Did anyone read the story in the New York Times about people unplugging their refrigerators/freezers to lower their energy usage? While I'm all for environmental responsibility, I guarantee my household without our fridge and freezer would leave a much larger carbon footprint from take-out boxes, ...
The One-Pot-Meal
When I cook with my friends here in Madison, we more often than not choose a one-pot-meal. It might be a modern casserole, a layered dish, or a big batch of stew or soup that can easily be served for dinner, without a whole lot of other cooking going on. Perhaps a crusty bread or salad is added, but ...
Cooking History
Whenever I make a recipe that someone has given me, I think about that person the whole time I am cooking. It really is almost like cooking together, wondering if my friend did a certain part the same way, or if she improvised at all, or even how her family liked it, or added their own touches. I ...
On Our Bookshelf in February '09
The Best Kitchen Quick Tips: 534 Tricks, Techniques, and Shortcuts for the Curious Cook (Paperback) -- by Editors of Cook's Illustrated Magazine. With “500 Tricks, Techniques, and shortcuts for the curious cook,” you’ll learn something everyday from this fantastic, must have, kitchen handbook. ...
Warming Up
It's been so cold here in Madison, Wi., that schools (which we were told never, ever close for even big snowstorms) were closed two days for extreme wind chill. Eek. So last week, I was thrilled to have Katrina and Lori here, along with their kids (we had a combined kid count of 5) to make a ...
Making a Difference
With Barack Obama's inauguration this week, many of us are thinking about how the world is going to change. We're hopeful, we're excited, and we want to get involved. Here's one important way each us can make a little difference. Cooking With Friends is supporting Share Our Strength's "No Kid ...
A Project for Two
Sometimes, you absolutely have to have two (or more) cooks in the kitchen. I often cook with my husband, one of us choosing a dish and the other re-creating it, sometimes shopping together for ingredients or even just making suggestions on each others' recipes. But this week, as we tried out our ...
Foodie Resolutions
It's the first week of a New Year, and like many of you, I have some foodie resolutions. One is to help improve the school lunches at my daughter's school and to learn more about programs like Edible Schoolyard and Farm to School (check out www.farmtoschool.org--it's in 40 states). Wouldn't it be ...
Seven Fishes
For our New Year's Eve dinner last night, we made the traditional Italian Seven Fishes (well not so traditional as really it's meant to be served Christmas Eve but we make it for one or the other each year). It's a great dish to involve all cooks and guests in your house. I'm half Italian and ...
On Our Bookshelf in January '09
The Big Book of Appetizers -- by Meredith Deeds and Carla Snyder. From the Yogurt Green Onion Dip to the Mini Reuben Roll-Ups, a great collection of appetizers to inspire you for your next swap or to cook for a self-catered party. ...