Last weekend I begrudgingly cleared out all of our tomato plants. It’s been a great four month run and I loved walking out the back door and bringing in the bounty. I got to the point where I took it for granted that there were tomatoes to pluck whenever the urge struck, but reality set [...]
Archive for October, 2009
One Last Look
Posted in cooking, food on October 31, 2009 | 6 Comments »
Gratitude Friday: The Kindness Of Others
Posted in California, friends on October 30, 2009 | 2 Comments »
I recently had the pleasure of being exposed to a variety of people who think about and take action to care about people that they don’t even know. I realize that this sort of thing (should I say “charity” for lack of a better word?) probably takes place a lot more than I think, but [...]
Arezzo, Are You There?
Posted in Arezzo, Italy, travel on October 29, 2009 | 4 Comments »
Well, of course Arezzo is there. The problem is that I’m not! I left my heart in this charming town on the eastern edge of Tuscany and will not rest until I am back there strolling around all of its familiar lanes.
Just about two years ago I started researching language schools in Italy. I was [...]
Stewed Spareribs With Tomatoes
Posted in cookbooks, food, recipe on October 28, 2009 | 3 Comments »
“As a teenager I remember the fun of a Sunday excursion in the country with friends for the sole purpose of eating large quantities of country food. We would dash to the hills in search of farmhouses that could feed a crowd for very little money. Those meals were made up of home-cured salamis, prosciutto, [...]
Anatomy Of A Dinner Party
Posted in cooking, food, friends, recipe on October 27, 2009 | 5 Comments »
For about fifteen years we’ve been meeting for dinner with a group of friends to share great wines and even better food. Originally there were six of us and after a short time, a fourth couple came on board. When you are the host, you are responsible for the entire dinner with a bottle of [...]
Butternut Squash Soup
Posted in cooking, food, recipe on October 25, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Some years back I served soup as a starter at a small dinner party. Instead of having everyone move to the dining table, I poured the soup into mugs and we mingled in front of the fireplace while we enjoyed this first course. J. dubbed it “the walk around soup”. I can’t tell you how [...]
Gratitude Friday: Time In The Kitchen
Posted in cooking, family, food on October 23, 2009 | 3 Comments »
There’s no where I would rather be than whipping something up in my kitchen! Well, of course I’d rather be doing it in a kitchen in Italy, but if not, my humble little kitchen in sunny California will do. I really would like to thank my mother for being my inspiration. Growing up I was [...]
Roman Memories
Posted in Italy, travel on October 22, 2009 | 3 Comments »
I am dedicating this post to my good friend G., who at this very moment is wandering around this incredible city. I look at the clock and wonder where she is, what she is doing, which fabulous building she is gazing at, and of course, which delectable Roman specialty is she nibbling on.
I’m with [...]
“The Best Scones”
Posted in cooking, food, recipe on October 20, 2009 | 4 Comments »
Let me state right up front that the pronouncement of the best scones comes from J., who was smart enough to grab one just as I pulled them from the oven. I have to admit I to am pretty enamored of this recipe. I’ve made scones many times in the past-from the fluffy ones that [...]
Mushroom Bread Pudding
Posted in cooking, food, recipe on October 19, 2009 | 1 Comment »
A few weeks back a good friend told me about an incredible bakery/cafe that he visited on a recent trip to Utah. Located in Salt Lake City, Les Madeleines is famous for a breakfast pastry called Kouign Amann which originated in the Brittany region of France. This specialty is so popular that they limit the [...]
