Good Stuff NW: Summer's Not Done with Us Yet
Is it just me, or has this summer been remarkably mild? Yes, I know we’ve had a couple of 90 degree-plus days so far, and it looks like there are a few more on the way, but gosh it’s been nice to sit on the porch with a cool beverage and chat with neighbors passing by. And don’t let anyone tell you summer’s over…Northwesterners know we have plenty of balmy days to come (through October if we’re lucky).
Regular readers know about my passion for cookbooks, so when my friend, chef, author and part-time Paris resident Mary Bartlett, posted an essay about her well-worn copy of Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” I immediately asked if I could share it with you. I hope you’re as charmed as I was on reading “Patience.”
As a former garage and estate sale habitué, I couldn’t wait to check out Kitchen Culture, Traci Hildner’s outpost on Southeast Foster Road that offers a selection of high quality used kitchenware and equipment, along with cooking classes and community events. Read my interview with her and find out how she landed on the idea.
“Viral” is an understatement when used to describe the campaign that interests opposed to land use regulation used to delay the up-until-then calm discussions at the state level about commercial uses of land designated for agricultural purposes. Read how an organization of developers “flooded the zone” with misinformation and outright lies that caused the governor to pause the process.
Camping plans this month? Taking your furry family members along? Get the tips and tricks we’ve developed over many decades that make it fun for everyone.
And of course there are recipes I couldn’t resist sharing, like Miso-Glazed Japanese Eggplant and a to-die-for Peach Upside-Down Cake that will make your summer just a little more delicious.
Over on my social media feeds I’ve been sharing my horror about the genocide being inflicted on innocent children and families in Gaza, and encouraging folks to contribute to the Gaza Soup Kitchen, one of the only aid organizations that’s been feeding people and providing water and basic medical care throughout the violence. I hope you’ll consider donating to them and following them on Facebook or Instagram.
Thanks to my subscribers on Patreon for your support of this source of news you won’t find anyplace else. Though the content you find here has always been and will always be free to access, it’s not without cost and subscribers help to defray some of that with their donations, so I hope you’ll consider a nominal subscription.
Thanks to you, too, for reading. I hope you find it useful!
Best,
Kathleen Bauer