Category: all
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Roasted Tomatoes Cured in Olive Oil & 365 Things to Get Annoyed About
It’s so easy to find things annoying – the sound of gum chewing kills my oldest, Daniel can’t stand when people are out of tune, and I could write an essay about the crappy drivers who do the Boston-slow-down-without-fully-stopping-despite-the-stop-sign routine by my house. Remember that book? It filled the stockings of many and either makes… Read more
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Crispy Mushroom & Shallot Toasts & The Weird Table
“Which lunch table did you sit at?” Jamie asks after he’s explained the intricacies of the middle school lunchroom, the center tables and their popular, designer jeans crew, the ‘second tier who basically want to be at the center tables but aren’t,’ and so on. Odd 14-year-old that I was, mushrooms on toast was one… Read more
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Deep Dish Shepherd’s Pie & The Writing Life
At book readings and events, I’ve been asked to describe ‘the writing life’. As with many professions, from the outside, it looks pretty good. And it is. I am lucky to be home with my kids and, in theory, to work in my pajamas. (Note: I do not ever work in my pajamas. Just not… Read more
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Gluten Free Zucchini & Parmesan Fritters & Coming Home
While we were away the dog managed to chew the following items: -a widow flip-flop (its partner never returned from a sailing trip last summer) -an “indestructible” dog chew toy (note: indestructible, noun, see: leak-proof travel mug) -the electric bill -the replacement for the electric bill -the next replacement for the electric bill The good… Read more
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Crispy Broccoli Florets & Healthy Eating
About this time of year we are inundated with ads and suggestions about shedding holiday pounds or resuming/beginning healthy habits. I’m not here to tell you to do that. I am here to tell you that once you make these little crispy, lightly salted*, perfect for picking at snack, your desire for chips or brownies… 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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Funky Monkey Cake (Banana Cake with Chocolate and Vanilla Layers) & Cake for Breakfast
Lest you being to think I’m the mom who force-fed my children kale from birth, I’ll have you know I am a big fan of cake or puddings for breakfast. First of all, this makes my life fairly easy in the morning. Second of all, CAKE FOR BREAKFAST! There’s nothing magic about scones or muffins… 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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Creamy Winter Vegetable Soup & Chanukah Hugging Stars
I’ll be honest; I haven’t been underneath any mistletoe since a fantastically bad holiday party that led to an incredibly fun few weeks way back before I was married. We don’t have any mistletoe. What we do have thanks to Will the 4-year-old are hugging stars. What are they? Same concept, less prickly. He wanted… Read more
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Pasta Nero di Seppia, Garlic-Caper Sauce, and Italian White Beans & Pantry Suppers
As we get further into winter here, I begin to hunker down. Nothing says cozy and resourceful like a pantry supper. At least twice a week I try and use what I’ve already got in the pantry as the main part of our dinner. The green were from our farm share, washed, very well dried,… 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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Amaranth Polenta with Leeks and Greens & Good & Evil
I’m the kind of nice person who might make you roll your eyes. I escort old ladies across the street. I’ve taught my kids to bring errant trashcans tossed on their sides back to driveways for people we don’t know. When the preschool sent out a plea for a family in need, I made them… 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