Just before I went to bed on a Sunday or two ago, I watched Lady Edith call Lady Mary a “bitch” more than once. (That's “Downton Abbey,” for those of you not hooked on this Masterpiece Theatre show, which will end maybe by the time you read this. Sob.) My reading matter was “Five Days at Memorial,” a nonfiction book about Memorial Hospital in New Orleans, before, during and … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Pork Roast with Maple and Rum Glaze
Nibbles: Two Culinary Memoirs, Two Delicious Recipes – Enjoy Both!
Over the past month, I have been reading interesting recipes. That’s not a big deal, since I pore over recipes daily from newspapers, cookbooks and, especially, food magazines. These days I tear recipes from magazines and newspapers, then chuck them out. Many of my 500 cookbooks are gone, too, living at the Book Barn. But two food memoirs I bought recently, and which I … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Two Culinary Memoirs, Two Delicious Recipes – Enjoy Both!
Nibbles: Super Summer Salmon
Why don’t I like salmon? Maybe because the few times I order it in restaurants it is overcooked. Maybe because I only want fresh salmon, preferably wild caught. It’s funny: every time I have had salmon at someone’s house, it is glorious. James O’Shea roasted a huge piece of salmon on my grill in Old Lyme, chopping only the herbs in my herb garden plus a few tablespoons of … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Super Summer Salmon
Nibbles: Summer Just Isn’t Summer Without Ratatouille (and a Five-Bean Bake!)
I am so enjoying this summer. I do love my CSA baskets (Hanukkah or Christmas every Tuesday afternoon), but I still delight in visiting my local farm and farm markets twice a week to get more tomatoes and sweet corn, either at Whittle’s in Mystic or Becky’s in Waterford. If that were not enough, a neighbor, who is a scientist at Pfizer, asked if I liked tuna. “Fresh … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Summer Just Isn’t Summer Without Ratatouille (and a Five-Bean Bake!)
A Number of Nibbles: Strawberry Recipes Galore and Corn Chowder
#1 It has been a pretty wonderful seven-day period. My daughter had given me tickets to see Bette Midler at the TD Center in Boston, along with a lovely room at the Onyx, right next to the arena. I took my daughter-in-law, Nancy, with me. We had a wonderful dinner at Bricco, walking distance to both hotel and Bette, loved the show, and had cocktails at 11 pm in the hotel … [Read more...] about A Number of Nibbles: Strawberry Recipes Galore and Corn Chowder
A Number of Nibbles: Places to Go – Chester Farm Market, St. Sophia’s Greek Festival & JAMMS
#1 Chester Farm Market Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 2 through October 2 I know summer is here when the Chester Farm Market opens, I missed the first, but I will be there every Sunday ‘til fall. This year they have closed Main Street, there is music and the tents are full of gorgeous food and incredibly nice people. Friends and I spent almost an hour there (my … [Read more...] about A Number of Nibbles: Places to Go – Chester Farm Market, St. Sophia’s Greek Festival & JAMMS
Nibbles: Now is the Time to Bake a Spice Cake
On Sunday, March 1, I decided that winter was done. That afternoon, though, I drove to the Ward’s home in Madison to celebrate Zimmy’s 90th birthday. There would be around 40 of us and the food promised to be yummy. I had bought my Coca-Cola Cake and a slow-cooker full of Cincinnati four-way chili. Both were good but Eugenia’s baked rigatoni along with chopped liver, potatoes … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Now is the Time to Bake a Spice Cake
Nibbles: Super Squash Soup Warms The Heart
It was a bit of an iffy week, with some weather including rain, heat (mid-seventies in October!) and a pretty cold evening when I thought I might take the soft and comfy throws into the living for the cats and me. Each of the days, while my friend Nancy was vacationing in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, I fed her feral cats. She had packed up eight enormous plastic bins of dry cat … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Super Squash Soup Warms The Heart
Nibbles: Chicken and Wine with Capers Perfect for Boules Bash
When Linnea [Rufo - the owner of and executive chef at the Bee & Thistle in Old Lyme] and I talked about what she would make for her boules party, she thought about Lasagna Bolognese. This can be made ahead of time and baked just before dinner time, usually around 7 pm. A big salad (we usually have somewhere around 45 people for dinner), maybe Charlie van Over’s bread. I … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Chicken and Wine with Capers Perfect for Boules Bash
Nibbles: Lee on Life, Lemon Cake and Lids … Well, Canisters Actually
My kitchen is starting to look like as kitchen, but not like the kitchen I had before. I am not complaining. The kitchen in Old Lyme was created by me and my husband. As always, it was the first room to be finished. It was two rooms and a hall. It was dark and applianced in harvest gold. The counter was Formica or faux Formica (is that an oxymoron?) The floor was … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Lee on Life, Lemon Cake and Lids … Well, Canisters Actually
Nibbles: Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumble is Always a Winner
I spent a fair amount of time with friends and sometimes acquaintances turn out to be friends. As usual, we talk about food. One of the evenings, three of us were to eat Thai food at Spice Club and walk over to see, “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” in Niantic Cinema. Because one of us hurt his back, we ordered pizza and I made a salad. I like to make the salad dressing … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumble is Always a Winner
Two for One Nibbles: Best Meatloaf Ever: Craving Cookies? Try These in Oatmeal
To paraphrase from Philip Roth’s “Love Story,” what can I say about a winter that simply won’t go away. Last Wednesday I shoveled five different times, just to allow me to get from my front porch to get my newspapers. And the same number of times so I could get to my garage. I failed. The snow was so heavy I was exhausted. Friends were able to visit me for dinner … [Read more...] about Two for One Nibbles: Best Meatloaf Ever: Craving Cookies? Try These in Oatmeal
Nibbles: It’s Cold Outside … So Try Caribbean Bread Inside
One morning a few days ago, the outside thermometer outside was -6 and the bedroom was 47 degrees Fahrenheit (I don’t heat the bedroom because I like the electric blanket on my bed atop my featherbed and over the goose down comforter to keep me warm). Yesterday it was 57 degrees Fahrenheit and pouring. This morning, outside, it was 6 above. At 10:45, it measured 10, a … [Read more...] about Nibbles: It’s Cold Outside … So Try Caribbean Bread Inside
Nibbles: All in a Day’s Work — Hummus, Spiced Pecans
The snowstorm two weeks ago took me by surprise. It isn’t as if the meteorologists got it wrong; as a matter of fact, they pretty much got it right. But I don’t watch local television weather reports: I get The Day every day, along with The New York Times. I TiVo Jeopardy (and lots of other shows, some good enough to talk about, others of which I am ashamed that I watch … [Read more...] about Nibbles: All in a Day’s Work — Hummus, Spiced Pecans
Nibbles: North Carolina Memories Stir Up Cinammon-Apple Cake
Another glorious September on the Outer Banks. Last year’s week was a little busier, with Richard’s mother and her two little dogs, and Ralph’s sister and brother-in-law visiting for a few days. This time it was just us. I slept late every morning ‘til almost 8 a.m. With a teeth brush and a comb sliced through my hair, I’d go upstairs, say good morning to Ralph and Richard … [Read more...] about Nibbles: North Carolina Memories Stir Up Cinammon-Apple Cake