Pacific Northwest Food (Yakima, Walla Walla, Wenatchee: transfer, live, moving to)

[Chenebe]

I love cooking - and am looking forward to finding out about the local produce you have there, and cooking with them. Just thought I would ask for people's fave meals, especially meals that include produce that is especially plentiful (and therefore fresh) in the area.

allforcats mentioned a mouth-watering one of Salmon, Walla walla onions and cilantro ... sounds yum.

[seattlerain]

Washington State grows a lot of asparagus and the season began a few weeks ago. I enjoy asparagus prepared in a variety of ways, but the following recipe is nice to serve to dinner guests.

Asparagus Soufflé

2 pounds asparagus peeled and cooked
2 potatoes, cooked, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup ricotta
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons scallions, minced
Salt and pepper
8 eggs, separated

Drain asparagus and potatoes thoroughly. Puree briefly in processor with ricotta. Add red pepper flakes, scallions and salt and pepper to taste.

Transfer asparagus-potato mixture to a large bowl. Whip egg yolks and then blend well with vegetable mixture.

Beat egg whites in separate bowl until they form soft peaks. Fold one-forth of the egg whites carefully into the asparagus mixture. Then fold remainder of egg whites into the asparagus mixture, being careful not to overmix.

Correct seasonings, then immediately scoop mixture into well-buttered, chilled soufflé dish or dishes, place dish on baking sheet and bake at 425 F for about 15 minutes.

[SeattleExpert]

i have to give a shot out to blau oyster (Blau Oyster Co. -Home Page -Since 1935 Blau Oyster Company has been farming Pacific Oysters in Samish Bay, Washington) in mount vernon area, which can be tasted during the annual oysterfest!

[seattlerain]

Another dish containing Walla Walla Sweets.

Walla Walla Sweet Onion and Tomatoes with Basil

2 medium Walla Walla Sweets
2 medium tomatoes
Salt and pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Fresh basil

Slice onions and tomatoes 1/4" thick. Overlap slices alternatively on platter. Salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with generous amount of olive oil. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar to taste. Sprinkle with chopped basil. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes and serve.

[Ira500]

My wife and I went into the woods a few days ago and picked some nettles, which grow wild everywhere around here. Yes, they do sting, so wear gloves when picking. I made a soup with the nettles, celery, onion, carrot, chicken stock, chicken breast, cream, and butter. Turned out great. Nettles when cooked are quite similar to spinach, and also make a good pizza topping.

[allforcats]

Almost everything except potatoes and tomatoes grows well in western Washington. The other two grow well in greenhouse-type conditions. The items requiring a drier growing milieu come from eastern Washington, just over the pass.

To change the subject completely, for seafoods available locally you might want to check this post:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/3487128-post8.html

[seattlerain]

There are some varieties of potatoes that grow well in western Washington, but I would imagine that the common commercially grown potatoes don't do too well on this side of the mountains.

Last year I tried growing the Ozette Potato and they were wonderful!

Reviving the Ozette Potato (broken link)

[Ira500]

...and there are some variety of tomatoes that are geared for growing in the Pacific Northwest...you need to find an early maturing variety. Most tomatoes require 90-100 days to mature, and that won't work here. By the time the 90 day mark hits, it's wet, and late blight hits the tomato plants.

[509]

IRA500 said "..and there are some variety of tomatoes that are geared for growing in the Pacific Northwest...you need to find an early maturing variety. Most tomatoes require 90-100 days to mature, and that won't work here. By the time the 90 day mark hits, it's wet, and late blight hits the tomato plants."

IRA500 that is so NOT true!!!! About half of Washington is perfect for growing tomatoes. Anywhere from Moses Lake-Wenatchee south to Clarkston and Yakima is great weather for tomatoes.

My personal best is ripe tomatoes on April 28th. Granted it was a warm spring unlike this year. The issue in the spring is generally not cold weather, but wind burn. So find a south facing location blocked from northerly and westerly winds. Oh, and if you want those tomatoes by April 28th just bury heating cables in the soil. At 1.75 cents a kilo-watt/hour I'm surprised more people don't try it. Did not even notice it on the electric bill.

[allforcats]

Whoa 509! Simmer down there, Bunky! Ira500 is completely correct. This whole thread is speaking to a couple who are moving to western Washington, not eastern, so all that lovely moisture we have here affects tomatoes very differently from the not-moisture you have on the eastern side.
So the "about half of Washington" is NOT the half we're talking about in this thread. And on OUR side, cold weather IS a problem, never windburn.

But you do have an interesting idea about buried electricity. How would a person ensure that all our rains HERE do not electrocute everything? I'm very interested.