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
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
Nibbles: Quinoa with Pistachios, Parsley and Mint … and a Taste of Boules
Generally speaking, the boules parties that take place in eight venues Sunday afternoons in the summer are foodie delights. Each year Gloria Pepin, chairwoman emeritus, and our president, Christine Hopkins (who will, we hope, stay as president forever, since the job is a pain) tweak our very loose rules. It once began at 3 p.m. and is now at 2 p.m. As we get a bit older, we … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Quinoa with Pistachios, Parsley and Mint … and a Taste of Boules
Nibbles: Black Bean Chili in Crock Pot
Last week I spent a period of four to five hours at the DMV in Old Saybrook. I had finally decided to sell my beautiful, charming, adorable 2005 VW convertible. I didn’t really need two cars (the Forester was my husband’s car) and, truly, I couldn’t afford them both. I mentioned this to friends at dinner at the Gordons’ house. Two weeks later we had dinner at Campania with the … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Black Bean Chili in Crock Pot
Fire Up the Grill for the Fourth
I am working on the assumption that you will be firing up the grill tomorrow, July 4, for a gorgeous, dry and warm Fourth of July party at your house. And that you will be serving hamburgers. If your Fourth is like mine, things have changed since the days when I was a child. In truth, my parents did not have a grill. My aunt and uncle did have a grill. They kept kosher … [Read more...] about Fire Up the Grill for the Fourth
Nibbles: Polenta
We are so pleased to welcome back our dear friend, neighbor and food writer extraordinaire Lee White. Today, she teases our palates with a polenta served at Simsbury's Metro Bis and attributed to cookbook writer, Kelsey Banfield. Sorry we can't write much more about it now ... must go and get cooking! Over the years my husband and I, then I alone and sometimes with friends … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Polenta