Hyperbolic ruminations on food and film
My mom, a teacher, taught my older brother and me to be strong readers by the time we were each 3 years old. She used a variety of books including, of course, Dr. Seuss, whose books I still adore. My favorites, however, were Richard Scarry’s intricate, incredibly detailed “Busytown” books such as “What Do People […]
Read More
So my life was upended December 26th by a house fire. I’ve sent out two group emails to family about it and have decided to do the followups here. Below are the first two emails I sent. This weekend I will do an update. It’s been crazy and disorienting. But what better way to end […]
Read More
If you love corn, this is the dish you’ve been waiting for…. Risotto is a dish I avoided learning to cook for years because cookbooks and chefs like to scare the life out of you when it comes to risotto. “If you step away from the stove, it will be ruined!” “Your using the wrong […]
Read More
You can’t go wrong with any of these wonderful appetizers….. I have a slew of new posts prepping but in the meantime, enjoy your holiday weekend with some of the best dips imaginable. Yes I’m being cocky. But I’m also right… This is a compilation of the best dips I’ve offered over the eight years […]
Read More
Taco Salad is SOOOOOOO good! And this is the best you can get….. I grew up with wonderful food. Countless meals to make you drool from my mom, my grandmothers Honey and Maw-Maw, Mrs. Roos, Barbara Doyle, Zip Zummo (recipe coming soon), Mrs. Romero, so many others. In our town of Port Arthur on the Gulf […]
Read More
If you’re gluten-free or on a Keto diet, you can still enjoy a delectable southern plate of chicken, mashed and cream gravy….. Friends of mine – one in particular – get very irritated by the gluten-free craze, particularly the marketing. “Our Bacon is Gluten Free!” Well, yes. It always has been… so shut it. I […]
Read More
Presenting your favorite dip for summer. Something so easy shouldn’t taste this good. I have a theory about food… … well, I have quite a few theories about food, but for once let me try to focus: Theory: most foods have great versions, good versions and bad. Take a cheeseburger. There are a few incredible […]
Read More
a simple and glorious burger for your Memorial Day….. I love friends who cook! I told you previously about my good friend David Henden, and his wonderful salsa and marinara. I will inevitably write about my friends Tiffiny and Jeff, both marvelous cooks. But for your Memorial Day weekend, I’m bringing in my good friend […]
Read More
Healthy and fresh, with a surprising amount of flavor I’ve never been a fan of chicken soup for a very specific reason. When growing up and home sick from school my mom, like any good mother of the era, served me Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup. I’m not going to bash Campbell’s! Their soups make casseroles […]
Read More
A luscious and flavorful curry inspired by an amazing chef, Jazz Singsanong The first time I saw the marvelous Hepburn-Tracy film Adam’s Rib (1949, which you can and should rent on Amazon) I was nine years old and fell in love. I fell in love with those two great actors and their magical chemistry; with Judy […]
Read More
I’m not ashamed to say I eat this with a spoon… Our family loved blue cheese. We ate it on crackers, in things, on other things, all alone, crumbled in salads and also as a dressing. Blue Cheese! My grandmother, Honey, loved it so much she had a big wheel of Stilton delivered every […]
Read More
A creamy spicy dreamy one pot dish perfect for a weeknight dinner Two shrimp posts in a row? Yes indeedy. I grew up on the Gulf Coast (Port Arthur, Texas, if you’re new to the blog) and there are few things I love as much as fresh shrimp from the Gulf. We were all so […]
Read More
One of the best main dishes I’ve ever prepared This is the first time I’ve ever posted two days in a row, but dinner last night was so mind-glowingly wonderful, I had to share this recipe. With a simple extra step, the coconut milk rice is as luscious and creamy and divine as imaginable. It’s […]
Read More
cooking during the pandemic I’m lucky during the COVID 19 lockdown to live with one of my best friends, Rob. He’s been working from home since January. I’m now working from home for the duration of the pandemic. During the day, he works in the office upstairs, I work in my office downstairs (set up […]
Read More
my tribute to a wonderful woman who changed my life and continues to affect it I’ve written about a few of the cooks who influenced me, from my grandmothers to friends and family members to Patricia Wells to Suzanne Goin …. Today I’d like to tell you about the cook and her book who influenced me […]
Read More
Yes! Perfect dips and vegetarian (vegan!) chili for your game day I’ve been so swamped this January I don’t even know who is playing both in the game itself and at half time. But I’ll find out Sunday because I never miss a chance to make Super Bowl food! I’m including three previous posts: the […]
Read More
final ruminations on 2019 When I looked back over my notes from the past year, I was shocked that some of my favorites were actually from 2019, not 2018; it seems so long ago when I read or watched some of these. I guess it’s been a very long year. Thankfully, the content has been […]
Read More
For eight or so months it seemed 2019 was going to be a mediocre year for movies. Sure there was the occasional surprise (Shazam! – Zachary Levi, my goodness), a couple of much better than average Stephen King adaptations (Pet Sematary, It 2 – both very effective) and even a grump like me had to admit […]
Read More
Spotify mixes for your holiday enjoyment I’m a Christmas Music Fanatic. I know them all and am very opinionated about what is best. So I was going to do a big post on the best Christmas Music… yet I’ve found, over the years, that wading into discussions about the best Christmas Music is fraught with more […]
Read More
This feisty and ultra-satisfying vegan dish turns carnivorous in one simple step Winter may seem an odd time for a stir-fry. Aren’t vegetables best in the spring and summer? But most of the vegetables used in a stir-fry… onions, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, zucchini, broccoli, etc… are available year round. On a cold night, yes, a hearty […]
Read More