Living

For new superintendent, still trying times at Mount Rainier

There are days when Randy King can smile, basking in the honeymoon glow as the new superintendent at Mount Rainier National Park.

Rainier leader’s to-do list as tall as the mountain

While much of Randy King’s first six months as superintendent have been consumed by this past winter’s tragedies, he and his Mount Rainier National Park management team have been tackling plenty of other issues.

Hot fun in the summer

2012 is shaping up to be a blast with sizzling, activity-packed days and nights Summer and festivals go together like peanut butter and jelly. And like the soft and slightly squishy lunchbox favorites of old, festivals have a certain predictability that’s a huge part of their appeal.

It’s time to play

ongoing MAY June July August September

Northwest Folklife Festival features more than 6,000 acts

Situation one: You’ve driven around the Seattle Center for an hour trying to park, paid through the nose, trekked a mile in the sun, missed your favorite Norwegian fiddle band and now you’ve been standing in a burger line for 20 minutes while your kids scream at you.

Answers for your springtime problems

The third week in May brings questions from gardeners about growing quandaries. Readers this week are puzzled by azaleas and peonies that just won’t bloom, problematic buttercup, where to apply mulch and how to get those tomatoes to ripen before fall. Here are easy answers to the most-asked questions this spring:

Scone simplicity: Forget the mixes

Scones are one of the basic pleasures in life. Like biscuits with a touch of added sweetness, the best scones are delicate and light yet somehow wonderfully rich, each bite suggesting bits of butter that have all but disappeared, leaving behind tender, flaky layers. A scone is a singular work of art, yet any sweet or savory flavorings just add to the magic.

A festive meat course for late spring

Each chapter in my book “Molto Batali” is built around a big, festive main course, usually meat or bird, but meat does not need to be the focal point of every meal. That said, it’s perfect for a special occasion as we approach the end of spring.

Perfect topping

It isn’t a backyard cookout without a trifecta of condiments stored in traditional elongated red, squat yellow and plump white containers. They’re intended to add zip, zing and zest – but somehow, no matter where you go, they’re almost always the same.

Pack in the flavor with healthy steamed hake

Admittedly, steamed fish doesn’t exactly scream mouthwatering. But what it lacks in excitement it more than makes up for in health cred.