musings about food, travel, creativity and life
This week with all the news and realities of “re-opening, ” I felt a mix of emotions. As we leave the known shelter of “shelter in place” and experience this uncertain next phase, I wonder, “How will it go? What new decisions will we […]
A little while ago, we happened onto a bit of happy news. It was an interview with San Francisco illustrator Wendy MacNaughton. She was talking about her #draw together project–free drawing lessons for children who are sheltering and educating at home. She presents these live […]
This Mother’s Day weekend, I want to honor my mother in a very simple way–by sharing one of her risotto recipes. I had planned to make the risotto on Mother’s Day, but I just couldn’t wait. So Thursday night, I prepared it and it was as […]
We all need a little hope and healing these days. Earth Day provided me with that when I became John’s assistant in our garden. Since I had played the role of Mother Nature in my first grade play, I figured I might have some as […]
This post is short and “sweet.” I am including a recipe for Cornmeal Cranberry Cookies that I baked last week. We thought they were quite good. Apparently, we are becoming a nation of bakers. I’m in! How about you? Are you, or have you […]
One afternoon this week, as I was riding my emotional roller coaster through the daily policy pronouncements and health warnings, I read a text from a friend saying that at that particular moment, her husband was enjoying dunking a cookie in his tea. I liked […]
This past week was a gift. John and I had the privilege of joining family and friends for a week- long catamaran trip through the British Virgin Islands. We experienced fabulous food, new places to explore, natural beauty, the excitement of wind in our sails […]
“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” Federico Fellini The other night we met a friend at a local restaurant called Mezzaluna Pasteria and Mozzarella Bar (https://www.mezzalunapasteria.com.). Mamma mia–it was molto buono–with all the elements of a good night out. It was a Friday […]
Having dinner with friends is a joy, partially because talk flows freely and naturally. Topics, though unpredictable, often include weather, news, health, sports, challenges, politics, good books, new restaurants in town, travel. There are seldom lulls because curiosity and the desire to connect keep conversations […]
* I began this year vowing to read more books. I was thinking “quantity.” Then I started reading a travel book about Italy and food and I just had to slow down. Why was I rushing through what was beautiful writing about topics I love? […]
‘Tis the season of many emotions. Certainly this time of year can bring joy. There are parties with family and friends, Christmas Carol sing-alongs, and, if you’re lucky, tuba concerts… really–just imagine 200-plus tubas playing “Silent Night” in the Rotunda of a state Capitol! But […]
There we were on our way to the small Wisconsin town of Mineral Point, when John decided he’d like to buy some of his favorite beer–Spotted Cow–straight from the source. So we found our way to the New Glarus Brewing Company and had a fun, […]
“Yes.” It has arrived! The holiday season and the “first wine of the harvest”–Beaujolais Nouveau 2019. I first became familiar with Beaujolais Nouveau when a friend and I were writing a wine blog–and doing all the necessary research that that involved! A tough job. I […]
“It’s not what’s on the table that matters, it’s who is in the chairs.” Over the years, I have often seen this quote. As a food lover, what’s on the table is important to me. But “who is in the chairs” is equally important. To […]
Last weekend, the student in me was one happy camper. I attended two cooking classes. One was on croissant making, held at Sur La Table in Carmel. I love eating croissants, pain au chocolat especially, so why not learn to bake them? Right! After the […]