My eating patterns have changed over the past six months. It began with the shelter-in-place pandemic, during which I looked at my freezers and pantry (the latter is half my hall closet in the condo), and began using many of the shelf-stable groceries of which I had double and triple amounts.) But once the summer harvest became available, I began allowing my meals to be … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Need a Quick, No-Cook, Hearty Salad? Tuna Panzanella is the Answer!
Columnists
The Movie Man: Positive Thoughts on Dealing With the “Ambiguous Loss” of a Night at the Movies
Around the start of 2019, I published a piece lamenting the rise of A-list movies being released through direct-streaming services such as Netflix. I figuratively begged the cinematic geniuses to never go down this path and always stick to theatrical releases. I was frustrated to learn that my favorite filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, was releasing his highly anticipated … [Read more...] about The Movie Man: Positive Thoughts on Dealing With the “Ambiguous Loss” of a Night at the Movies
A View From My Porch: Great Leaders and Great Speeches. Part 5: Cold War “Visual Aids”
Editor’s Note: This the fifth part of Thomas Gotowka’s series titled “Great Leaders and Great Speeches.’ The previous four parts can be found at these links: A View from My Porch: Great Leaders and Great Speeches, Part 1: Washington’s Farewell through Theodore Roosevelt A View from My Porch: Great Leaders and Great Speeches, Part 2: Nazi Aggression through “A Rain of Ruin … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Great Leaders and Great Speeches. Part 5: Cold War “Visual Aids”
A la Carte: It’s Almost Labor Day, But There’s Still Time for ‘Summer Vegetable Stew’
Last weekend, between cooking (more basil pesto and Coca Cola chocolate cake), reading (finally finished Scott Turow’s The Last Trial) or watching television (not much left now except MSNBC and the third season of The Good Fight.) I also spent some time on Facebook. My south-of-the-Baldwin-Bridge editor, Pem McNerney, who is no slouch when it comes to cooking, made … [Read more...] about A la Carte: It’s Almost Labor Day, But There’s Still Time for ‘Summer Vegetable Stew’
Reading Uncertainly: ‘Talking to Strangers’ by Malcolm Gladwell
I admit that I am easily drawn to the words of Malcolm Gladwell, having already absorbed his The Tipping Point (2002), Blink (2007), and Outliers (2011). I was not disappointed!. This is yet another intriguing and challenging mental exercise about the way in which our brains tend to mislead us, Consider meeting someone new and engaging in conversation: afterwards, we … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly: ‘Talking to Strangers’ by Malcolm Gladwell
A la Carte: You Deserve Something Special! Triple-Ginger Pound Cake Beckons
Last week I made the most delicious dinner I’d ever made. And the easiest. And so satisfying that no dessert—ice cream, cookies, cheesecake or crème brulee—was necessary. Here's what it was: a T-bone steak I’d bought and frozen when they were on sale, three sliced tomatoes. mashed potatoes from 20 tiny ones I’d purchased from Stone Acres in Stonington and two ears of sweet … [Read more...] about A la Carte: You Deserve Something Special! Triple-Ginger Pound Cake Beckons
Letter From Paris: Back to Normal in France? Not Quite …
A Cannes Film Festival turned virtual, the Roland Garros tennis tournament and Tour de France bicycle race both postponed until September? France will definitely not be the same this summer! Tourism and culture are two of the main sectors of French economy and the pandemic has inflicted a direct blow on both of them. Hundreds of festivals, sport events, art … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Back to Normal in France? Not Quite …
Gardening with ‘The English Lady’: Tips for August, “The Sunday of Summer”
August has always been one of my least favorite months in the garden; but plentiful spring has resulted in bountiful fragrance, bloom and foliage. We have such a short blooming and growing season here in New England that any extra time to have a good-looking border is much appreciated. However, by this time in the season, there are always a few gaps to fill in with annuals … [Read more...] about Gardening with ‘The English Lady’: Tips for August, “The Sunday of Summer”
A la Carte: Savor a Taste of Summer in Chipotle Pasta Salad with Mozzarella
Remember Willard Scott from the Today show? I saw him a few years ago at a Sunday brunch at the Saybrook Point Inn. I always liked his birthday wishes to anyone over 100 years, sponsored by Smucker’s. I also laughed at his “best ever,” wherever he was broadcasting. The “best pancake” he ever had, the “best meatloaf” in all of Indiana, the most “beautiful sunshine” in … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Savor a Taste of Summer in Chipotle Pasta Salad with Mozzarella
A la Carte: Love Linguine? Just Add Spinach, Lemon Cream, Parmesan to Make a Delicious Dish!
It was a nice week with more company at home in four days than I have had in the last four months. Tuesday evening, I had five friends for dinner. We are all good friends, all five from Lyme, and all but I had spent a bit of time together. I had visited one couple twice over one month. My dining room table is very large and, while we could converse, it was too big for us to … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Love Linguine? Just Add Spinach, Lemon Cream, Parmesan to Make a Delicious Dish!
A la Carte: Friday Means Fish: How About Healthy, but also Delicious ‘Poached Cod in Tomato Curry’?
I still have not had an ear of sweet corn, but the farm stands do seem to be in high cotton*. (*I have actually never used that phrase, but I have been reading novels that take place in Virginia lately, and one person used “high cotton,” so I looked up the phrase and, originally, it meant that the crops, usually cotton, were doing particularly well, so I thought I would use … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Friday Means Fish: How About Healthy, but also Delicious ‘Poached Cod in Tomato Curry’?
A View from My Porch: Great Leaders and Great Speeches, Part 4: The Cold War Heats Up
Editor’s Note: This the third part of Thomas Gotowka’s series titled “Great Leaders and Great Speeches.’ The previous three parts can be found at these links: A View from My Porch: Great Leaders and Great Speeches, Part 1 A View from My Porch: Great Leaders and Great Speeches, Part 2 A View from My Porch: Great Leaders and Great Speeches, Part 3: The Cold War Part 3 … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Great Leaders and Great Speeches, Part 4: The Cold War Heats Up
Reading Uncertainly: ‘Voyaging with Marionette’ by Ron Breault of Old Lyme
A quarter century ago, an elderly sailor glimpses an attractive middle-aged lady relaxing on the shore of the Connecticut River. She’s a bit disheveled; her skirt is torn, revealing a bit of what’s underneath, but she’s lovely! He’s immediately smitten, and, like Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, the sailor decides he must have an affair. The sailor is Ron Breault, an Old Lyme … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly: ‘Voyaging with Marionette’ by Ron Breault of Old Lyme
A la Carte: Last Week, Pesto, This Week, Pasta … But ‘e Fagiole!’
It was a nice week: a little rain, a lot of sunshine, my first trip to the beach and low humidity. One evening, friends and I had dinner at Filomena’s, outside under a big tent, and listened to the New London Big Band, minus about six members, play mellow jazz. The decibels of the speakers were just right, it threatened to rain but didn’t and the food, as usual, was yummy. I … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Last Week, Pesto, This Week, Pasta … But ‘e Fagiole!’
A la Carte: Pesto is Perfect for Pasta … and More
I am amazed how friends have managed to get tasks done during this pandemic isolation. The Fitzgerald's garden looks like something out of a French painting with pots of herbs on the fence, homemade cushions with seating for friends and two gorgeous cocker spaniels lazing on my legs, adding to the ambience. The Robertson's grass look like a golf course and their … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Pesto is Perfect for Pasta … and More