My Photos from last season.......... Memories, like the corners of my mind........ Celebrate! Today is the last day of February!!!!!!!!!! Hooraaaahhhhhhh! (I am jumping up and down, can you see me?) Before I forget, check out the cover story of this week's New York Magazine, where buttercream is made into high fashion! Okay, a little sanity now, well, maybe that isn't exactly true..... Yesterday, February 27, was National … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2013
Super-Duper – All In on Avocados!
Did someone say Anti-Aging? I'm In! I am relatively new to the world of avocados - that is, I began eating them within the last 10 years or so. Before that, they were not on my radar screen. I am not exactly sure why. Of course, I began by eating Guacamole in Mexico........... Here is a great overview of the world of avocados: www.naturalnews.com/035763_avocado_superfood_anti-aging.html - just a short summary of their health … [Read more...]
Know Your ANDI Scores – Nutrient-Dense Foods In Your Face!
GREENS, BLUES, REDS AND ORANGES...... This is THE news!!!! If you have your antenna up at all, the news is in your face all of the time - OUR DIETS SHOULD BE COMPRISED MOSTLY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. The Front Page of the NYT was touting the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet just today! Fruits and Vegetables were right behind olive oil, nuts, beans and fish. I don't think they meant them in that order...... (Funny, I didn't see … [Read more...]
Fits and Starts and so, Ginger Root; Fresh Ginger Cake
photos courtesy Wikipedia Here is some great info on Ginger Root - aka Zingiber officinale At this time of year I need a fresh inspiration. I'm over the winter food thing and have started dreaming of barbecues outside - you know, the grilled chicken, potato salad and fresh and tasty tomatoes???? Peach pies! I'm sorry I have skipped over several months of the year, but, well, I am SO over Winter! I have spent the last several … [Read more...]
All in the Name of Love – Planning for a Valentine’s Day Dinner at Home
Photo courtesy HuffPost Taste - I am just in love with this photo! I have been having a lot of fun watching the news feeds on everyone's interpretation of the best of Valentine's Day treats. This is yet another great diversion for this time of year - to imagine and create some really amazingly appealing and delectable morsels, all in the name of love. How Sweet! And so, yes, this is one particular time when I am wishing I had a little … [Read more...]
Snowstorms, Snowbound and Carb Loading – Chocolate Chunk – Orange Pancakes with Heavenly Mascarpone Cream and Crushed Pistachios
Ok, so I'm jumping on the pancake bandwagon! Thank Goodness I am NOT snowbound here in NJ...... I don't do well with that. It has been bright and sunny - a nice gift. We were able to get out easily yesterday morning and went into New York for awhile to get some fresh air. Unfortunately, the sidewalk and road clearing weren't optimum, but we had a great time anyway. We visited BLT Burger and Le Fanion, one of my favorite little shops in … [Read more...]
The Caperberry and The Isle of Pantelleria – Sound Like the Land of Fairy Tales? Just Maybe it is……
I am sorry to say that when I was much younger, and even later in college, I had no appreciation for most of my history classes and Western Civ. Reading those textbooks was deadly boring and even when my kids were in high school and also complained of boredom, I wondered if the mode of teaching was not doing justice to the subject matter. I now sometimes feel, that unless one was born with a passion for history, that teaching it to young … [Read more...]
What’s All this Fuss About Fried Dough? Beignets, Bigne – Who, What, Where, When
The Bouchon Bakery Vanilla Beignets - an up-to-date version! I have never realized the extent to which a multitude of cultures have food rituals and festivals centered around the upcoming season of Lent. Of course we all know about Mardi Gras and Venice's Carnivale. But, I didn't know there are also festivals in Trinadad and Tobago, Martinique, Ecuador, Brazil, Greece, Fasching, Germany, Cologne, Germany, and Sitges, Spain. These … [Read more...]
Aldo Comes for a “Visit”; Meyer Lemon, Dried Cherry and Almond Scones
Nature's Works of Art - instant still life Aren't these gorgeous? Everyone knows how hard it can be to have someone working in your house. This is especially true, I think, when someone is in your kitchen for an extended period of time and you are someone like me, who is basically in the kitchen, working, all of the time. I was lucky enough to have a team here for awhile in December who were very easy to get along with and not … [Read more...]
Bye-Bye to January; Origin of the Word, February; My Mom’s Pot Roast and Apple Pie
Goodbye to January - thank you! It was actually a good month for me - I was away having fun for 2 of the 4 weeks, so I can't really complain. How to follow that up? Hmmmm. On to February - today is the 3rd, already and I will be glad if it wizzes right by! Then, we will work slowly to the next change of season in March. That's a long way away, I know and I wish I weren't wishing the weeks away. So,....... I got to thinking … [Read more...]