Whoever invented the word cornucopia must have been looking at all the leftover cobs in my fridge. The corn is so good right now I always buy too much – six cobs per person seems to be the rule of thumb, despite the fact I really do know they’ll only eat two or three. This […]
Even the most cynical teenager has a weakness. Finding that soft spot can be difficult, especially when they are at their worst – standing there with their arms crossed, refusing to make eye contact with what has to be the worst half of the worst set of parents on the entire planet, mumbling angry, monosyllabic […]
Saturday was hot and muggy. The kind of day that makes it hard to imagine it will get cold around here. But we’ve also lived here long enough to know that there’s a pretty good chance it will (in fact, I googled it and the average December sees zero (32 F) as a high. No […]
The annual appearance of the big yellow “Sweet Corn” signs on roadside farm stalls is always a moment tinged with sadness. When the corn is ready and the first crickets start to sound, you know it’s the beginning of the end of summer. The corn will be with us until the kids go back to […]
Almost exactly 20 years ago, a boss gave me a copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I am very proud of that book because it has never been opened. Not even a page. For all I know, it has an inscription that reads “For the young man who exemplifies each of these […]
Nigella Lawson may not be the first person who comes to mind when you want to turn down the heat (she tends to have the opposite effect on me), but this salad is a godsend on hot and sticky evenings when even opening the fridge seems like too much effort in the kitchen. Simple, sumptuous […]
This is the time of year when bounty can become a bit of a burden. Our counter is groaning under the weight of fresh produce. Who decided it was a good idea to buy four pounds of strawberries and four pounds of cherries at the same time? For the third day in a row? And, […]
Baby, it’s cold outside. A summer cold snap calls for something with a little more substance than salad. Something saucy and meaty and noodley. This paprikash fits the bill nicely; a rich, but not too rich, sauce made with red wine and fresh tomatoes and lots of heat from pungent Hungarian paprika and cayenne. Lean […]
Saw these in a little shop in our village and immediately picked up a bundle without even looking at the price, which turned out to be around $7 with tax. “They make a perfect hostess gift,” the sales clerk said. “Maybe so,” I replied, “but these are for me.” Okay, there’s one born every minute. […]
We’re just weeks away from fresh field tomatoes. But, I can’t wait. I have a craving for my favourite classic steakhouse salad – a dish served all year round at the restaurant but best eaten only when meaty, field-fresh beefsteak tomatoes are in season. Then, it’s a meal all by itself – sweet tomatoes with […]
Meats, Roots and Leaves 