Archive for June 2022
TEN THINGS THAT DRIVE ME NUTS
TEN THINGS THAT DRIVE ME NUTS 1) When my mother calls saying she doesn’t mean to complain and then is still at it twenty minutes later. 2) When I’ve just put on my Sunday best only to get pooped on by a passing pigeon. 3) When I order a pizza and they put HIS…
Read MoreDON’T YOU JUST HATE IT WHEN…
DON’T YOU JUST HATE IT WHEN… As much as I love it here in Brooklyn, it does have its challenges. It seems that ripping up the streets to replace one-hundred year old water mains is a relatively good idea, but not when it means they close your street and force the entire block to…
Read MorePORTUGAL SNAPSHOTS
Almost everywhere you go in Portugal, there’s an image waiting to be captured. Whether you’ve brought your iPhone, your fancy SLR camera, or the moment itself seers deep inside your memory bank, Portugal is a land of breathtaking and memorable sites. Even on a dreary day as the sun naps behind the clouds, mother…
Read MoreTHE TOP TEN THINGS I LEARNED IN ASIA
10) A smile translates in any language. Silly translates too. 9) Eating local food from street vendors is like playing Russian roulette. It can be thrilling AND deadly. 8) You really don’t need a lot of stuff. The lighter the load, the easier the journey. 7) There are more western toilets around than you’d…
Read MoreSINGAPORE First Impressions
And with the stroke of midnight, it is now my birthday. I’m celebrating alone in my very cozy business class seat, trying to keep down the three gin and tonics I foolishly chased with a Grand Marnier on ice, thinking it would put me to sleep. Instead, I have a pounding headache and my…
Read MoreTHE SWAP OUT
I’m standing in the middle of the Food Network kitchen as steam rises from pasta pots. The whir of a blender making pesto releases the scent of basil on a warm summer’s day. The clanking of dishes and pots being washed sound almost syncopated adding to the rhythm that seems to flow in one…
Read MoreHOW DO YOU DO THAT?
My husband is the baker in the family and whether we’re making dinner or going to someone else’s house, everyone always wants to know what he’s making. He is the Yoda of chocolate and has quite a few rich and delectable treats in his repertoire. One of his biggest hits is his chocolate ganache…
Read MoreI LOVE IT WHEN IT WORKS
Usually when I make a recipe for the first time, I never quite get it right. It rarely looks like the pictures in the book, yet that doesn’t stop me from trying. But every now and then I come across a cookbook that makes me look good. I’ve been on a Mediterranean kick lately,…
Read MoreMEET HERMIONE’S FIRST BORN
That beautiful bubbling source of nourishment is my beloved sourdough starter, affectionately known as Hermione. Her name comes from her father Herman who sadly died years ago when I neglected feeding him for over a month. I plan to take no chances with Hermione. She is well fed, well rested and ready to get…
Read MoreWHAT’S IN A NAME
What’s in a Name? I realize I’m late to the Karen bashing party, but I was too reluctant to engage in the debate for fear of being labeled as one. You see, my name IS Karen and I’ve spent the last few years apologizing for it. I’ve gotten in the habit of introducing myself…
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