I am such a spoiled princess, even if I don’t have anyone around to spoil me. Because the temperature is dipping into the 40s at night, I opened two windows in the living room and one in the bedroom. Since I had turned on the central air in late May and hadn’t yet turned it off on the first of October, I thought I would go into this slowly. (Actually, I am not a spoiled … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Mushrooms by the Million? Sounds Like Soup!
A La Carte: Apricots and Almonds Make Great Galette!
My mother always wanted to live in San Diego, but as far as she got was Troy, NY. She was born in the beginning of the 20th century, died in the beginning of the 21st century and was buried in an ecumenical cemetery not more than 20 blocks or so from where she lived her whole life. San Diego, she said, correctly, had the perfect climate: fairly sunny, warm in the daytime … [Read more...] about A La Carte: Apricots and Almonds Make Great Galette!
A la Carte: When it’s Humid and Hot, Salmorejo Hits the Spot
Yes, it has been humid and hot, hot, hot. Usually at this point in late summer, I am sort of done with the beach. Last Saturday I went out to dinner with friends and to see a movie (“Wind River” is terrific. Don’t miss it.). Because we had decided to go to see the movie in Mystic, although it is not our favorite destination cinema hall (don’t like the recliners that don’t … [Read more...] about A la Carte: When it’s Humid and Hot, Salmorejo Hits the Spot
A La Carte: You Can’t Beat Beets!
Not everyone likes beets. This is hard for me to understand. What’s not to like with beets. My mother didn’t like vegetables. I found this later in life, when I asked my mother why we I didn’t have vegetables, canned or fresh, except for sweet corn and tomatoes in the summer and canned green beans and canned peas in the fall, winter and spring. Simple, she explained. She didn’t … [Read more...] about A La Carte: You Can’t Beat Beets!
A La Carte: Corn Chowder with Lobster Makes Perfect Ending to Beach Day
There are beach days and there are beach days. I am not sure there has ever been a summer that didn’t include a salt-water vacation. As a baby, toddler and teenager, there was Belmar, N.J. I had Angrist and Kasdan cousins who lived there full-time, although the two Angrist brothers worked in New York City, one as a librarian at CCNY and the other a pathologist at Albert … [Read more...] about A La Carte: Corn Chowder with Lobster Makes Perfect Ending to Beach Day
A la Carte: Welcome the New Year with Oyster Stew
Just once were we far away from home on New Year’s Eve. It was at Key West and it was wild. We ate dinner at a restaurant. I don’t remember much of the dinner (it wasn’t the champagne, honestly, it wasn’t.) But it was the first time I’d tried creamy crème brulée. Remember, it was the early 70s, iceberg lettuce was the only lettuce in a supermarket and I’d never tasted … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Welcome the New Year with Oyster Stew
A la Carte: Pot Roast is Perfect Between the Holidays
It has been a busy holiday season, beginning at Thanksgiving. I will light my candles on my menorah beginning Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, the first time I can remember Hanukkah beginning on Christmas Eve. (In the Jewish calendar, which sometimes has an extra month, Hanukkah can arrive from November through most of December and is an eight-day holiday. I do not remember my parents … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Pot Roast is Perfect Between the Holidays
Nibbles: Turn Turkey Leftovers Into Turkey Chilli
You may be reading this column the day before Thanksgiving. If you are serving a feast for four or eight or maybe up to 20, just peruse this column. You have enough to do without reading this, but the recipe below may help you with turkey leftovers. (There is no clear segue here, but if you are hosting and see yourself in the weeds, e-mail me ([email protected]) and we will … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Turn Turkey Leftovers Into Turkey Chilli
Nibbles: Savor Seasonal Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
I am not sure when chocolate began to disappear as my drug of choice or, in truth, never was. Even as a child, when given a dime for penny candy (yes, I am that old!), I chose those Mary Janes and “watermelon” slices and those wax bottles filled with juice. On the other hand, my go-to birthday cake was chocolate layer cake, filled between layers with strawberry jam, topped with … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Savor Seasonal Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
A la Carte: Weeknight Red Curry
It was a nice quiet birthday, beginning with my daughter-in-law and three of my granddaughters and ending with pineapple rice with chicken at Spice Club in Niantic and a terrific movie at the Niantic Theater. With some trepidation, I drove from home to Newbury, Massachusetts, Friday of Memorial Day weekend. The traffic began on I-95 in East Lyme to 290 in Worcester, … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Weeknight Red Curry
A la Carte: Asparagus Soup Two Ways
This is the time of year I always yearn for. I think about what is available in the supermarkets (rhubarb is in!) and I will buy asparagus. I have a few tips for you about asparagus. Buy your asparagus with tips tightly wound. It can be thin or thick (I prefer the thick ones). I cut about half an inch or an inch from the bottom with a sharp knife (I do this five or six … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Asparagus Soup Two Ways
Nibbles: Ricotta Cheese Pie
This was an odd Easter weekend for me. On Good Friday, I picked up my daughter-in-law Nancy and second-youngest granddaughter Casey in Newbury, Massachusetts, then drove up to Kennebunkport Inn. It all began with an e-mail from the beautiful hotel in Maine. It is less expensive to spend a day or two there in the late fall, winter and early spring, but the advertisement said … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Ricotta Cheese Pie
Nibbles: Enjoy Gluten-Free Apple Crisp, Try Tiano Smokehouse
I love social media, but before I tell you why I do, here is what I do not love. I never, ever have a meal, at my house, someone else's house or in a restaurant with my cell phone next to my plate. If I forget to turn my phone off at a movie, I turn it off as soon as the note on the screen asks. If I am in a meeting and forget to turn it off and someone calls me, I turn it off … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Enjoy Gluten-Free Apple Crisp, Try Tiano Smokehouse
A la Carte: Chicken Salad from Poached Chicken Tenders
In early February, the members of Groton's Board of Education met for its retreat. Since I am a new member, I was truly excited to sit with my fellow members along with the superintendent and assistant superintendent. I didn't actually realize that many of us are new members, since some are two-year members and some four-year members. Each is elected and, in many cases … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Chicken Salad from Poached Chicken Tenders
Nibbles: Curried Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie – Terrific Winter Comfort Food
I bought a 10-pound bag of russet potatoes, planning to make scalloped potatoes for Super Bowl Sunday. Then I didn't. I looked at the amount of food I made, which included pink beans (because I love pink beans), kidney beans and black beans for chili; lots of tortilla chips for guacamole; cheeseburger pie; and Velveeta and Rotel tomatoes; plus a pie for dessert. We didn't need … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Curried Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie – Terrific Winter Comfort Food