Summer Pudding

Monday, August 16, 2010

At probably the most awkward point in my teens, I lived for a time in England with my family.  I have many wonderful memories of this period.  Few, however, are of food as the late 1970s were a time when Britain was still earning (rather than living down) its reputation as an island of culinary […]

The Sidecar

Thursday, August 12, 2010

As I was doing a little “research” on this classic cocktail, a friend commented, “Really?  That sounds like a such a granny drink.”  Well, maybe so, if your grandmother wears a lot of vintage Chanel and tells racy stories about Paris in the 1930s. After a good run allegedly starting in 1900s Paris, the Sidecar […]

Quick and Easy Tomato and Eggplant Gratin

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

It was nearly noon on Sunday.  I wanted to make a nice lunch for the three of us, but I also thought it would be more fun to play in the pool with Julia than to run to the market and work in the kitchen.  (She agreed –“Pappa, pool!”) This recipe is perfect for this […]

Boxtop Gift Message

Monday, August 9, 2010

Simple, almost obvious.  And yet I’d never seen it before. Last weekend our friends Visnja and Franck visited us in Southampton and brought gifts for Julia and for us.  They didn’t attach gift cards or tags, but, under the wrapping, they wrote a message for the recipient directly on the box. (The seam in the […]

Citrus Scented Olive Oil Brioche

Sunday, August 8, 2010

One of the happiest memories of my childhood is making bread with my grandmother.  She baked often in her busy farm-style kitchen, and had virtually unlimited patience for little hands helping with the day’s culinary activities. Maybe because of this I started baking this bread in the days after Julia was born, and I’ve made […]

Votives for Keeps

Thursday, August 5, 2010

I recently bonded with my new friend Visnja over the issue of candlelight, or rather the lack of it on a restaurant table.  We were dining with our partners at a small, lovely place in the West Village –excellent food, great service, a pretty room with crisp yet cozy decor, and, well, bare tables.  Visnja […]

The Tamaconda

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Don’t let the dark and stormy appearance of this drink fool you:  it’s tart, light and refreshing, perfect for the dog days of summer.  Its color and its distinctive flavor are from tamarind, the pod of a tree that’s used to flavor foods in India and the Middle East.  It’s also often made into a […]

Gazpacho!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

It’s gazpacho season!  The tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are ripening in the garden, and the weather is right for a chilled soup.  One of my favorite food memories is making gazpacho in our sunny San Francisco kitchen right after Julia was born.  I think I’ll always connect the flavor and aroma of gazpacho with those […]

Easy Pickled Green Beans

Saturday, July 31, 2010

It’s probably a fair question to ask why one would want to pickle green beans. But, for me, there are two pretty good reasons.  First, if you have a garden, you’ll know that unless you have a very large family or you’re truly crazy about the vegetable, the few frail little seedlings you plant in […]

The $4.95 Spa Treatment

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Actually, it’s more like a year of daily spa treatments for $4.95.  Yes, I exaggerate, but this little nylon cloth is better than any scrubbing lotion, exfoliating cream or loofah that I’ve ever tried.  Wet and primed with a little soap or shower gel, it gently scrubs away dirt and grime and leaves my skin […]

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