Mixed Greens Blog

MixedGreens Predictions for 2009

At this time of year I love to read about predictions and trends. It all started when I had a clothing company and was obsessed with color. Not that I consider myself trendy but there is something exciting about seeing how close I’ve come to predicting where we are headed. This year, I’ll have to [...]

Hard Core at the Farmers Market

This is when eating local gets interesting, or shall I say challenging? Up until now, I’ve been spoiled with all that has been available at the University Farmers Market. After a few weeks of freezing temperatures and heavy snow, it is amazing to find any vendors still at the market. On Saturday, this is what [...]

What’s really going on in the backyard . . .

Slugs are up to some serious hanky-pank.  Sublime slime. They inhabit our gardens and savor our edible plants, we, therefore, pay attention to them.  The mating habits of leopard slugs, indigenous to the west coast, are worthy of attention.  Turns out they’re not so sluggish after all.
We’re firm in our belief that slugs are nasty [...]

A Plate of Cookies for You-Know-Who

Christmas Eve is almost here. It’s a great excuse to get the kids into the kitchen to bake a batch of cookies . Not a bad way to spend a snow day and a sweet cure for cabin fever. Luckily, Adrian & Lily are nearly always willing participants for any baking project. But the photo-taking [...]

Kale Catches Cold but Survives (& Obama notes Michael Pollan’s food wisdom)

Small miracles to be grateful for. Kale survival and Michael Pollan might seem slightly incongruous – maybe they are, but I think there’s a connection. Anticipating last week’s cold snap, we covered some of our lettuce with wool blankets and harvested the rest, then left the brassicas, broccoli and kale, to the cold which, it [...]

December 25th Breakfast . . .

Salmon with Eggs & Potatoes Gratin.  If I could count on a cozy snowbound Christmas morning . . . I can’t, but I know this gratin will be on the table because it always is. Tradition.

Also tradition that I’d never made it before.  Husband and daughter disappear into the kitchen late morning, roll up their [...]

Cool Cranberry Cocktails

Okay people, time to stop stressing and start feeling festive. I have two great holiday cocktails to help get you in the mood. Both start with a “cranmary” simple syrup to give a local, Northwest flavor. Here’s the recipe for that so you can start chillin’:
Cranmary Simple Syrup
1 12 oz bag cranberries (about 3 cups [...]

A Secretary of Food?

Among other things, MixedGreens blog is focused on food preparation. You’ve probably noticed. Cooking meals, simply that, is a huge contribution to living green – fewer fast and processed foods are required, and whole foods from local sources provide fresh ingredients that characterize and support a particular locale.

Some people hate to cook and maybe [...]

O Christmas Tree

There’s nothing that reminds me more of the holiday season than walking into a home filled with the aroma of a freshly cut Christmas tree. While maintaining this beautiful old tradition, we in the Northwest have the choice of buying from a local grower who uses sustainable practices. The Puget Sound Christmas Tree Association is [...]

A Good Year for Giving Green Gifts

The holidays are a perfect time to give a gentle nudge to friends and family with a “green starter kit”. This year I’m filling our MixedGreens shopping bags with various green and local items. There are lots of ideas for gifts to include at the Farmers Market — a jar of local honey, beeswax candles, [...]