I’m one of those many people who say they love to cook for others. As I reflected on in a past post, food can be a powerful expression of love ...
Spotlight
Guest Post #13: Lessons from Zambia
Elizabeth’s Note: After a brief pause, we’ve got a new guest post ...
Guest Post #12 Kate Gridley’s “Pig Tales”
Barbara’s Note: This week we bring you our dear friends — Kate ...
Guest Post #11: A Love of Macarons
Note from Elizabeth: Today our guest writer is Megan Halpern, one of ...
Latest News
Seeds of Change?
Wouldn’t you know it–just as I vow to rein in my sprawling gardens this season, even more gorgeous and enticing seed catalogs arrive from suppliers, some of which I haven’t even heard of before. The Natural Gardening Company of California, for instance, which touts its position as the “oldest certified organic nursery in the United [...]
A New Year, A Bundle of Seed Catalogues and a Dilemma
Outside the weather continues to flirt with winter, temperatures careening between yesterday’s 40s and today’s single digits (first real cold), snow dancing about the sky but refusing to lay down a fluffy quilt to insulate the gardens. Yesterday the fennel, artichokes and rosemary were still alive and well inside their light tunnel. We’ve had a [...]
Finding Tradition at Christmas
There’s nothing like coming home. Especially at Christmas time. Before packing my bags I wrote a list of all the foods I missed — almond butter, puff pastry tart, sweet potatoes, homemade corn tortillas, gado gado– and all the items I wanted to bring home with me: champagne vinegar, pomegranate molasses, raw cacao powder, cheddar [...]
A Fishy Confession–Double Standards
I eat seafood only when I’m on a seacoast. Never in Vermont. Or at least not by choice. I know that this rather severe, absolute rule flows from having grown up six miles from the ocean, and from spending childhood summers in a cottage overlooking the salty water–water that was once filled with lobsters and [...]
Speaking the Language of Food
During my first few weeks in Mestre, I was lucky enough to discover the Women’s Multicultural Center, financed by the Municipality of Venice. The Center offers information, advice and support and organizes cultural events for immigrant women, including Italian and English lessons and — to my delight — cooking classes. I immediately signed up for [...]
In Spite of the Weather: Bringing Late Fall into the Kitchen
Apart from the five inches of snow that fell the day before Thanksgiving and the very few nights of 20ºF frostiness we’ve had this fall, the weather has been, well, ridiculous. Yes, ridiculous. Okay, there’s some good in this consistent warmth: I am still picking greens and herbs–the ones the deer do not like, that [...]
The Search for Other Young Foodies
I was in shock. I stepped in off the cold, misty street and was greeted by the aroma of onions caramelizing, squash sautéing and crust browning in the oven. It was the first dinner hosted by Emilio’s university friends that I had attended since moving to Venice. I had expected the usual — a few [...]
Harvesting Saffron, Growing Pine Nuts: Taking the Long View
I’ve stopped buying pine nuts–except when I find fresh Spanish ones at Sahadi’s when I visit my daughter in Brooklyn. The only sort available around here are flown in from China–too far for something that needs refrigeration and careful handling–and the $30/pound price is beyond affordable. Perfect pine-nutty pestos and some Italian cakes and cookies [...]
Is Food Love?
This past weekend cooking for my best friend Julia, who was visiting for a few days from England, I was reminded of how much I enjoy cooking for the people I love. I find pleasure in every aspect — the planning, shopping, preparing and eating of a meal I know will bring joy to the [...]
The Real Thing, The Rare Thing: Cookbook as Inspired Teacher
I know I know… I own too many cookbooks. Even I have to admit it now that I can no longer fit my collection into the kitchen bookcase and the shelves in the pantry cleared for the overflow. And yet I just bought another cookbook, a big heavy one. Do I have a cookbook-buying disorder? [...]
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- Dinner for One: Learning How to Enjoy Cooking for Yourself
- January Blues: In Search of Fresh Vegetables
- Chocolate, Waffles and Frites: A Weekend in Bruges
- Seeds of Change?
- A New Year, A Bundle of Seed Catalogues and a Dilemma
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Elizabeth: This was one of my favorite pieces to write -- I e...
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Nancy White: Hey, how about a recipe for the quinoa and kale, E...
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barbara t. ganley (the grandmother): You have learned a valuable life lesson...and so e...
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Kate: Brava ragazza -- what a lovely, inspiring post ......
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Barbara: Hector, you did a cleanse! Bravo! And doesn't it f...
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