Cocoa Brownies

These brownies (recipe by Alton Brown) though they had a nice chocolaty flavor, were "cakey" in texture. They also came out a bit dry. Not sure if its the altitude we are currently living at...any suggestions??

East African Braised Chicken

Great tasting, flavorful and easy chicken recipe. I served it over rice and also tried roasted potatoes; both worked nicely.

Enjoy!

Pendleton and La Grande, Oregon

10 Depot in La Grande - I had been here before, but it has been a while. This time I ordered the Thai Salad with Chicken and peanut sauce dressing. I am sad to say that I was disappointed. There was nothing really Thai about the salad and the dressing was really lacking in flavor. The salad consisted of lettuce, bell peppers, carrots, celery, and onion with a grilled chicken breast on top. If I had just ordered a garden salad it would have been perfect. I will likely go back as there are few decent restaurants in La Grande, but I will be sure to orer something different.

Prodigal Son in Pendleton -  This is the newest brewery to come to Eastern Oregon. I was really bummed that they were out of their IPA as I was really looking forward to trying it, however I ended up with a really good rye beer instead. It was mildly hoppy, with a nice smooth taste of rye. One of the best rye beers I have tried (other than that by Terrepin Beer Co. in Athens, GA). I also tried their porter, which was fairly light and subtle in flavor.

The food selection is mostly typical bar food, with a few unique items, such as the Onion Tart that I ordered. It was definitely homemade, with a rich and creamy taste; served with a large salad of mixed greens. My companion also ordered a plate of onion rings, of which I partook in. Wow, I am not much for deep fried food, but the batter was perfectly seasoned and coated thick slices of fresh sweet onion. The batter was a bit thick for me, but the flavor was so good I was easily able to look past that. The biggest gripe I would have is that they served them with ketchup!  It just didn't do the rings justice.

Brother Jon's for Breakfast

Coinciding with football season, Brother Jon's is now offering breakfast on the weekends. I went there last weekend and had their biscuits and gravy with two eggs and fruit. While the biscuits were not the best I have had in town (I hate day old biscuits), they were still in my top 5 so far in Bend. The gravy was the traditional white gravy with sausage AND bacon; can't go wrong there. They had a nice range of menu offerings, but it is fairly limited.

Vegetable Strata

Adapted from a Real Simple recipe. Easy and healthy.

1 TBS olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 zucchini sliced into half-moons
1 portabello mushroom cap, sliced
4 cups fresh baby spinach
1 1/2 cup egg substitute (or 6 whole eggs)
2 cups milk
1/2 lb bread, such as French or sourdough, cut into 1 inch pieces (~6 cups)
1/2 lb grated cheese such as cheddar
Salt and pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil an 8-inch square baking dish. Heat 1 TBS oil in a large skilled. Add onion and cook until tender (3-4 min). Add zucchini, mushroom, and spinach; cook until tender. Remove from the heat.

In a bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Add the bread cheese and vegetable mixture and toss. Stir in fresh or dried herbs to taste, if desired (I suggest parsley, thyme, oregano). Pour into prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and set, 50-60 minutes.

Chicken Tagine with Rasins and Pistachios

Very good and easy weeknight meal. I used lemon zest instead of the preserved lemons since I couldn't find them as the grocery store.

Fresh Indulgence

Small bakery/eatery on SE 3rd in Bend. A place I drove many time without even realizing it was there. I stopped in the other day to get a bit of lunch to-go. Its quite small inside with only one table to dine-in at with office type storage along the wall (a bit strange, but not uninviting either). I ordered their Pesto Chicken sandwich on sourdough which was a decent value at $7 but it doesn't come with any sides. The pesto was made with hazelnuts and had a unique and nutty flavor. The bread was only mildly sour...I like the tangy San Fran style stuff...but it went well with the other ingredients. The sandwich also had a few pieces of fresh spinach and provolone cheese on it. Though it was good it was nothing special, in other words, it was something I could easily make at home. I might go back to try some of their bakery treats, but I am not running back for their sandwiches.