Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

I really enjoy this recipe for a twist on a traditional turkey meatloaf. Its very moist and the sun-dried tomatoes add a nice punch of flavor. Enjoy!
RECIPE

Greek Quinoa Salad

I have tried quinoa a few times before and never really enjoyed it, but this recipe changes my mind. Its sort of like a Greek salad with quinoa mixed in to make it a complete meal. You could also serve it as a side dish along with some grilled flank steak or chicken. I recommending adding diced cucumber and more tomatoes. Enjoy!
RECIPE

Blondies (aka Blonde Brownies)

I made these for a party and everyone loved them, though a few commented they could have done without the almonds (inlcuding my husband how not a nut fan). Its a great twist on a traditional Blonde Brownie. Enjoy!
RECIPE

Kebaba - Bend, OR

Great little Middle-Eastern restaurant with food you won't find elsewhere in Bend. It's situated in an old house along Newport Avenue; its has a homey atmosphere, but it can be quite noisy.

We started with the Trio Sampler - traditional hummous (too heavy on the tahini), harissa-flavored hummus (too sweet), and babaganouj (excellent!) served with homemade pita. For my main dish I had the falafel sandwich with a side salad. The falafel was surprisingly spicy which balanced nicely with the slightly sweet salad that was topped with currants and carrots. The sandwich also had a nice tahini sauce on it which helped cool the spice down a bit while adding additional flavor. My husband had the Chicken Schwarma sandwich which was basically the same a my sandwich but with chicken  with a garlic sauce instead.

Overall, they offer good, unique food at reasonable prices. We will definitely go back again.

Buttermilk Pancakes (aka Best Ever Pancakes)

I have tried a bunch of pancake recipes and mixes and this is by far my favorite. My husband who is not a pancake fan even commented about how good they were. Enjoy!
RECIPE

Silver Moon Brewery - Bend, OR

Hop Fury and Hoppopatamas IPAs are excellent, though don't expect them to be around forever as they are seasonal and they do occasionally run out of them (unfortunately I had this experienced this first hand!). If you are looking for a deal go on Monday night for locals night which includes discounted beers.

I have only had two items from their food menu - the BBQ chicken pizza and the Pulled Pork Nachos. Great BBQ sauce, both sweet and tangy. The pizza had way to much cheese on it and the chicken really didn't have any flavor, but overall it was okay (there is definitely better pizza in town).  The nachos are a great snack to share; they subdue my craving for Southern-Style BBQ ;-)

NEW BEER!

These are beers that are new to us or that we haven't had in a long time:

• C-Note Imperial IPA by New Old Lompoc (Portland, OR) - solid bitter-style IPA, though I wouldn't call it an Imperial as it wasn't strong or robust enough
• Stone IPA (Escondido, CA) - good, solid bitter-style IPA
• Old Growth Imperial Stout by Caldera (Ashland, OR) - wow! an amazing full bodied stout
• Burton Baton by Dogfish Head (Milton, DE) - bourbon barrel taste overpowers the IPA a bit
• Hoodoo Voodoo IPA by Three Creeks (Sisters, OR) - good, slightly sweet IPA
• Centennial IPA by Cascade Lakes (Bend, OR) - nothing special about this one
• Detour Double IPA by Uinta Brewing (Salt Lake City, UT) - delicious! heavy, sweet IPA that is balanced by a nice kick of bitter hops
• Flashback India Brown Ale by Boulder Beer (Boulder, CO) - sweet and heavy with a bitter aftertaste; nice marriage of a big IPA and a brown

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Delicious!  Our favorite meatloaf...its not your grandmother's recipe (unless Paula Dean is your grandma). In an attempt to make something that is really bad for me at least a little bit healthier I reduce the cheese and bacon in half and use lean ground beef; the flavors are still there and I don't feel as guilty afterwards ;-)
RECIPE

Summit Saloon & Stage - Bend, OR

Very good draft beer selection, though the food is nothing special. I had a Western Burger which was over cooked (it wasn't even juicy) and served with a too sweet, lacking in tangy BBQ sauce. My husband had the half rack of ribs. He appreciated that the ribs were not very fatty, but had the same complaint about the BBQ sauce. We would go back for a beer and maybe a bar-style appetizer, but not for a meal.

The locations is also referred to as The Downtowner which, by the menu, has a great selection of sub sandwiches. I would go back for lunch one day to try one of these.

Martolli's Pizza - Sisters, OR

Good pizza, but nothing special. Flavors are mild, topping are slightly scant, and crust is a bit lacking in substance. Not a place I am going to run back to, but would be willing to try it again.

Papandrea's Pizza - Sisters, OR

Some of the worst pizza I have had in a long time. You might be able to compare it to a Pizza Hut deep dish though its been so long since I have had one. If you are in Sisters and wanting good pizza try one of the other places in town. I am sorry to say I cannot recommend Papandrea's.

Carbonara (aka Coal Miner's Pasta)

Recipe by Rachel Ray. I have tried a few other Carbonara recipes and they never live up to this one. Its one of my favorite pasta dishes. Great for a quick weeknight meal with a salad and some crusty bread or for a dinner party when you are looking to wow your guests. Enjoy!

RECIPE

White Chicken Chili

The best white chicken chili recipe I have come across. Serve with corn muffins. Recipe courtesy of Julie Balensiefer; my notations in blue.

White Chicken Chili

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts – cut into cubes (or use canned chicken chunks)

2 medium onions, chopped

3 teaspoons garlic powder

2 tablespoons oil

4 cans (15 ½ oz. each) Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans (14 ½ oz. each) chicken broth (suggest using 3 cups broth for a thicker chili)

4 cans (4 oz. each) chopped green chilies

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

 2 cups sour cream (light)

1 cup heavy whipping cream (half & half)

In a large pot, saute chicken (unless it’s canned, & then add the chicken after sautéing) onion and garlic powder in oil until the chicken is no longer pink.  Add the (chicken, if canned), beans, broth, chilies and all seasonings.  Bring to a boil, and then simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.  After 30 minutes, stir in the sour cream and whipping cream.  Can be served immediately, or left on the lowest heat.  Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, or tortilla chips.

Italian Lentil Salad

Nice twist on a traditional lentil salad. The hazelnuts add crunch and the grapes add sweetness. I suggest making a half batch unless you are serving this for a party or plan to eat lentils for lunch for the next week ;-)
RECIPE

White Bean and Sausage Ragout with Tomatoes, Kale, and Zucchini

Easy, quick, and healthy weekday dinner. I used a spicy sage sausage instead of the chicken sausage links, swiss chard in place of the kale, and only one can of beans. Serve with some crusty multi-grain rolls and you have a delicious, veggie packed dinner. Enjoy!
RECIPE

Espresso Brownies

Super easy. The espresso powder in the batter and in the glaze adds a nice flavor boost to a traditional-style brownie. Enjoy!
RECIPE