cooking for one... or two
Who thought we would be back here to ring in the new year? With holidays and flights cancelled and tempers rising, it might just be time to whip up a teeny indulgence for one or two. This recipe from Melissa Clark is the bomb. A fresh sour cream and onion dip decadently dressed with fresh salmon roe, served up with crunchy potato chips. Every
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food detective
You know when you see people on social media, and they seem like they have it all together? I have to confess I was feeling a little high on my holiday horse and thought I’d flaunt my newly acquired baking skills for my next post. I was inspired earlier this month by the NYT’s interactive article on the 24 Days of Cookies. Being a crunchy salty
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food detective
Having five adult children, all with partners, most with dogs and two with children, coordinating the holidays could make one feel as if they were running traffic control over O’Hare. Early on my husband and I began a new tradition. If any of our children wanted to come visit, all they needed to do was pick a date and let us know what holiday they
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cooking for one... or two
I’m always on lookout for a standout meal that comes together in minutes. The prep for this one is done in about the time it takes to preheat the oven. You’ll find this crisp cheesy gratin unexpectedly light. Its array of bright ingredients delivers depth and refreshing complexity. The combination of seafood and cheese might surprise some. But on
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
I love the vibe of Sunday supper. Dinner on the last day of the week tends to be casually welcoming and comforting. A little like that black sundress you can dress up or down. I’ve been meaning to have a few of our neighbors over and I wanted it to be an easy but memorable affair. I had the idea to whip up some flatbread pizzas for the main and
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food detective
You know those days, weeks, when you’re wondering where you’ll find the time or energy to make dinner? On those nights I sometimes order online. I don’t know about you, but for me those meals often fall flat. And at the end of a pretty mediocre meal, I usually feel a little fat. Not a win win. The other day when I didn’t want to do what I suppose
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a moment in time
Wedding bells were ringing last week in Midway Utah. After a year of plans and pivots, my baby girl married her perfect match in the midst of the Wasatch Mountains. It was exceptional in each and every way. Most notably that our family and a handful of dear friends, all fully vaccinated, could reunite for this incredibly blessed event.
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food detective
This past week I’ve been feeling very nostalgic. It’s had me reflecting on the onset of my adult life and the milestones that followed. In the mid-eighties and early nineties, I lived way up on the Upper West Side of NYC. The cold sesame noodles from our corner Chinese were one of my guilty pleasures. I don’t know how they packed so much flavor and
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
This Fourth of July we are staying in the city. Thought it might be fun to invite some friends over to celebrate our country’s independence and relish in our now chilly dining room courtesy of our newly installed AC unit. Just because you are an apartment dweller doesn’t mean you can’t have an indoor barbeque. The key is figuring out what to
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food detective
When I returned to Chicago, I was delighted to discover that the second-floor markets at Eataly had reopened. What a treat to once again see the cases filled with aged beef, homemade pastas, a world of cheeses and charcutier, the freshest of fish. I felt like a little kid window shopping at Christmas. It was liberating to do something that felt
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Wherever I find myself, I’m happiest with a full dining room table. As a former professional chef and caterer I want to share what I’ve learned over the past three decades of entertaining. On this site you’ll find tricks of the trade to help even the most harried of you pull off a seemingly seamless fête. Come join the conversation! read more →