East of Eden Cooking

2011/09/152017/12/26

Raspberry Chicken with Goat Cheese

Elegant and easy!

“The chicken’s good, Lee. I don’t think I’ve been aware of the taste of food for a long time.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I stepped outside of my comfort zone with this recipe. It’s not that it’s difficult, it’s actually very easy and fast to prepare. Everyone I’ve shared it with raves about it. I developed this recipe for a contest. I have never entered a recipe contest before and felt intimidated. Anyone could enter, including professional chefs. A professional won the grand prize last year. I entered and did not even make the semi-finals. I am feeling kind of silly about the whole thing. (I can’t wait to try the winning recipe for this year!) If you try my recipe I would love to hear what you think! READ MORE . . .

2011/09/082017/12/26

Zucchini Pancakes with Feta

Celebrate too much zucchini!

“Sometimes in the summer evenings they walked up the hill to watch the afterglow clinging to the tops of the western mountains and to feel the breeze drawn into the valley by the day-heated air.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Zucchini and summer, like peas in their pod. Early in the season we wait patiently for the plants to grow. As the summer progresses, we tire of too many vegetables to harvest. And then
what to do with the harvest? When there is an abundance of zucchini in the summer I make these pancakes. This recipe has evolved over time. When I first made zucchini pancakes, I just stirred in a few eggs to bind the mixture together. We lived in the county and had lots of zucchini and eggs. This was the recipe my mom taught me. My pancakes are now full of flavor and worthy to share. Recently I went to the local fish market to purchase salmon for dinner. Another customer came into the market and gave me zucchini from his garden. I had never met this customer, but I thanked him for his gift of zucchini. The poor man, he just had too much zucchini! It was time to make zucchini pancakes. READ MORE . . .

2011/09/042017/12/26

Salad for Dinner

Summer on a Plate!

“Well, right now you can buy fruit and all kinds of vegetables for two bits a lug.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

We often enjoy salads for dinner. I wanted to make a salad with the fruits and colors of summer as a main dish. The chicken could easily be omitted and the salad would still evoke summer on a plate. READ MORE . . .

2011/08/212017/12/26

Banana Nut Bread

Banana Nut Bread with orange zest or chocolate chips!

“While Lee helped him Adam said, ‘I had a dream—very real. I dreamed about my father.’”

—East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

My father always said he didn’t care for sweets, but loved to eat them! His favorite dessert was banana nut bread. He adored bananas. My dad grew up in the “drought and depression” (that was his description). For his family sweets were something to dream about. He found bananas to be exotic and sweet and he liked them. I have tried many banana nut bread recipes, but this one is the best. The recipe was shared with my daughter by a friend who enjoys baking. Her friend loves to get up early in the morning and start baking at 5am. I am so impressed! Her family has used this recipe for several generations. She adds chocolate chips to her banana nut bread. I like to add orange zest to my bread. READ MORE . . .

2011/08/092017/12/31

Pasta Salad with Pesto

Summer Pesto and Pasta: Chapter Two

“The summer progressed and the Salinas River retired underground or stood in green pools under high banks.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

This is the second summer recipe with pasta and pesto as key ingredients. I am always searching for a summer salad to serve when grilling. When potato salad is too heavy and another green salad is not substantial enough I often make Pasta Salad with Pesto with lots of veggies. Preparing the salad for dinner can be done earlier in the day and then I have time to make dessert! Gotta leave time for important things in life, like dessert. And I should mention, any leftover salad is usually gone the next day. READ MORE . . .