About Jess
When I started hogwash, I wanted a name that was emblematic of what I’d been writing about, food and life, and also of Seattle. Pike Place Market served as an obvious starting point. But I didn’t want to get too serious. It is all hogwash, these here words. And Rachel, the big bronze pig that stands at the market’s entrance, seemed to fit my purpose. She was there when it all started.
I just finished a big project: I wrote a recipe a day for all of 2007. I started it because I needed a goal; I was new to town and unsure I’d ever push my way into Seattle’s food-writing world. I needed a good assignment. I was least certain about finding an outlet for recipe writing (I’d done plenty of it on Cape Cod, testing and developing recipes for cookbooks and supermarket magazines and such, and I loved it), and was curious to find the answer to the question everyone asks me: What do you eat at home? I’d often said I never cooked the same thing twice in a year’s time.
It was interesting. Not sure I’d do it again, but by golly, I’m glad I did it. And I’m even happier that it’s over.
By trade, I’m a freelance writer and recipe developer. I cook a lot, eat a lot, and type a lot. Not a bad life.
The way I see it, my job is to make people happy and full, both physically and mentally. I hope to educate my readers on how cooking, eating, and living a healthy lifestyle can coincide.
I write for many local, regional, and national publications, including Sunset Magazine, Seattle Weekly, Seattle Metropolitan, Edible Seattle, and Arthritis Today. Before moving to Seattle, I was contributing food editor at Cape Cod Magazine. My work has also appeared in The Boston Globe and The Cape Cod Times.







December 11, 2007 at 5:41 pm |
Hey Jess-
Lindsay just showed me your site. What an awesome site!! It sounds like you are doing really well. Tell Jim I said hi. I hope you win the best new food blog award.
December 11, 2007 at 7:03 pm |
Hi Jess,
I am friend of Jim & Nancy’s from the Portland Yacht Club. Great blog & lots of fun to scroll through. Alot of work …..I know. We did a cookbook through the club called “Casco Bay Cuisine” I will continue to check it frequently.
December 11, 2007 at 8:40 pm |
Jess, my daughter sent me a link to your blog and I was impressed with the quality of your recipes — but especially the quality of your writing. I can see exactly why your work is in demand in national and regional magazines. I was especially taken with your thoughtful and original essay on skiing and the smell of rosemary on the dashboard on the ride home (”Back on That Horse”). Beautiful.
December 11, 2007 at 10:53 pm |
Thanks, all! Love that you’re reading, hope hogwash helps you find your way to the kitchen.
January 29, 2008 at 9:55 pm |
Hi and greetings from the Olympic Peninsula!
I just happened upon your site while googling grass-fed beef (even so, I’m still not sure how I got here exactly). Love your writing and the recipes. The photographs are gorgeous. Quite inspiring for me to stumble into the kitchen and try something besides chopped romaine with broccoli and snap peas.
January 30, 2008 at 9:27 am |
Thanks for reading, Kathy!
February 1, 2008 at 7:32 am |
Hi!
I am Peter Schultz’ girlfriend and he showed me your website last night. It is fantastic! I am not a chef, but love to cook and constantly experiment in the kitchen. I have browsed some of your recipes and they look amazing! I think I might even try the braised rosemary chicken one tonight for dinner.
Thanks!
Lauren
March 5, 2008 at 3:30 pm |
As I was searching the web for an old favorite food from college, I came across your recipe for Stir-Fried Kabocha with Ginger and Scallions. You mentioned your college’s weekend crispy cubes and I knew at once you were a Midd alum. Anyway, I graduated from Middlebury in 2004 and wanted to let you know that I enjoy the site and even have it bookmarked. Best of luck on the west coast!
P.S. Yes, the old favorite food I was looking for was the crispy cubes. Come to think of it, they were probably packaged anyway…
March 5, 2008 at 6:18 pm |
Cheer, boys, cheer! Thanks for reading, Adam. If you’re still looking for Panther-worthy crispy cubes, you’ll find a dead ringer (I’ll admit I wasn’t looking, but there they were) at the top of the gondola on Whistler mountain, at the breakfast they do for people who shell out an extra $17 for first tracks.
March 20, 2008 at 4:12 pm |
I came across your site via a search and since I have shared it with friends and family. Great read and food. I will have to give some recipes a try. Keep up the great food ideas!
March 30, 2008 at 4:29 pm |
This is great — I was googling for a lamb shank recipe a woman in the supermarket told me f. scott fitzgerald liked and came upon hogwash. your writing is GREAT and I can’t wait to try some of your recipes.
thanks
August 26, 2008 at 7:50 am |
Your site looks very interesting

I went to Seattle this summer. Pike Place Market is awesome
I’m gonna hit the kitchen now to try making the three berry crisp!
All the best!
August 31, 2008 at 9:01 am |
The site is fantastic! I was look’n for something easy to fix for a casual dinner party of six…I’ve been cook’n for years, but am always trying new recipes. I am amazed at the depth of your recipe site and it’s easy use. For Labor Day dinner I’ve choosen two of your recipes: (1)Agnolotti with Eggplant, Tomatoes and Garlic, and (2)Hearts of Romaine salad with lemon-parsley vinaigrette. Friends are bringing the appetizer and dessert…easy, fresh and new. Thanks Jess! I’ll check out your site on a regular basis. Cheryl
September 4, 2008 at 9:58 pm |
Thanks, Cheryl! How’d the dinner come out?
March 9, 2009 at 12:16 pm |
I work in the hospitality industry and you have written a couple of pieces for one of the hotels I work with on Whidbey Island. I was interested to find out more so I searched out your blog and I absolutely love it! I will revisit often.