To glut the maw: to satiate the mouth

CHANTERELLES

A few winters ago, my sister and I spontaneously decided to camp under the caves formed by bowed branches of pine trees in an abandoned Christmas tree lot above our house. We lived in Waterford, Vermont, where mushrooms proliferate in the musty corners of 200 year old houses and all along the forest floor, but Chanterelles were by far our most profitable and delicious discovery. We crawled deeper under the trees, and to our delight, we found hundreds of the orange creamy lobes waiting for us half buried beneath the mulching needles.

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STOLEN ROSES

We found the perfect rose in my neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, and we decided to put it to good use. Fallen dark chocolate torte (flourless), with raspberries dispersed throughout, powdered sugar, rose. Della Green had just turned seventeen.

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SAUVIE'S ISLAND BOUNTY

We always pick in excess on this beloved island.

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EXPERIMENTS IN THE KITCHEN

After a lesson on the chemistry of chocolate at Pix patisserie (a one on one with Cheryl, the owner), I decided to try my hand at making a few chocolate dipped strawberries. Here are the flavors that I came up with:

Almond
Ginger
White pepper (ground)
Candied walnut
Caramel
Sesame
Chili
Lemon
Brown sugar
Anise

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SCANDINAVIAN SALMON

Poached salmon with honey mustard glaze (so succulent, I could have died) on a bed of lightly steamed (and lightly sauteed with sesame) kale and thin slices of honey-crisp apples.

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THE GINGER NINJA

I won a pastry contest sponsored by Pix Patisserie on Bastille Day in Portland, Oregon. There were ten finalists, and they called us all onto stage to describe the dish. The Ginger Ninja: shortbread, ginger custard, peaches sauteed in caramel, and ginger caramel wisps.

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H'ORS D'OEUVRE

Grilled apricots with chevre and prescuitto

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TORCHED

Maple Creme Brulee

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TRUFFLES

After a lesson at Pix Patisserie, I went home and made this truffle with ginger and candied walnut. The surface is a silk-screened cocoa butter transfer onto dark chocolate.

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APPLE AND PEAR GALETTE

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BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT

We often have themed dinner parties, and this was the dessert of 'black and white night'. Blackberry compotes in a white chocolate cup, white cream and dark chocolate sauce.

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EDIBLE ORIGAMI

Folded wonton cranes, for those who wish to play with their food and eat it.

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POT PIE

The best little pot pies I've ever made.
Morels, scalloped potatoes, and fresh peas on top, and sweet beef with red onions and wine on the inside.

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SESAME

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MARKET BOUNTY LUNCH

Scallops seared in butter and shallots, asparagus and fennel braised in lemon.

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.HONEY APPLE TART

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BURNT SUGAR CREPE

Raspberry caramel reduction and sour cream.

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BRIE ON THE BEACH

Baked brie with plum jam and puff pastry. Don't forget the decorative and delicious nasturtium.

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DEATH BY COCONUT

Heaven for breakfast: I swooned over this banana cream pie in my favorite bakery in San Francisco, TARTINE.

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BOUNTY FROM THE WOODS

On my way to steal rhubarb from the neighbors yard, (they never use it), I came across these beauties. The next week, we found eight more, and we cooked up some pasta with a creamy morel and white wine sauce.

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GINGER FRENZY

Home made ginger soda floats (from a ginger syrup reduced all day long).

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BENEDICT

I only made the hollandaise for this breakfast, but it was so lovely I had to take a photo.

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CANDIED VIOLETS

We gathered these violets in the rain, and then coated them with egg whites and white sugar. Wait a few days, and you'll have candied violets.

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GOLDEN CRISP

Maple glazed salmon and spinach.

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THE SEASON

We picked these in Burlington, Vermont.

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CARAMEL FISH CAKE

No, this is not a fish cake, simply a lemon caramel cake in the shape of a fish. 

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THE INCREDIBLE, EDIBLE EGG

A sandwich made from our own baked bread, tomatoes from the farmer's market, and a splendid egg. 

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PLUM

Neighborhood bounty: plums, blackberries, and lavender. 

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BUN IN THE OVEN

Two beautifully successful loaves. One is a pumpkin swirl, thanks to Della's genius. (Della is my roommate). 

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FINALLY, A SUCCESSFUL CAKE

My grandmother's sour cream dark chocolate cake, used with real soured cream and scharffenberger chocolate. I made a brandy ganache for the top. Also pictured below. 

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FINALLY, A SUCCESSFUL CAKE

Paragraph.

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ROAST IT

Roast garlic atop a home-made pizza.

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