Hello! It’s been a while since my last dispatch. A lot has happened: a move from the Bay Area to Portland, unpacking, settling into both a new house and a new pace of life. How’s that for an excuse for not writing? Continue reading keeping cozy
Category Archives: Recipes
a fast car and a cheesecake
Once upon a time my husband worked for the North American racing division of a German car manufacturer. Working for a German company had its perks. One of which was access to their products, i.e. fast cars. The company offered a lease program to its employees for a price we couldn’t pass up. We couldn’t lease a modest Honda for the deal we would get on this fancy, fast car. So we decided to take advantage of a company benefit. Continue reading a fast car and a cheesecake
traditions in a cake
Holiday traditions. Many of us have them, regardless of what holiday we celebrate this time of year. It seems that traditions, new or old, have a strong place in our hearts. One such tradition for me is enjoying my friend Mel and her brother’s chess cakes. If I had to categorize this on my holiday tradition continuum, it’s relatively new for me. But regardless, taking a bite of that chess cake signifies that the holidays are here. Continue reading traditions in a cake
boozy balls
I had been hearing about my girlfriend’s holiday cookie party for years. She started hosting them a couple of years after I moved away from Portland to California, so I was never around to attend, nor was I ever invited. Each December I would hear stories about the infamous cookie party from our mutual friends. I’m not one to get bent out of shape about such things, but after a while, I started to wonder why I never made the short list for this party. I mean come on, I’m close with the hostess, I’m into baking and I’ve been known to travel over state lines for events. Continue reading boozy balls
knife-wielding children and tofu
I have a friend who shares the same name as my husband. Both first and last name. Confusing? Sometimes. Hilarious? Definitely. I’ve accidentally tagged them incorrectly on Facebook and I have a note in my phone differentiating the two so I won’t embarrass myself with an inappropriate text to the one who’s not my husband. Continue reading knife-wielding children and tofu
thanksgiving-winning appetizer
One of the many things I love about making food for others is the unintended impact it sometimes has on people. Toward the end last summer I got together with three friends from Portland for a girls weekend. The four of us have been friends since we were in our twenties living in Portland. During the weekend, in between a lot of wine drinking, we talked about cooking and recipes. One of my friends mentioned an appetizer that I used to make. She remembered everything about it, but I had never shared the recipe with her. Another one of the trio, whom I lived with in Portland, told me she still makes an appetizer that I introduced her to when we lived together. A tiramisu recipe I’ve adopted as my own, was shared with me by another friend from the group. During that girls weekend we discovered we all had recipe memories about one another.
relishing my favorite holiday
Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. There’s an entire industry dedicated to Christmas excess, but Thanksgiving evokes no such feelings. There are no gifts to worry about giving. There’s no annual slog of parties to get through—and no subtle competition for who can throw the best of them. Thanksgiving lacks the kiss-at-midnight ritual that leave the unkissed feeling unloved. There’s little pressure to drink more or carouse later or otherwise engage in forced jollity. No one spends time worrying about costumes. It’s all about food, family, friends and sharing together around the same table. It’s the best.
the soup of ages
I recently returned from a trip to NYC. As always, it was an amazing time filled with friends, food, music and more food. The city is made for food-obsessed people like myself. Craving pastrami at 2 a.m. or Korean BBQ at 3 a.m.? No problem, NYC has it, and it’s open. You really can access anything your heart desires at any time. Food on demand. Continue reading the soup of ages
halloween nostalgia
I wish I had a fun story to tell about this Butterfinger recipe. Truth be told, it’s kind of boring. But I feel compelled to share Butterfingers with you because Halloween is this week, and candy is on my mind. Plus this recipe is such an easy and good treat. Continue reading halloween nostalgia
the cake of fall, aka the best apple cake ever
During my early twenties I worked at the corporate headquarters of a building materials manufacturer. If you’ve ever been to a Home Depot, you’ve likely seen the company’s products. The HQ where I worked was full of characters, namely the president and CEO. This man was a classic ego driven company man. He sported a Clark Gable mustache, entertained on the company’s yacht, and lived in a company-owned estate complete with a helipad and chef. The corporate office occupied the top two floors of the tallest building in Portland, of course. Continue reading the cake of fall, aka the best apple cake ever
planks and sticks 