors chosen fifty and their order it has been an enjoyable and creative outlet to cook from the masters and those we admire. There are even a few bloggers on the list. We have checked out books from the library, borrowed cookbooks from friends, surfed the Internet and browsed our own cookbook collections seeking that one recipe that will highlight that weeks outstanding woman.

I finally had a weekend off and decided I needed some R and R and crossed the border for a shopping spree into the state of Washington. Just saying "cross the border" makes it seem like there are exciting adventures to tell. What is more therapeutic than being in the kitchen? Well...shopping of course!

 If you drive directly south through the valley and into the United States the landscape changes inch by inch to desert. While parts of the desert have been reclaimed through irrigation and are lush with vineyards and orchards, the tiny rural towns are surrounded by cactus, rolling dunes and tumbleweeds. The Sonoran desert chain, whose roots start down in Mexico, take over in these furthest Northern reaches. This desert landscape has you thinking that the Lone Ranger and his sidekick Tonto will come riding over the sunburnt hills chased by a band of black clad desperadoes in an old black and white western. "Hi-ho Silver!!!"  Is that a cowboy sporting pistols on both hips ready to challenge me to a duel, twirling his moustache and intimidating me with his sinister glare. He lifts his brow seductively. "Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?,"  I say in my best Mae West sexy voice. 

Coeur a la Creme with Spiced Coronation Grape Coulis in Port

Coeur a la Creme with Spiced Coronation Grape Coulis in Port

When I go shopping for groceries I have learned over the years to shop only for a few days at a time. Despite the best of intentions most often my grand plans fall by the wayside and food is wasted. I find that if I shop for 3 days or even shop the European way and buy only what is needed for that evenings meal, there will be less waste and my trash bags will be lighter. There are a myriad of excuses but the most common are "I am too tired too cook", "I am missing a key ingredient", or "something else came up and I ran out of time."

Even with this philosophy I still find that waste is inevitable. Take for example this recipe. Where is the mint for the garnish? Well it became compost since it took several days to get to the point of preparing, photographing and  writing about this decadent and yet simple dessert. I have been to countless writing workshops, and photography workshops over the years and one thing they always engrave on our souls is to photograph and cook with the freshest of ingredients to present a dish like the pros.

Where in the World is More Than Burnt Toast?

The town

A resting place

A bakery

I am joining Sandi over at her blog Whistlestop Cafe for her Travel Tuesdays.

You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.

Molly Wizenberg Sweet Potato Biscuits with Ham, Mustard and Honey

Sweet Potato Biscuits with Ham, Mustard and Honey

Here it is Friday again and our group has now reached #20 on the list of Gourmet Live's 50 Women Game Changers. For the past few months we have been experimenting with dishes from each of the 50 influential women on "the list" so far. Whether you agree or disagree with the authors chosen fifty and their order it has been an enjoyable and creative outlet to cook from the masters. We have checked out books from the library, borrowed cookbooks from friends, surfed the Internet and browsed our own cookbook collections seeking that one recipe that will highlight that weeks outstanding woman.

If you are a foodie, you will know the name Molly Wizenberg. She's a Seattle-based food writer who is best known in our world from her pioneering food blog Orangette. It is here that we first discovered her friendly, conversational approach to writing, cooking and exploring food where each post is a jewel box with an impeccable recipe attached. She has been compared to such greats as M.F.K. Fisher and has thousands of fans, me included. The foods she writes about and photographs, she said, helps her understand who she is and where she came from, her city and the people in her life. "It's a way of making sense of the world."

Roasted Butternut Squash Chowder with Parmesan Crisps

Roasted Butternut Squash Chowder with Parmesan Crisps

Usually when I think of chowder the first thing that pops into my mind is Clam Chowder. But this vegetarian version with a plethora of vegetables is both chunky and creamy. Roasted butternut squash, leeks, carrots, parsnip and potatoes all work together to make this soul-satisfying soup that is perfect for these in-between days as we move into fall.

The days are shorter, the nights cooler, there is a nip in the air and the trees are showing their first signs of burnished gold. Although barbecue weather is still here my mind has already flipped over to comfort food, crackling fires and cozy blankets. When sick, or tired, or far from home, everyone seems to yearn for the gastronomic equivalent of a warm sweater, a kiss on the forehead, or a favourite blanket. Comfort foods nourish the soul as well as our bodies and tend to be familiar foods that remind us of simpler times or of a contented childhood. Just like the pending season your senses can be awakened with anything from a comforting caramelized squash soup like this to a large bowl of tantalizing macaroni and cheese. It is not uncommon for my home to be filled with warm, fragrant and earthy aromas of a slow cooked roast or bubbling crock pot. But soup was the order of the day.

Hoagies and Grinders, Hoagies and Grinders for Eat to the Beat (Turkey Roast Dip with Melted Gruyere)

Turkey Roast Dip with Melted Gruyere

When I first began blogging over 5 years ago I participated in many events throughout the blogosphere. I still participate in some of the events out there when time allows, and my old friend Elly of  Elly Says Opa has resurrected her event Eat to The Beat, an event she created back in 2008, when blogging events were all the rage. I was feeling nostalgic with this cooler weather so happily decided to participate once again on this trip down memory lane to celebrate her 5 years of blogging. Congratulations Elly!!

This is an event I participated in often back in the infant stages here at More Than Burnt Toast. I thought it would be fun to reminisce about my early blogging days and support Elly as she travels down this road as well. I am calling this week Event Week since I will be participating in several events in the blogosphere.

My choice is a song by Adam Sandler that cracks me up every time..."Lunch Lady Land". So many choices like macaroni and cheese, shepherds pie, sloppy joes, chicken pot pie, pepperoni pizza, chocolate pudding,  but I decided to go with "hoagies" and "grinders". For those of you not living in the Midwestern United States, like me, these are other names for submarine sandwiches (with a "grinder" being a toasted version).

Powerhouse Pumpkin Muffins

Powerhouse Pumpkin Muffins

Today is Sunday and it is time for confession.

"It has been one week since I last ventured into my own kitchen".

As a foodie I have committed the cardinal sin, but I have been "down and out" with a cold so I suppose I can forgive myself. Compound that with starting a new job, working 6 days a week and just being overwhelmed, today I finally immersed myself back into the kitchen for some baking therapy. My body however was not craving sweet, sugary, chocolate treats but nutritious powerhouse dishes. I have a butternut squash chowder on the stove for some TLC  and also baked a batch of these Powerhouse Pumpkin Muffins. They are packed with dates, cranberries, raisins, sunflower seeds, pumpkin, walnuts and  flax for some antioxidant and body rejuvenating goodness. I will be back to my old self before you know it, obsessed with "all things foodie."

Christian Delouvrier Roasted Chicken by Game Changer "Chez Pim"

Christian Delouvrier Roasted Chicken

Here it is Friday again and our group has now reached #19 on the list of Gourmet Live's 50 Women Game Changers. For the past few months we have been experimenting with dishes from each of the 50 influential women on "the list" so far. Whether you agree or disagree with the authors chosen fifty and their order it has been an enjoyable and creative outlet to cook from the masters. We have checked out books from the library, borrowed cookbooks from friends, surfed the Internet and browsed our own cookbook collections seeking that one recipe that will highlight that weeks outstanding woman.

Several years ago I attended the very first BlogHer Food conference in San Francisco. If the truth be told I was invited to be a guest speaker on a Panel discussion about "How our Blogs Can Change the World. On the panel were Lydia Walshin of The Perfect Pantry , Soup Chick and Nine Cooks and of course Drop in and Decorate, Genie of The Inadvertent Gardener and her San Francisco Food Bank's Hunger Challenge and Pim Techamuanvivit of Chez Pim and Menu for Hope fame. Then of course there was myself of More Than Burnt Toast. The reason I was asked on the panel was back in our BloggerAid days. Our BloggerAid Cookbook to raise funds for the School Meals Program for the World Food Program was just in its infancy. The cookbook is still for sale, by the way, with recipes written by bloggers around the world. The point is that Pim Techamuanvivit is one of our own, who has created a successful story and was chosen as #19 on "the list."

Skillet Butternut Squash and Italian Sausage Lasagna

 

Skillet Butternut Squash and Italian Sausage Lasagna

This is the ultimate one-pot dish for many reasons. Don't you just love a dish you can cook in one pan, with minimal fuss. There is no need to even cook the lasagna noodles. This goes for any lasahna dish as long as there is enough sauce to submerge the noodles enough to cover them during the cooking process. The ingredients for the lasagna are cooked in a fry pan, then layered in the same pan and baked in the oven until browned and bubbly. With my new work schedule of working 6 days a week for the next year, one pot dishes like this that can be whipped up with minimal fuss are more than welcome. Add a tossed salad and a slice of garlic toast and dinner is served.

I Believe in Fairies....Buttermilk Pumpkin Waffles with Sauteed Cider Apples and Maple Syrup..They Even Visit on Thanksgiving

Buttermilk Pumpkin Waffles with Sauteed Cider Apples and Maple Syrup

Do you believe in fairies? I have always been a believer and as a child kept a small fairy in a jar until I was convinced it was in her best interest to let her go!!!! On your next walk through the burnished woods on one of these crisp fall days, take a moment to stop and listen and you will hear the fairies rustling through the leaves. We need to hold on to our childlike imaginations:D Dreams can also come true and in super exciting news this week, I was visited by The Fairy Hobmother who, after reading my plea comment over at Joanne's blog Eats Well With Others, sent me this fabulous Cuisinart Waffle maker! Isn't it shiny sprinkled with fairy dust!

With this wonderful gift I will no longer have to go over to friends homes to make waffles since until this fateful day I did not own a waffle maker of my own. Now I know this is sad for those friends who opened up their kitchens to my culinary experiments, but on a positive note you are welcome anytime for breakfast here in my kitchen!  I have been reading about the Fairy Hobmother and her generosity for a while now. Her home is "across the pond" in the UK granting culinary related wishes to bloggers. She truly does exist and she works magic in our kitchens where we can use our new appliances from Appliances Online.  Continue reading to see how you can have your own wish come true!

Clotilde Dusoulier's Spaghetti Squash Gratin with Walnuts and Bacon

I just watched Julie and Julia for the "umpteenth" time this week. Am I looking for inspiration, am I seeking validation, or am I just wanting to bask in another bloggers sunshine on a rainy day? I remember when the movie first came out and I took a number of my non-foodie friends to the theatre. I think for the first time they may have caught a glimpse into the passion we have for food, for preparing food, for writing about food and the sense of satisfaction that comes with it. They have never had a problem enjoying food prepared in this kitchen...wink...wink. What they wouldn't be able to understand is the sense of community we have all discovered through blogging. We support, nurture and encourage each other in more ways than one.

 Even if you do not recognize the name Clotilde Dusoulier you will recognize one of the very first blogs I ever came across. Her popular food blog Chocolate and Zucchini has been around for many years. Paris-based Clotilde's love of life and food, and her curiosity about the world comes through in every post and has brought her a legion of adoring fans.
Before we begin don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win Tate's Bake Shop Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies....here....

Spooky Roasted Squash Soup with Leftover Turkey Croquettes

Roasted Squash Soup with Leftover Turkey Croquettes

Halloween is a time to go a bit over the top with garish make-up, outlandish outfits and truly diabolical dishes. And if anyone asks, just say you're doing it for the kids. But since you are preparing dishes for yourself as well as the "little goblins" in keeping with your health conscious lifestyle, the recipes below will prevent you from denying yourself any delicious treats.

We are so glad you have joined us once again for our Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club. This is a monthly event where 5 ladies and one gent in two neighbouring countries, Canada and the United States, get together to create a delicious meal with a theme in mind. We are now in our second year and continue to share a love for Cooking Light magazine which has an emphasis on healthy eating and living. This is a team effort where we combine what Cooking Light readers like best...good food with great company!!! Every month millions of readers turn to Cooking Light for recipes, advice on nutrition and fitness. This months theme Spooks is hosted by Jerry of  Jerry's Thoughts, Musings and Rants.  Do you have a spooky Hallowe'en recipe that fits in with our orange or black theme? Join in using the Linky below or link to this post.

On another note don't forget to enter to win the Tates Bake Shop giveaway. Draw date is on Thanksgiving. And speaking of Thanksgiving do you have any leftover turkey?

October is National Cookie Month So Let's Celebrate and Win!!!

Have you ever wanted to try something so much that it became an obsession? Last year, just before Christmas, when I heard about Tate's Chocolate Chip Cookies in magazines, newspapers and on television I had to try them. A rich, buttery, crispy chocolate chip cookie is one of my ultimate comfort foods. 

Imagine my excitement when I was once again contacted by Tate's Bake Shop and given the opportunity to share their latest world class award winning cookies with one lucky reader. Even though Tate's celebrates cookies all year long October is Cookie Month so what better to celebrate than to have one lucky winner have 3 bags of Tate's Bake Shop's latest award winning Whole Wheat Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies as well as your very own signed copy of Kathleen King’s cookbook, The Tate’s Bake Shop Cookbook. delivered right to your door.