Field Notes from a Fungi Forager
This gorgeously illustrated compendium is a love letter to mushrooms—and to the Pacific Northwest.
From evergreen forests shrouded in mist to the urban backyards of Seattle, mushrooms are everywhere in the Pacific Northwest if you know how to look. Here, forager-chef and forest therapy guide Ashley Rodriguez provides an evocative and personal survey of 50 of the most fantastic mushrooms to be found in the region. This book includes the famous Morchella (morel) and Cantharellus (chanterelle) as well as lesser-known species, like the blueish purple Clitocybe nuda (wood blewit) which smells like frozen orange juice, and Hydnellum peckii (Bleeding tooth fungus), which oozes brilliant red droplets that are widely used as a natural dye. Through the lens of these humble fungi, the interconnectedness of all living things comes into focus.
Here you’ll find:
An introduction to mushrooms in the Northwest landscape.
Best practices for mushroom foraging and appreciation.
50 mushroom profiles, includes information about each mushroom’s appearance (plus scientific illustrations of each species), what distinguishes them from other species, how they have been used throughout different cultures and lore, and personal field notes from the forest floor.
The most prized edible species are paired with mouthwatering sidebars about ways to use that mushroom in the kitchen.
Infused with a forager-chef's love of edible mushrooms as well as the reverence of an eco-spiritual guide, this fully illustrated book is as much a treat to read as is to look at.
Rooted Kitchen
ROOTED KITCHEN is as much about food as it is connecting with nature. My hope is these recipes, tips for sustainability and foraging, and mindfulness practices will inspire you to get outside and truly root yourself within the world around you. The chapters are broken up into seasons, so that you can nourish your mind and body along with the calendar year. The book is available for order wherever books are sold.
Order your signed copy at Book Larder!
Date Night In
Sweethearts, spouses, and parents Ashley and Gabe Rodriguez found themselves deep into marriage and child-rearing when they realized they were missing the connection of their early relationship, and needed to prioritize each other. They instituted a weekly date night at home to sauté roast, mix, dice, and spend time reconnecting over delicious meals like:
Crostini with Ricotta, Prosciutto, and Peas
Tomato and Fennel Gazpacho with Dungeness Crab
Fennel-Crusted Lamb Chops
Dulce de Leche and Nectarine Creamsicles
Simply carving out time to talk, cook, and eat together can be the relationship-booster you need to keep the spark alive. Just don't forget the cocktail (try a Rhubarb Sour or a Grapefruit 75). Make date night an integral part of your week and woo your partner all over again with food, drink, and sparkling conversation.
Packed with tantalizing and delicious recipes, Date Night In is a must-have cookbook for any couple who wants to spice things up with special seasonal meals at home around a table for two.
Let’s Stay In
Author Ashley Rodriguez has focused her career on teaching people the importance of a good meal at home, first with Date Night In, a relationship cookbook that brought the romance back to home-cooked meals at home. For her next book, she's turning the focus outward. Let's Stay In is all about effortless hospitality, meaningful family meals, and an appreciation for the magic of meals shared with others. Families, neighbors, friends, and loved ones will find a different kind of love around the table together, connecting over memorable meals. The recipes walk you through every meal of the day with delicious breakfasts, easy lunches, inviting dinners, and Ashley's signature incredible desserts:
Breakfasts of Red Lentil and Chickpea Stew with Poached Eggs, Breakfast BLTs, and Spiced Raisin Scones
Midday meals of Zucchini, Gruyere & Basil Quesadillas, Ricotta, Speck and Plum Salsa Tartine, and Ivy's Split Pea Soup
Table-groaning dinners of Steak Tacos with Radish and Pickled Onions, Oven Baked Risotto with Squash and Rosemary Candied Walnuts, and Grilled Leg of Lamb with Green Sauce
Sweets and drinks like Blood Orange Poppy Seed Upside Down Cake, Guava Coconut Punch, The Easiest Pear Tart, and Cardamom Cream Soda
