January in Minnesota brings many challenges but this year was exceptional. Besides a sub-zero cold punch and bouts of political strife, the beloved Oak Grill is slated to close. Popovers are on the endangered eating list – at least in downtown Minneapolis. The Oak Grill tradition goes back a long way with my family. I can see my mother and sister seated up straight against the backdrop of over-sized chairs and an old English fireplace. Everyone is dressed in her […]
Latest Posts
Caramel Apples at Great!Lakes Candy Kitchen
Author: Lee Ann Owens
Posted: October 17, 2016
Fall brings more than post card perfect leaf color to Minnesota’s North Shore. Crisp juicy local apples are at their prime. That means caramel apple season at Great!Lakes Candy Kitchen in Knife River. Each caramel apple is lovingly prepared in small batches from scratch. A plunge of warm caramel cools into a blanket of buttery sweetness. The coveted sweet cream caramel spills over the curve of the apple forming a puddle. Natural beauty lies within the edible wrapper. A locally-grown […]
Long Time No Food Blogging
Author: Lee Ann Owens
Posted: June 21, 2016
The Edina Eater returns… It’s a food blog comeback! Days, weeks and months crumble away for a food blog. The Edina Eater is no exception. I hesitated and the time was lost. This is my apology. Life is a full plated priority list even for a food blogger. My evenings and weekends go to: Time with family Working out Classic movies Reading Gardening Work-related networking Doing errands This no-blog bullet list must change! Today is the day to post again. […]
Cupcake Comeback for Canines
Author: Lee Ann Owens
Posted: August 24, 2015
What’s more fun than a weekend cupcake event? “Wag-wag…Why nothing!” says Turtle the dog. A puppy mill survivor, the cute as button pint-sized pouch, has a cupcake named in his honor. Sweet Retreat sponsored a cupcake fundraiser for Turtle when he was sick and need financial help. His tail to recovery is a long one, and many dog-loving thoughtful folks helped along the way. Now Turtle is turning two. He’s better. One look at his deep dark puppy eyes and […]
Tofu, Bok Choy Stir-Fry
Serves: 2
Time: 1/2 Hour
Difficulty: Moderate
Just about any vegetable that can stand up to heat works in a stir fry. Bok choy bursting with juicy celery-cabbage flavor makes an especially nice choice. Fresh from the grower is always best but shipped in product will do too. Look for crisp, bright blemish-free stalks. To remove soil, I cut off the bottom inch or two of the core then break off each big leaf and wash separately under running water. Any stir fry demands your full […]
Whole Grain Irish Soda Bread
Serves: 8
Time: 1 1/4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
With St. Patrick’s Day comes Irish soda bread. Heavy loaves fresh from the oven win over hearts – even non-Irish ones. Who could resist? Moist crumbs cling to your teeth with a pleasant starchy paste. Douse your Irish soda bread in a spot of hot tea. Only strong tea like Irish Breakfast brewed to a deep black with a splash of cold milk will do. Why limit the joy to just St. Patrick’s Day? Irish soda bread is tasty […]
Spinach and Cheese Quiche
Serves: 8
Time: 1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
This classic French dish is a snap to make with a bunch of fresh spinach and a ready-made pie crust. Spinach and cheese quiche makes a great light lunch or dinner served with a salad. Real Hens Make Quiche As is true with most any recipe, the better the quality of the ingredients, the better the final result will be. Buy the best quality cheese that you can afford. Real French Gruyere rather than plain old Swiss would be ideal. […]
Wilted Arugula with Beans
Serves: 4
Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Eat more greens and love them. Arugula prepared with a quick, easy, healthy Mediterranean-style presentation makes eating right a pleasure. Greens can be good. Terrifically Tasty Greens A snappy sauté transforms arugula greens into a warm savory nosh. Nutty Marconia almonds and pine nuts add a chewy texture. Chickpeas boast a bean-based heft that’s almost meaty. While some protein or pasta could go along side, wilted winter greens with beans stand on their own. This vegan vegetable-bean—nut combo is substantive […]
Chocolate Cream Minute Mousse
Serves: 6
Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Chocolate lovers rejoice. Homemade from scratch mousse comes together in minutes. Four ingredients make a marvelous mousse. Chocolate Trio Pick your pleasure. Dark, milk and white chocolate work equally well. Get fancy. Make a batch of each and layer ribbons of chocolate delight. Impress everyone with a grand look. Only you will know how easy minute mousse is to prepare. One universal rule: the higher grade of the chocolate, the better the flavor will be. Never use chocolate chips, […]
Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce with Lentils
Serves: 8
Time: 1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Vegetarian entrees can be every bit as good as their meaty contemporaries. My vegetarian spaghetti sauce with lentils is proof. The vegetables and legumes simmer into an earthy splendor with no shortage of mouthwatering flavor. The lentils make a healthy, hefty building block. They meld the sauce together absorbing vegetable juices and wine. Serving is easy. Just use your favorite pasta as a base. Pile on a generous serving of vegetarian spaghetti sauce with lentils. Freshly-grated Romano cheese makes a […]