Well, hello 2018. You’re looking all shiny, spiffy and new. Every year, I like to set goals instead of resolutions. While resolutions are well-intended, they seldom are actually achieved. But goals? Goals carry a greater sense of longterm commitment — and a feeling that you can come back to them even if you don’t initially…
Musings
A Look Back on my 2017 Goals: The Good, The Bad and the Oops
Oh, resolutions … they are the goals we set for ourselves and them promptly abandon within weeks. That’s why I’ve stopped setting resolutions and instead chosen goals each year. And for 2017, I set seven goals. Here’s what happened to them. In Review: 7 GOALS FOR 2017 52 Books in 52 Weeks: To date, I’ve finished 30…
On Cooking Ruts, and Breaking Out of Them
On the cooking ruts we find ourselves in and the simple things we can do to break out of them. Sometimes all it takes is merely remembering that yes, we can do this. The oil sputtered as I poured the rice into the Dutch oven with the already-browned onions. I gave it a stir. Next…
Good Maine Pizza: Finelli New York Pizzeria
Finelli New York Pizzeria in Ellsworth serves a thin, New York-style pizza with great flavor, texture and taste. It’s good Maine pizza — and worth the drive. I nearly titled this post “the pizza we’ll drive 45 minutes to eat.” And with good reason — that’s precisely what we did last weekend. I really wanted…
How This Blog Became a Personal History of Sorts
Blogs can record a personal history of sorts. Through the words and photos, they share a story of life and living. What does this blog say about me? Deep breath. This has been my space for nearly 12 years. It’s where I talked about Will as an infant, while I learned to write about food…
Welcoming 2017 Like I Did as a Kid
White flakes drifted to the ground all around when I exited the cinema on New Year’s Eve. It was before 10 p.m., but already I was contemplating pajamas and relaxation. Sure, there was music and merriment in the downtown of the city I live in, but at home there was Polar #Seltzebrate seltzer waiting with…
Skillet Chicken with Pesto Marinade
Leftover pesto is mixed with a little vinegar and salt to make a flavorful chicken breast marinade for this Skillet Chicken with Pesto Marinade recipe. On a cold March day in 2015, I sat at a Portland bar with an old friend as the sun began its final descent for the day. In the dim evening…
Chicken Leek Stew with Mashed Potatoes Recipe
A hearty, aromatic Chicken Leek Stew is served with mashed potatoes in this recipe for comfort food. This one is for all the cooks who find joy in the kitchen. A former colleague’s Instagram name appeared in my notifications over the weekend. I clicked over, happy to see her beaming face. Just a few photos…
Easy Peasy Chocolate Cake for One
It only takes six pantry ingredients, and less than five minutes to make this easy peasy chocolate cake for one. What are you waiting for? When I was a little girl, we lived at the top of a hill on a cul-de-sac. The location was removed from the busy streets nearby, and felt so insulated, like our…
Avocado Spinach Egg English Muffin Sandwiches
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and PEOPLE StyleWatch®, and Real Simple® but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #NewYearMeTime http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV. When Fridays roll around, as the work week comes to an end and the weekend quickly approaches, I usually start mulling our schedule for the…