The first week of September in Madison is glorious, the weather still warm enough for a last swim of the season and for a few more outdoor barbeques. But it's also the time people here start talking about what winter jacket they'll break out of the closet, and what vegetables they're "putting up" ...
Kitchen Chronicles
Peek-a-boo Pasta
Peek-a-boo Pasta The other night, I was making Peekaboo Pasta, a dish all three of my kids love and call a favorite. It’s a winner for all -- it’s simple to make and loaded with fresh vegetables. As I was chopping the zucchini and dicing yellow squash, my daughter Sofia came into the kitchen and ...
Two Hours, Six Meals
Sometimes, cooking is all about the beautiful slow process of tasting and testing, simmering and stewing. And other times--like when you're eight months pregnant with two little kids and a husband on military duty--it's about stocking as much food as possible in your freezer before baby number three ...
Lasagna To Go
Friday night’s dinner was a tray of hot bubbling lasagna. It was really simple to make, since all I had to do was take it out of my freezer and place it in the oven late afternoon to bake. By 6:00 pm, my kids were devouring layers of noodles, cheese and meat, asking for seconds while telling me how ...
Spreading the Chaat Masala
At dinner at Preeti's house, she let me in on a delicious secret--mix an Indian spice blend called chaat masala with sour cream or yogurt, use it as a marinade for large shrimp, and grill them quickly for a fabulous appetizer. Chaat Masala is a combination of spices that usually includes mango ...
Kindred Cooks
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 ...
The Communal Pizza
As Ben rolled out the dough and I stirred the sauce and shredded the cheese, George (aka Grandpa) and our two daughters were out in the "Pizza Garden" plucking tomatoes, peppers, basil, and oregano. It was all in preparation for a Communal Pizza we made while on vacation in Northern ...
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 ...
Blueberry Time
After a day spent blueberry picking in Northern Michigan with our kids, my sister-in-law and I had the same thought: Making a blueberry pie together. The blueberries were plump and gorgeous and a huge bargain ($1.50 per pound, paid in a box by the honor system). But being up north at a Lake ...
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 ...