We're now entering the October candy vortex, where my kids wake up asking for chocolate and sugar seems to seep through the doorjambs and under the windows. Of course, we'll indulge in a few treats. But first, the three of us enjoyed the afternoon making Pumpkin Apple Mini-Muffins, which we'll ...
Chicken Soup in the Freezer
Having homemade chicken soup in my freezer makes me inordinately happy. It's like money in the bank, gas in the car, and being in the middle of a good book. Simple, old-fashioned chicken soup is one of my favorite foods to make with a friend. When you're cooking, the house smells incredible. And ...
Real Men Cook–Together
A few days ago, a bunch of guys who work together in our city gathered to do a cook-off. It was a Madison version of Iron Chef, where each person competed to cook the most incredible food. It reminded me that although we talk a lot about the women who cook with friends, we also have readers who are ...
I Love Olives
Yesterday was my birthday (ahem, a big one). In our family, the tradition is for the birthday person to choose all of his or her favorite foods for dinner (no matter how unusual or difficult to find), and we make the meal together. My husband is sure to choose carrot cake, and often lobster. My kids ...
We're Open
Since 2006, we've been recommending our favorite time-saving kitchen tools to you, first through our Yahoo group and then on our web site. We heard from many of you that you bought what we recommended, and loved it too. This week we're thrilled to launch The Cooking With Friends Shop, where you can ...
On Our Bookshelf in October '09
How to Slice an Onion: Cooking Basics and Beyond--Hundreds of Tips, Techniques, Recipes, Food Facts, and Folklore By Bunny Crumpacker This book is ideal for home cooks looking to hone their skills. It will quickly become a “friend” in your kitchen. Both beginners and advanced cooks will find ...
Cookie Story
Congratulations to Suzanne in Wisconsin and Tami in Oregon for winning the Pampered Chef baking set by writing beautiful stories about making cookies! The stories are appearing in their entirety on our yahoo discussion group. If you have a story about cooking with your friends or family, e-mail us ...
Kuhn Rikon Quick-Slice Mandoline
When two people who don't share a dialect cook together, they find a universal language in food. I had the great opportunity yesterday to cook Turkish food with a group of Turkish and American women. On the menu: Grape Leaves, Ravioli Alla Turca, Red Lentil Soup and Eggplant Salad. As I jumped in ...
The Universal Language
When two people who don't share a dialect cook together, they find a universal language in food. I had the great opportunity yesterday to cook Turkish food with a group of Turkish and American women. On the menu: Grape Leaves, Ravioli Alla Turca, Red Lentil Soup and Eggplant Salad. As I jumped in ...
Thank You, Ruth Reichl
It was the weekend before the start of school, those last lovely August days shen we were still staying up too late and sleeping in a bit. The mint, peaches, corn and green beans were at their finest. So when Erica suggested we do a three-family (six adults, six kids) late-summer fest, I was ...