This past week was a welcome reprieve from the dreary winter days that have been a constant recently. Seeing the sun has done a lot to chase away the dread with which I have been approaching the weather. And (knock on wood) we finally had a snow-free week. I never thought I would be this …
Where have I been? There are halls to be decked (check! just need to get the tree), cards to be sent (tomorrow, I promise!) and presents to be wrapped (ahhh, soon?). But meanwhile it’s mid-December and I am swamped. I’ve been baking cookies left and right. My office is buried under press releases, press kits …
After spending the better part of a year cooking without any regard for fat or calories, I am slowing down. As much as I love bacon (isn’t everything better with bacon?), I’ve said farewell for now to my faithful friend. We’ll see each other again, I am sure … but for now, I need healthier …
Roasting brings out the natural sweetness in vegetables like these Roasted Beets with Thyme — sweet and tender with an herbal aroma. Delightful. Last week, I discovered gigantic beets, the size of softballs, at a favorite market. I’ve never seen anything like them before. Better yet, they were only $0.69 per pound. So, of course …
When the Disney movie Ratatouille came out, I wondered what on Earth could be so special about ratatouille. It sounds like it could be a pasta dish, though it isn’t, so I was picturing a rotini with squash or something. As it turns out, the results were better than i imagined they would be. Paige …
A few years ago, Will was the kid on the beach afraid to leave his little chair and get his toes sandy. He used to scream about it being dirty. But children grow and change. Yesterday I watched at a distance as Will studied the periwinkles, hermit crabs and minnows that inhabit the tidal pools …
I should have taken a picture of Paige. I really should have. She enjoyed the papery, thin, crispy bits of kale I gave her … but since it was papery, thin and crispy, it also broke apart very easily. That meant green specks everywhere — in her hair, on her hands, in her diaper . …
Mmmm. The first fresh vegetables of late spring. These spring onions popped up at the farmer’s market a little over a week ago. They just looked so delicious (should have taken a pic!). Rather than try to use all in salads, salsas and other condiments, I decided to try something different: cooking them so that …
We love us some potatoes in this house. Whether it’s some quickly whipped up mashed potatoes, which can be a quick and versatile starch to accompany meals, or baked fries and roasted potatoes, it’s tasty stuff. In terms of types of potatoes, we are pretty open. A sampler of types of potatoes: Red potatoes are …
Tart lime guacamole is perfect for dipping salty chips into. It’s also great on burgers, nachos and more. Sliding my teeth into the smooth, creamy flesh of a perfectly ripe avocado reminds me of summer vacations by the beach with my grandmother. I can feel the engulfing sunshine on my arms, and the familiar give …
