About that nutmeg . . .
Sometimes it sounds like a nut – but it’s not. If you’re managing nut allergies among family and friends, you probably bump into the nutmeg question, as we do, this time of year. I lace my pumpkin pies with nutmeg, and our nut-allergy-positive family members and friends freely indulge. Nutmeg is not a nut, but a […]
Drink to Fair Trade Month in October
Supporting Fair Trade sounds simple, but picking up a convenient alternative takes me off track. October is Fair Trade Month, and I’m working my way back to stocking Fair Trade coffee. Want to join the cause? Take a look at these easy avenues to support Fair Trade . . . . starting with a cup […]
Chili and cool weather: match made
A cool breeze is blowin’ through Austin so break out the chili pans or plan to sample cook-off tastings. The Cookery welcomes guest blogger Jane Manaster, Austin writer and geographer, with a heads-up on chili season. Thanks, Jane! Take some heat from Jane: Now that we can look forward to manageable weather, our culinary thoughts turn from […]
Rhubarb Pie . . . from your own oven
Keen on rhubarb? Here’s a look at Mama’s rhubarb pie . . . just in from our 80-year-old baking mama. She’s sending out the challenge to give this one a try. No time to make crust? Take the shortcut if you don’t want to factor in crust preparation. Strawberry Rhubarb Custard Pie […]
No rhubarb leaves for the pup
My kibble eater is curious and we’re trying to eliminate garden plants that may be toxic to pets. Rhubarb leaves are a concern, so we won’t be tending those around The Cookery. The closest I’ve been to raising rhubarb was when I was asked to garden-sit for a neighbor. Her giant rhubarb needed a little soil […]
Browsing at Sprouts
Sparkling clean and still new in town, Sprouts is the latest in markets to sprout up around Austin. The Sunset Valley location offers a fair selection, which drew me in along with this week’s special . . . strawberries at 99 cents per pound. I found a few well-priced staples as well as a new temptation – fig […]
Slowing down with Slow Food Austin
For a time during my Colorado years, I lived in Manitou Springs, a few blocks away from one of my choice restaurants, Adam’s Mountain Cafe. Adam’s waiting line was a place for lively conversation, often in-depth with lengthy waits being the norm. From appetizers to desserts, food arrived slowly, and nobody seemed to be in […]
Curried egg salad lands a school lunch date
Lunch date? This curried egg salad gets the nod, and it’s booked for a back-to-school lunch (or two). The Cookery dabbled in several variations of traditional egg and mayo samples, but this curried blend (thanks, Jane, for the inspiration) starts the school year off with an extra kick and holds up well in a wrap. Get set and […]
Will a down economy impact food allergies?
Back to school with food allergies Do people eat more peanut butter in a down economy? I don’t have the answer, but I’d be tempted to serve it if I weren’t managing food allergies in my family. I’ve never packed peanut butter in lunches for my children, but as a friend refers to peanut butter, […]
Beyond Hobo Stew
When the cookery Cub Scouts offer to cook, I step aside . . . but not too far away when slicing and dicing are called for because we’ve already acquired a few stitches thanks to a very impressive pocketknife injury (not sustained while cooking . . . but through that transferable craft of whittling). The boys put their […]