Category Archives: Test Kitchen Adventures

so I wrote the book…

…and there’s been some graduating too. The baby bird of the family, my “little” Sous Chef, graduated from college last week. We made a final trek to Pennsylvania to witness the deed and move him a few states closer for grad school; happily, I can do a 5-hour drive in my sleep, but 12 wasContinue reading “so I wrote the book…”

the little things…

…what I found & kept during the pandemic. Did everyone simply forget that the world nearly shut down in 2020? Well I didn’t. We don’t seem to talk about it anymore, which is perhaps a self-preservation response to a really awful couple of years. Global health crisis and political upheaval notwithstanding, the ability to “moveContinue reading “the little things…”

doubling down…

…poor choices, iffy sushi, and a new steak recipe. There is an art to knowing when to say when. There is also an art to ignoring that exact instinct. Or least to ignoring it well. Once you have summoned the bravery to almost cross the line, the trick is to flex your rebellion with discernmentContinue reading “doubling down…”

a little fun with fungi…

…music, mortality & mushrooms Throughout the month of February, mushrooms were the cause célèbre of my kitchen – meaning I overbought at the Farmers Market and it was a race against time. I’ve always considered mushrooms woefully underrated and worthy of more attention, for despite their rustic, earthy pedigree, they are delicacies in countless culturesContinue reading “a little fun with fungi…”

happily complicated…

…contradictions, mantras & breakfast for dinner (Warning: this one has little to do with food.) Since we’re already three months into 2023, I suppose it’s time to catch up. Let’s start at the beginning. Along with holiday feasting, good cheer and general merriment, I always celebrate New Year’s Eve with an annual ritual. Once I’veContinue reading “happily complicated…”

a year of playing with my food…

…you’d think I’d be full. And you’d be right. It’s been over a month since I last posted – I still cooked passionately and overindulged joyfully in planning, prep, culinary mechanics and of course, eating. There’s some photo evidence on Instagram and I did collect a few witty anecdotes, but mostly I just let itContinue reading “a year of playing with my food…”

a Thanksgiving state of mind…

…memories of grateful & merry gluttony. When I was a very little girl, Thanksgiving in Savannah was a large family gathering at my grandparents’ house on the Wilmington River, complete with the obligatory 2:00pm turkey dinner. It was quite southern: I don’t remember snow, but it was just cool enough for a sweater, and whileContinue reading “a Thanksgiving state of mind…”

about Diwali…

…my unexpected tie to Indian cuisine. A few weeks ago I wrote about some unexpectedly social cooking and eating escapades, specifically a three-week October frenzy of excessive commensality. It was a welcome, but exhausting departure from my oh-so-comfy empty nest routine. By the end of the month I really needed some quiet time and foundContinue reading “about Diwali…”

cry me a river…

…a first-world sob story resolved in 3 dinners. Buckle in, we are going for a ride. I got a new camera last week. To be fair, I had to get a new camera last week because in late October I dropped my faithful long lens, Big Betty. We were together for 8 years which madeContinue reading “cry me a river…”