Meals in the Sound

PNW Kitchen: Island fave, local Rockwell Beans for the breakfast win

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Jen

While spring is near, we’ve been fighting colds on and off no matter how much vitamin C we’ve ingested, so Josh decided that we needed some comfort food by way of a local bean. Rockwell beans are native to our island and primarily grown around Ebey’s Prairie in the preserve and a PNW favorite to many here on the island.

Upon searching Grandma Smith’s Rockwell Bean recipe was the only prep guide I could find which called for cured salt pork, which we didn’t have. Instead we had two meals worth of Rockwell beans stored from our CSAs with Prairie Bottom and Willowood Farms and we had some pigs feet from a half pig purchase from our neighbor’s farm last year. We decided to put the combo together for a little culinary slow food twist of our own.

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Celebrating local fare at Penn Cove Musselfest

Posted on March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 by Jen

Nearly everyday we feel so fortunate to live on this island sandwiched between the Sound and two mountain ranges. The juxtaposition of our island definitely lends to the magical energy we experience. That magic isn’t isolated to the geography. This island is a bread basket of farm fresh fare from veggies, meat and seafood.

As March approaches we start looking toward spring activities: hiking, prepping and planting our garden, and discussing potential livestock additions. In all of this, on Whidbey Island we launch these spring preparations with the Penn Cove Musselfest in Coupeville.

We kicked off the weekend with the Mussel Mingle which allowed us to gather with other locals and get early sampling of mussels and a tasty bite of Three Sisters hot dog. The mingle also gives us locals the opportunity to pre-purchase mussel chowder tasting tickets before the big Seattle crowds arrive.

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Island Eats: Savory and sweet meet at Whidbey Pies Cafe

Posted on February 12, 2018February 17, 2018 by Jen

While it’s a popular destination for many in the summer, I find we venture to Greenbank Farm more often when the weather turns cold. The dog park provides dry ground for the pups to run and after braving the windy acres, a savory pie or quiche is the perfect way to warm up. And the cozy cafe isn’t a bad place to firm up some hobby farm goals we’ve been discussing.

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Island Eats: Losing our local watering hole

Posted on December 8, 2017February 17, 2018 by Jen

Some of the challenges of moving from the city to a PNW island is that restaurants close generally by 8 or 9 p.m., you are out of luck if you yearn for delivery and, at least on the South end of Whidbey Island, it’s nearly impossible to find an open eatery on a Monday.

And if you live in Greenbank and need groceries or a dining option you are limited.

Island life struggles, I know.

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Eating, learning on local seasonal fare with a winter CSA

Posted on December 3, 2017February 17, 2018 by Jen

While we still have some beets, carrots and chard in our own garden, I joined Farmer Georgie’s CSA at Willowood Farm. By supporting this farmer’s fare, I figured not only would we be well supplied in local veggies for the rest of the year but perhaps I could learn more about what grows well here. I want to learn how I can better rotate our own garden, so this winter CSA is just a little education, and a tasty one.

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