Food and Wine

Two ingredients announce the arrival of spring in the PNW: spot prawns and asparagus. Pacific Northwesterners impatiently wait for the spot prawn season, which usually starts in May and runs through the end of September. Those sweet sea creatures, with their distinctive briny and buttery flavor, can be found from the Salish Sea to Hood Canal. Then there’s asparagus. Asparagus is grown in Washington state over almost five thousand acres, which makes Washington the nation’s top producer. Harvested primarily from April through June in the Columbia Valley, asparagus is among my favorite vegetables for its crunchiness and unique taste. ―Michela…

This recipe was originally published in Gourmet magazine in 2000. My mom somehow obtained a clipping of the recipe, and I’m glad she did because twenty years later, it’s still one of our favorite summer cakes. I’ve since adapted it—adding a crackly sugar topping and reducing the quantity of berries. Don’t worry, though, it’s still bursting with fruit. So much so that I’ve dubbed it a buckle, from the way the batter buckles under the weight of the berries. It’s highly snackable and travels well, so pack it up for a picnic, the beach, or a summer barbecue. The “snowy” …

Rancher mom and author Mary Heffernan has the perfect dessert for your next family gathering. Made in a big cast-iron pan so it serves a crowd, this galette is sure to please! Sour cherry, lemon, thyme, butter and sugar combine to make this sweet treat.

MAKES ONE 12-INCH GALETTE

INGREDIENTS

1 recipe All-Purpose Double Pie Crust (recipe follows)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
Zest and juice of 1 large lemon (about 1 ½ teaspoons zest plus 3 tablespoons juice)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves, plus more chopped leaves and sprigs for garnish
1/2 …

Skip the steak and make this savory meal instead. Packed with flavor and bright, spring ingredients, this marinated tofu recipe is a knockout for your next dinner party or a restaurant-quality meal at home. It’s delicious, filling, and won’t leave you missing the meat.

MAKES 4 SERVINGS 

INGREDIENTS

For the pesto tofu:

¼ cup (about 20 small to medium) roughly chopped garlic cloves

¼ cup finely chopped red onion

¼ cup roughly chopped kalamata olives

4 firmly packed cups fresh parsley leaves (from about 2 medium bunches)

¼ cup fresh oregano leaves

1 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed …

Broccoli cheddar is a cozy, familiar soup, so familiar that it’s worth playing around with the tradition. Our updates are simple but definitely worthwhile. Using Parmesan adds complexity, while lemon lightens the whole eating experience and brightens up winter evenings. If you’d like to make this ahead of time and freeze it, it’s best to stop before you add the Parmesan, as cheese (and other forms of dairy) tends to change texture when frozen. Reheat the soup and finish it off with the Parmesan, lemon, and seasonings.

 MAKES 4 to 6 SERVINGS 

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1⁄2 medium yellow …

It’s a challenge to keep it light and comforting when it comes to winter meal prep. Fortunately, Jackie Freeman is here to save the day with her recipe for Pan-Seared Gnocchi from her cookbook Cast Iron Skillet One-Pan Meals. We’re working it into our weekly menu for #MeatlessMonday!

Plump gnocchi are gently cooked with spinach, white beans, and aromatics for an easy (yet somehow quite impressive) weeknight dinner. The trick to this dish is to cook it in stages. Start with the hardest ingredients (shallots and gnocchi), then work your way to the softest (spinach and beans) so that …

Thanksgiving may look a little different this year! Even if you’re getting together with fewer folks than usual, this holiday still deserves a special meal. Whether you’re cooking the “traditional” meal or feel like mixing things up, Sasquatch Books has you covered with delicious Thanksgiving menus from our popular cookbooks and authors. Our final Thanksgiving menu is vegetarian and features recipes from cookbooks PNW Veg, Cooking from Scratch, and Simple Fruit.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu

PNW Veg Roasted Squash Toasts with Spiced Nut Dust

Start your meal with these flavorful, creamy, savory, and surprisingly wonderful toasts!

PNW Veg…

Thanksgiving may look a little different this year! Even if you’re getting together with fewer folks than usual, this holiday still deserves a special meal. Whether you’re cooking the “traditional” meal or feel like mixing things up, Sasquatch Books has you covered with delicious Thanksgiving menus from our popular cookbooks and authors. We will share a menu each week leading up to the holiday. Next on our list is a Pacific Northwest inspired menu featuring cookbooks A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus, The Salmon Sisters, Fire & Wine, and Simple Fruit.

Pacific Northwest Inspired Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving may look a little different this year! Even if you’re getting together with fewer folks than usual, this holiday still deserves a special meal. Whether you’re cooking the “traditional” meal or feel like mixing things up, Sasquatch Books has you covered with delicious Thanksgiving menus from our bestselling cookbooks and authors. We will share a menu each week leading up to the holiday. Next on our list is Cannelle et Vanille: Nourishing, Gluten-Free Recipes for Every Meal by Aran Goyoaga.

Aran Goyoaga is a James Beard-recognized blogger and Seattle food photographer. On her popular Instagram account she shares her …

Thanksgiving may look a little different this year! Even if you’re getting together with fewer folks than usual, this holiday still deserves a special meal. Whether you’re cooking the “traditional” meal or feel like mixing things up, Sasquatch Books has you covered with delicious Thanksgiving menus from our bestselling cookbooks and authors. We will share a menu each week leading up to the holiday. Next on our list is from our newly-published Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook: Homegrown Recipes from Our Family to Yours by Mary Heffernan.

On her wildly popular Instagram account, Mary Heffernan shares her life with husband …

Thanksgiving may look a little different this year! Even if you’re getting together with fewer folks than usual, this holiday still deserves a special meal. Whether you’re cooking the “traditional” meal or feel like mixing things up, Sasquatch Books has you covered with delicious Thanksgiving menus from our bestselling cookbooks and authors. We will share a menu each week leading up to the holiday, beginning with one from our upcoming cookbook I Heart Soul Food: 100 Southern Comfort Favorites by Rosie Mayes.

Rosie Mayes is the beloved creator of the popular food blog I Heart Recipes. On her blog …