AWEsome Cookery

  When I was young we used to drive on I-80 to visit family in Colorado during summer vacation.  The speed limit was 55 mph, and with no air conditioning in the 1966 International Travelall…Nebraska was a very very very long state.   On the shady side of the vehicle the windows would be open and it was too windy, and on the sunny side we would hang a t-shirt in the window held in place by rolling (yes ROLLING)

. Lavender, a Wonder Plant of the herbal world. The name lavender is from the Latin word ‘lavare’ which means to wash—it was a common Roman practice to use lavender in public baths.  Lavender has been used in healing remedies for ages, but if you need a more Western confirmation of the properties the following is from the University of Maryland’s Medical Center: . “this herb has been used as a remedy for a range of ailments from insomnia and

    Savory cheesecake…why not?  It’s like a pâté made with ricotta cheese. Are you hosting a party and want something that can be prepared a day ahead, a treat that includes the greenery of summer and is also a hearty spread for crackers?   Need an afternoon munchable served as people drink their mojitos?   Here you go.   I use this appetizer both in the summer when the herbs are fresh, and in the winter when the frozen pesto brings

  The simmering sun of summer is in full sweltering swing.  Unless, of course, you are my friend Jase who is cooking the winter stint at the South Pole, then sunlight is only a faded memory and you would be trying like hell to figure out amusing ways to stay sane while living inside the spaceship of a station. Go Jase!!  You can do it!  The sun is headed back your way!   As a tribute to that fiery ball

  I have a lamp made of agates.  Sometimes I turn it on because I need light and sometimes I turn it on because the warm glow and the intricate design of the rocks makes me feel better. As the first memorial for Mom comes to a close I have been pondering how it all works, this life and death thing.  Sorry—no real answers here, only mullings and musings of Life, the Universe and Everything. I remembered how recently I

  This is a photo of my mother that depicts what we hope she experienced this week as she crossed over to the other side.  She would be sailing down a waterslide with a huge smile and her arms up in the air.   What an incredible process, this dying thing, I am in awe. . Here is another photo—she LOVED to laugh! . . Our family has been together a lot lately, and without fail the fall-back task to

  Lettuce wraps have given me such relief in the summer months—I can eat cold meals, gluten free. Lettuce is a vehicle, an edible cupping tool that gets the filling from the plate into my mouth, without bread.  I have also tried other fillings like tacos, tempeh, sesame beef, and sandwich-makings.  These buddies can be a little messier than bread since the lettuce does not absorb any liquid of the filling, but they work, and are especially great in the

  These are some photos of my journey home, wandering through old haunts and childhood byways.  VW Beetles are far too adorable to just drive by so I had to stop.  Later that day this sunset brightened my road as I drove northward. . . . . . Light, lemony and brothy, this Greek Lemon and Rice Soup is another lively addition to a spring menu….not to mention a great way to eat kale!  Note that there are still rain

  “What do you eat when your mother is dying?” That was a question my sister asked me, partly in jest because I am always looking for things to write about and partly because we were wondering what foods will help our bodies that are numb from processing the reality of our mother fading from this world. When I am stressed with the adrenaline of catering the only thing I am able to choke down is a banana, but the

  Zowee!  That’s what I have to say about this dip. I’m not sure why I should write more at this point, what more do you need to know other than “Zowee”?   Graduation parties, Memorial Day parties and weddings—tis the season of standing around outside and munching.   Apparently I like attention-grabbing flavors in my dips, and this definitely fits the bill.  But you may not want to wear white as you grab the bowl and lick it out…though

  I often am stumped about what to eat for breakfast.  Though it is easy and I have it sometimes, cereal is not my cup of tea…I crave that dose of protein and oil to get me through until lunch without a blood sugar crash.   I usually have corn tortillas in my refrigerator, and it is not uncommon that they get a little dry around the edges.  Lucky for me that is perfect for chilaquiles! . Chilaquiles: Fried tortilla

  Let us free ourselves from being too specific, and think in terms of techniques, categories, and tendencies. To use a phrase from food writer and teacher Greg Patent, I believe in “cooking empowerment“. When we learn the basics of ‘how things work’ we can shift and adapt, letting creative juices flow even when we were too intimidated to think we had such a thing as cooking creative juices.  This is what I mean by expanding our versatility in the

  It almost seems too good to be true that you can eat these little works of art. People spend countless hours carving tiny garnishes and crafting flowers from frosting as they try to recreate perfection, when certain times of year give us the opportunity to walk outside and pluck perfection from a stem.   . While it is still early in the season….if you have the luxury of a garden or window boxes, consider adding edible flowers to your

  For many years in my restaurant life I rarely made soups.  Life was about working “The Line”: prepping and pureeing and sautéing and grilling and assembling and plating and decorating.  But then I moved to a slower life.   It did not include ‘cuisine’ or ‘dinner before the theater’ or figuring out ways to use sea urchins.  This new life was about Good Food for The People. I was called to develop a fledgling Deli, and there soup became

  I love Fried Rice because Fried Rice loves miscellaneous veggies. Cleaning out your refrigerator?  Perfect.  Leftover rice?  Perfect.   I used to make my Fried Rice with San-J Teriyaki Sauce, San-J Szechuan Sauce, and Tamari.  Then came the day when gluten was no longer my friend, and I had to concoct an alternative tasty sludge because at the time the San-J products contained soy sauce…which contained wheat. . Recently San-J has switched over to using a wheat-free tamari in

  In my opinion, shiitakes are never boring. My father tells this story: long ago one of us youngsters was sitting on his lap, attempting to get his attention.  He was reading or talking or had other tasks at hand so he wasn’t giving his full consideration to the tot.  Determined to get what they needed, this child placed both of their little hands on either side of his face and, with a triumphant smile, turned his head to face

  I sometimes take full liberty in exploring things other than food at the beginning of the post, and this will be no exception.  This was a week of visiting and reminiscing with family. I have mixed feelings about this premature spring, but over the last few days I let myself thoroughly appreciate the warm breeze and the early color.  And as I was enjoying this luxury that may bring later discomfort with blistering summer heat, my siblings and I

    Today there has been very little physical activity as I begin the process of recovering from the marathon flurry of scrambling to prepare for our Edible Alien Theatre show “In Profundus”.  It is incredible what can happen when there are deadlines, especially when 109 people signed up to see what it is that you have been promising.  A remarkable amount can be pulled together in the final 72 hours! There will eventually be a page for the show

    Too many times I have suggested to a client an interesting idea, and as it is leaving my mouth my brain is shouting, “Stop, you crazy woman! You don’t know how to do that!!” For example: My Mouth “‘Oh yes, we could serve Squash Soup using acorn squash for bowls to 125 people…in a barn.” My Brain, “Shut up!  Shut up!  Stop talking!  Delete!  Delete!”   More often than not these ideas were proposed by me so I have

  If you live in an area where winters are chilly and you have access to local produce, then you know that Spring = Eggs and Greens.      (In some circles Spring also means Maibock Beer, but that’s another story…) . So if Spring = Eggs and Greens, and Eggs and Greens = Frittata, then Spring = Frittata. My 7th grade geometry teacher Mr. Gerhart would be so proud! . . A Frittata could be called a crustless quiche, or an open-faced