Every Tuesday morning before our little ones go to pre-school, Jackie and I get together to cook or bake and the boys play. It’s a quick two hours, but we often get a lot accomplished. This past Tuesday, Jackie called early in the morning wondering what we should make. She started with the usual, ...
Kitchen Chronicles
Signs of Spring
For me, there are sure signs of Spring--the beloved seed catalogs start arriving in the mail, friends start talking about what to plant in their gardens and when they can start, and it's time to sign up for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share, if your own veggie garden isn't big enough or ...
An all-you-can-eat buffet (in the car!)
Many of you have heard me rant about my carpool madness, my bi-weekly rush hour drive down New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway, to chauffeur my son and his friends to gymnastics practice. Since we load up the car and begin our ride at 4:30 pm, there’s no time to eat a traditional, in house, sit down ...
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler
This week on Mardi Gras afternoon, my neighbor Erica called to suggest some spur of the moment Laissez les bons temps rouler (Let the Good Times Roll). She left a message on my answering machine inviting me (and my two kids, who play well with her kids) to whip up some Jambalaya to take home for ...
The Mystery of the Blue Onions
I’m just back from a restful, fun-filled, sun-drenched visit to my in-laws in South Florida, where the only thing we made for dinner was reservations. You see, while in Florida, I had limited use of any sort of kitchen appliance — the toaster oven and microwave came in handy only to reheat frozen ...
The Greener Kitchen
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, ...
Birthday Wishes
My friends are so used to being the focal point of my blogs that if I didn’t write about them today, I think they’d wonder why and maybe, just maybe, be a bit disappointed. So, today, I would like to use my blog to thank some of my wonderful friends for giving me such a special birthday lunch. Nine ...
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 ...
Homemade Sweet Treats
I admit it. I love Valentine’s Day. I have a soft spot for the hearts, stuffed animals, boxes of chocolates and everything this artificially sweetened Hallmark holiday means. To me, it’s another chance to show my family and friends how much they mean to me. And in these economically challenging ...
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 ...