Category: lessons
Start The Year Off Right Dr. Oz on Budget-Friendly Healthy Eating
Happy New Year! This year, I plan to focus even more heavily on healthy living and raising a healthy family. If we take care of our bodies, then we can live longer and happier, and who doesn’t want that? So I am hoping you, my dear readers, will indulge me as I feature occasional tips [...]
Christmas Cookies: Conquering My Fear of Meringue
When I started baking from scratch, I was a preteen. I scoured the Joy of Cooking for an easy cookie recipe that included ingredients we kept in the house. I found that in a sugar drop cookie recipe. Before long, I was adapting the recipe to make thumbprint cookies, decorated cookies and more. One year, [...]
Tips for a Flawless Risotto
Finally! Finally I have perfected my risotto technique. After making it twice this week with creamy, perfect results, I am feeling pretty good about the little rice dish. Unfortunately I have also learned that I am not that fond of it – I like cleaner flavors then you get with a risotto. C’est la vie! [...]
An Important Lesson: Why not to procrastinate
This is my refrigerator. It is just shy of three years old. We’ve been careful to baby it, vacuuming underneath to ensure that no dog hair or dust build up taxed the motor. And I love it – the delicious water from the dispenser, the way it dependably keeps my food cold or frozen (depending [...]
Life Lessons
Sometimes there are little lessons to be learned in both the kitchen and life. These little lessons sneak up on us like monsters in the night, leaving a lasting impression that cannot be ignored. In short, they are important. Here are a few recent examples from my kitchen and life: Lessons Learned: Beware the overspray. [...]
Who do they think they are?
Ok, so, I need to complain. I went to the Friendly’s in Danbury, Conn., with my husband and son (just over a year old) today for lunch. Figuring that it’s a good, family friendly restaurant, I thought it would be a good place for a treat for my boy. He’s been such a trooper about [...]
Discovering Kale: Zuppa Toscana
Kale. Even the word is foreign to me. I grew up in a household where vegetables were of pretty simple varieties – corn, peas, green beans and the occasional zucchini. Brussels spouts were a delicacy and any lettuce other than iceberg was certainly special. I had a feeling there were more vegetables out there, but [...]
A Legend Among Food Writers
M.F.K. Fisher is a legend in the food world. She took food writing beyond the traditional limits and illuminated it, allowing it to be about more than just ingredients and recipes but about the sensual experience of enjoying fine food. When I found out that there was a new collection of her writings being released [...]
This is not my SHF #17 entry . . .
. . . and here’s why: if there was an award for WORST cookie ever, this one would win hands (and rock hard clumps) down. Yes, it’s true. Cucina Bella has bad recipe days too. I know, that is difficult to digest, but everyone has their moments. Even me. Let me tell you how this [...]
Adventures in Bananas
I like to try new things and drag along who ever I can get to join me. So it was no surprise a few weeks back when I saw red bananas on sale and bought them. I took them home (with the rest of my groceries) brimming with excitement at the prospect of discovering this [...]
