We had an Election Night Party on November , partly because Election Night happened to be the same as Dinner Night, and partly because we figured moral support as the returns came in was a good idea.
(side note – the pumpkins are from Halloween carving the week before)
The sheer number of people who have been seduced, reinvented, and otherwise found themselves in France or Italy is actually mildly disturbing. It makes me wonder if there are any actual French or Italians left in France and Italy or if they’ve all been pushed out by American’s seeking enlightenment, falling in love, and/or saving their marriages. Read the rest of this entry ?
I know I’ve said this before, but I believe that there are certain foods you have to have been introduced to at a tender age, and then grown up eating to really appreciate. Marmite/Vegemite is one of them – I was clearly too old by the time I was introduced to it in middle school because I continue to think it’s one of the most revolting things you can put on bread. Ambrosia Salad is another – which I cheerfully embrace in all its mini-marshmallow & canned mandarin orange glory, although I admit that I’d be hesitant to call it a salad per se. It’s possible that baked beans on toast are another thing that you have to have been introduced to at an impressionable age. Read the rest of this entry ?
This week’s dinner is brought to you by a fit of industrious fridge clearing, and by a subtle and very precise craving. Plus, I know what’s for Dinner next week, and trust me when I say a week’s worth of abstemiousness in advance is a good idea.
The Fall fridge clearing is, I suspect, an urge born of the fact that it’s much easier to accomplish than getting out my winter clothes (plus, does not require me to admit that we’re approaching winter – never mind that we caved on Monday to Mother Nature and turned on the heat*). Also, it makes me feel virtuous and thrifty. Read the rest of this entry ?
I have a new entry on my list of ‘national foods which I have only had good examples of outside of the country of origin’. That list needs a snappier name.
Included on it, are: Read the rest of this entry ?
Do you remember that feeling of disconnect you would get whenever you ran into one of your teachers somewhere that wasn’t the classroom? When you realized that they too visited cafes, bought milk, and went to the movies? I had the grown up version of that moment of cognitive dissonance a few weeks ago when I answered my cell phone and spoke to Christopher Kimball and Bridget Lancaster from America’s Test Kitchen. Read the rest of this entry ?
I have to preface this post by saying that custard is very much my culinary bête noir – everyone’s got one (or more), and nobody should be discouraged from making this ice cream based on how much I’m about to whine.
Or, let me put it another way, there’s a catch phrase in our house that nothing is serious until James Earl Jones says, ‘mother-of-god’*. When I tasted the ice cream base on Saturday afternoon I paused, stared down at the pot in awe, and did my very best James Earl Jones impression (which since I’m a 5’ nothing WASP is distinctly underwhelming, but the sentiment was heartfelt). This is seriously good ice cream, y’all. The Effort here is entirely commensurate with the payoff, my issues with custard notwithstanding. Read the rest of this entry ?
This is the annual Farm-to-Table Dinner. Someone at Dinner foolishly asked if I could name all the farms that the produce came from, and not only can I tell you that, I can tell you when the corn was picked (5:30am the day I bought it – which, granted, I only know because that’s what the sign on the enormous pile of corn said, not because I actually asked).
If you’re curious, yes there was entirely too much food. Read the rest of this entry ?
Remember when I said, “Hush, now – spoilers!”? This is the grand reveal.
Firstly, I have the world’s most awesome friends.
Secondly, in wildly non-revelatory news, when presented with too many choices I dither in an epic manner.
Thirdly, I inadvertently managed to carry on a family tradition by celebrating my half-birthday. Read the rest of this entry ?
If you’ve been paying any kind of attention to the world of food news this week you’ll probably have seen the study from Stanford which suggests organic food isn’t any more nutritious or better for you than what you can buy at your average supermarket.
Little evidence of health benefits from organic foods, Stanford study finds
Reactions to this have ranged from shock, to horror, to disavowal, to quiet schadenfreude. Read the rest of this entry ?
Monday Night Dinner 