We all remember a time when we couldn’t wait to be older. Rites of passage like getting a license to drive, graduation, our first apartment, marriage and children led to the feeling of being a “grownup.” We were on our own and able to take care of ourselves. We made our own choices and decisions…
Ginger and garlic crushed into a fine paste are used liberally in main dishes of China, Thailand and India. Garlic contains high levels of vitamin C and is great for boosting the immune system. Fresh ginger has beneficial anti-inflammatory properties and is often recommended for nausea. Spicy peppers like cayenne, habanero and serrano chilies are…
As summer draws to a close and we approach the holiest week of the year, it’s time again to reflect on the blessings we have received. Our summer included settling in to a new home, outdoor concerts, major league baseball games, Fourth of July fireworks and toasting s’mores. My husband and I logged countless miles…
Finding a new home for our family is always a challenge. We need a home large enough to accommodate our two home offices and with a spacious and efficient kitchen for me, sufficient outdoor space for our dog and a storage room for a teenager with too many hobbies and toys to count. After months…
On a recent trip to the Oregon coast, my husband and I decided to explore a bit of the Oregon wine country along the way. We were surprised to discover that the once sleepy towns of McMinnville and Dundee have metamorphosed into a wine lover’s paradise. It seemed as though there were signs pointing to…
Foods that are restricted during Passover are well known to most observant Jews. Chametz includes anything made with wheat, oats, rye and barley; additionally, Ashkenazi tradition forbids kitniyot, which rules out beans, corn and rice. For the carbohydrate addict, that means no bread, cereal, pizza, pasta or pilaf for eight days. Feeling satisfied becomes a…
When I stepped outside today, I began to recognize signs that spring will soon be here. I noticed tiny buds on the trees and fragile flowers beginning to pop from the ground – and the sun felt just a bit warmer as it peeked from behind the clouds between early spring’s perpetual rain showers. Soon…
The year is 1967 and I am in the back seat of my parent’s Pontiac Bonneville. KISN radio is spinning the latest Dionne Warwick tune. Her silky voice sings the lyrics: “What the world needs now is love sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” In light of current events,…
Before I was paid to cook, my occupation had absolutely nothing to do with food. To make food my profession, I spent several years watching and learning from some highly regarded chefs and professionals, who taught me plenty. Occasionally, I lament that I should have enrolled in an accredited culinary program, graduated with honors and…
Winter’s chill is in the air and changing leaves have mostly fallen from the trees. Soon it will be time to usher in another holiday season. Shortly after we roast the Thanksgiving turkey, it will be time again to light candles for Hanukkah. Entertaining will be in full swing as we invite family and friends…
