Category: holidays
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Cinnamon-Sugar Pecans & Vending Machines
In Italy, the kids and I were barefoot, looking for a bathroom inside a seaside shack. “Look, is that underwear? In a vending machine?” Yes. And it should be noted that the underwear was red, sparkled, and bikini and all yours for a couple of Euro coins. In college, times were such that in the… Read more
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Molten Butterscotch Cake (Steamed Treacle Pudding) & A Very British Afternoon
My best friend from high school, T, and I just met for the ultimate British sport: Tea Brewing. The fact that we and our families met in Central Mexico for this match is of little consequence. After a ranch outing and horseback riding in ravines, milking goats at our friend’s farm (and eating the cheese… Read more
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Maple Sweet Potato Spoon Bread & Breasts
Our house was built in 1889. Roughly translated, this means no matter what temperature it is outside, inside is ten degrees colder. So we added a heat system clearly manufactured in hell because its strength and fire is unmatched. Set at 59 degrees, the house is tropical inside. As a result, despite the frigid outside… Read more
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Italian Gingerbread Cake with Brandy Butter & Masterpiece Theatre
On Sunday nights growing up, this song signaled that it was time for bed. At first I thought this was just cleverly timed – a gentle reverse alarm clock. As I grew, I realized my parents weren’t so much wanting me to get a good night’s sleep at the close of the weekend as they… Read more
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Latkes (Crispy Potato Pancakes) & Positive Energy
Without sounding all yoga, I have the following to say: It takes just as much energy to be and say negative things as it does positive. This time of year – but really in all seasons – life is much more enjoyable when we spread kindness and joy. That is all. That, and the best… Read more
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Maple Cream & Creepy Kid Books
Who doesn’t love Goodnight Moon? The soothing words, the simple reassurance of saying goodnight to objects, the perfect length book – not too short, not epic like Cars & Trucks & Things that Go. My grandmother read it to my father, my mother read it to me, I read it to my kids. My husband… Read more
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Eton Mess (Meringue Crumble with Vanilla Custard and Berries) & Holiday Traditions
We grew up hacking down a grand pine tree in the woods at my grandparent’s house, schlepping it back to their house, and adorning the branches with glitter-coated stars and peaceful doves; the decorations of Jews who have Christmas trees. Why did we have a tree? The answer is simple and not. Simply, the trees… Read more
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Creme de Cassis Biscuits & Perfect Paris
A few years ago my husband and I took a perfect trip to Paris. Don’t sigh. Put away your berets and baguettes. It was terrible. How can PARIS be horrible you ask? Because magic happens between people and places and not always where we think it will. Suffice it to say, we knew it was… Read more
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Pomegranate-Date Bursts & The Horse Phase
My daughter is teaching herself how to draw horses. She studies the musculature displayed on the library book pages and carefully draws the head, the hindquarters, parts of the horse’s body I can’t name because I was never a horsey girl. Possibly this is due to the fact that I exploded into an allergic fit… Read more
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5 Minute Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Bark & Creativity
After a few fun-and-food-packed days, the kids are wiped out. Daniel, especially. He dug deep into the energy well and got his sister to ride bikes and scooter yesterday despite the failing light and their fatigue. He promised to build his littlest brother a Lego ship and did so, only yelling once when sad brother… Read more
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Pumpkin Dulce de Leche Pie & Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Holidays from Well-Cooked Life! Read more
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Italian Cherry Pie with Graham and Ginger & Recovering from Tragedy
So, I tried not to think about it. But, like all emotional baggage, tragedy does not fit into the overhead compartment nor under the seat in front of me. Today is year anniversary of the worst day of my life. The night before, I’d gone out when everyone was asleep and bought a super soft… Read more
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Whole Grain Apple Crumb Pie with Buttermilk Crust & Thanks
This pie is cousin to the tart tatin, lover of the tart, delicate sister of the traditional apple pie or apple crumb cake. It’s also what I created when all but three of the apples in my house were consumed by my children and cooked-fruit-loathing husband. In terms of the buttermilk powder, let me explain…I… Read more
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Whole Grain Pumpkin Bread & Parenting Pre-teens
My bedroom door swings open. “Jamie, please knock next time,” my husband tells our 12 1/2 year old. A shrug. “So, you want to know something weird?” This is one of Jamie’s lead-ins. He appears most nights, often remembering to knock, after the other kids are asleep. Sometimes he has a specific question (“Can you… Read more
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Pumpkin Pudding (Persian Halwa) & Falling in Love
I might be falling in love. Never met the person, never will. And yet. The mix tapes! I was always a sucker for a great mix and my basement can prove it – boxes of cassettes titled “Driving Mix ’92” or “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” or the ambiguous “Let’s See.” There are… Read more