I’ve known Lynn for almost five years now, since that’s about how long my son Zack has been on a gymnastics team with her son Nick. We’ve been through a lot together: We’ve driven each other’s kids down the parkway, to and from the gym, sat side by side at meets, offering moral support to one ...
Every Artist Makes Mistakes
Another rainy day, a canceled trip to the beach -- a chance to cook. Once my kids and I saw rain on Wednesday, we quickly changed gears and replaced our overstuffed beach bags with shopping bags bursting with tomatoes, eggplant and basil. A “cooking playdate” with Debbie and her kids was ...
In Preparation for a Weekend Away
For some, a weekend away would mean eating three meals out. For me and my friend Kathe, it’s the opposite: It’s an opportunity to cook and eat together. In anticipation of our upcoming getaway to the mountains of Southern Vermont, Kathe and I got together earlier in the week to bake homemade ...
Blog it Forward to Fight Hunger — Your comments = Food!
Always willing to support a good cause, Shannon and I have decided that the Cooking With Friends Club will participate in the “Blog it Forward to Fight Hunger” initiative being led by Shoprite in conjunction with General Mills. As our members and readers, you can show your support by posting a ...
Farm Fresh Ratatouille
The sweetness of the vegetables and the fresh thyme create a naturally rich and delicious flavor. This is a wonderful way to use up fresh produce at the end of the summer. Feel free to add whatever vegetables you have on hand. Recipe source:Cooking With Friends KitchenIngredients1/8 cup extra ...
A Lot of Scrubbing
Last Tuesday, I picked up my CSA share and then lugged two over stuffed bags of farm fresh veggies to Liz’s house. The plan was to use up as many as possible while creating meals. I walked into Liz’s, plopped down the two heavy bags on her counters, and we began to unload -- Fava beans, carrots, ...
My Stuffed Fridge
My first week back to reality and my husband is already complaining that our refrigerator is stuffed. To him it looks crowded. To me it’s just right. With my stackable containers filled with summer salads — corn, lentil, bean — (ok, maybe they aren’t stacked neatly the way they should be), I open ...
My Kitchen Away from Home
A few days back from vacation and I am already thinking about the kitchen I left three thousand miles and an ocean behind. Thoughts of my family, images of colorful fruits and vegetables, foreign labels and new cooking tools are still vibrant, but merely memories and not the everyday vacation life ...
The Pavlovian Effect
Sometimes just the presence of a friend in the kitchen is enough motivation to start cooking. (It’s very Pavlovian actually.) This effect took place the other day as my friend Jackie and I were having tea together. Although I tried to sit back, relax and sip tea, I found myself a bit fidgety, ...
A Sigh of Relief
With class parties, teacher toasts, birthdays, year-end gifts and kick off the summer BBQ’s, like many of you, I’ve been particularly busy. Thankfully though, I’ve had my friends to help me get through this end-of-the-year craziness, especially in the kitchen. The process of making a jumbo corn ...