A Gallery: Delights & Splendors of Cascadia

[cascadiabound]

Maple Pecan Rosemary Acorn Squash

Ingredients:
- 2 acorn squash, halved and seeded
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 tbsp maple syrup (or brown sugar or honey)
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped (optional)

Instructions:
1. Place the acorn squash halves on a baking sheet with the scooped-out centers facing up . Divide the butter, maple syrup, and chopped rosemary evenly between the squash halves .
2. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F/200°C until tender, about 40-50 minutes . Baste the insides occasionally with the butter, syrup, and rosemary mixture from the holes while baking.
3. Sprinkle on the toasted pecans once out of the oven and enjoy with a spoon!

Servings: 4

Notes:
- Acorn squash is also known as pepper squash .
- Baking time may vary depending on the size of the squash .

Options:
- Add 2 tsp white miso paste to the butter, maple syrup, and rosemary for a savory twist .
- Top with 2 tbsp crumbled blue cheese after baking .
- Add 2 tbsp cooked and crumbled bacon after baking .
- Mash the squash flesh like mashed potatoes .

 

[cascadiabound]

Mt Baker moonrise

 

[cascadiabound]

Port Gamble, WA

(Honest... this image is NOT from New England!)

 

[cascadiabound]

View attachment 2395030
Birch Bay State Park, WA

 

[cascadiabound]

Cannon Beach OR
and elk herd

 

[cascadiabound]

@AbsintheFather

 

[cascadiabound]

Sunset from Sequim WA

 

[cascadiabound]

Olympic National Park - spectacular shoreline

 

[cascadiabound]

Space Needle, Seattle WA

 

[cascadiabound]

Hawaiian Chieftain at the Port Townsend dock, WA

 

[RainierWriterII]

View attachment 2398349
Olympic National Park - spectacular shoreline

Holy shit! Where was this taken??

 

[cascadiabound]

Holy shit! Where was this taken??

Ruby Beach

 

[cascadiabound]

Ruby Beach

Another view of Ruby Beach, WA

 

[cascadiabound]

Ocean Shores, WA

 

[cascadiabound]

Huckleberry season in Cascadia!
These are in my yard - happy girl!!!

 

[cascadiabound]

Deception Pass, WA
A beautiful place to kayak- check the tides!!!

 

[cascadiabound]

 

[UnquietDreams]

This is a little different.

There was a restaurant in Portland called Le Bistro Montage, or, more often, just Montage. I don't remember the original location, but for most of the time I went there it was under the Morrison Bridge. Long picnic style benches and popularity meant you shared tables with strangers every time. It was primarily Cajun food, and I loved all of their various jambalaya (alligator was better than I thought it would be), but they were also well-known for their assortment of macaroni and cheese dishes. One night, more as a joke, I asked the waitperson for the recipe. She brought me a recipe card with the hand written recipe below, the base for their dish. It blew me away that the chef did that for me, and I had a safe at the time, so I told people I had Montage's original Mac and Cheese recipe in my safe. Oh, so very hot!

Turns out they gave it out to anyone who asked, but still...

Montage's original Mac and Cheese Recipe
4 ounces heavy cream
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
12 ounces cooked elbow macaroni
Pinch salt
Pinch white pepper
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
Pinch paprika (for color)

Heat a sauté pan. Add cream and garlic. Reduce the cream by about 1/3, then add the pasta, salt and pepper and heat through. Plate, top with cheese (I usually add the cheese in the pan beforehand to melt it) and sprinkle with a bit of paprika.

It is ridiculously easy and delicious. Montage did not survive the pandemic, but they have some food carts now. I haven't made it to one yet. But I miss this place, a Cascadia legend.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Montage-2.jpg/1280px-Montage-2.jpg
(Photo attributed to "Visitor 7," from Wikipedia.com)

 

[cascadiabound]

Sorry to have neglected this thread while I was travelling in parts very far from Cascadia.
Home again and fall has arrived with the 1st atmospheric river of the season.

 

[cascadiabound]

Olympic National Park, WA

 

[cascadiabound]

Pacific Crest Trail, WA

 

[cascadiabound]

Hoquiam WA

 

[cascadiabound]

Poulsbo WA

 

[cascadiabound]

 

[cascadiabound]

Portland OR