Strawberry bliss
Berries aren’t forever, and our somewhat local strawberry fields have nearly reached picking limits at the close of their strawberry season. We managed to find a few Texas strawberries just in time this week at Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls. The berries provide plenty of reason to be thankful, but what I really appreciate is Sweet Berry Farm’s candor […]
Put kitchen tools to the test
Kitchen tools can be a little like gym memberships. They’re well worth the investment – if you use them. I’ve been stashing a few kitchen tools that rarely come close to food. In my ongoing commitment to prepare for our upcoming relocation, I’ve cleaned out every drawer and cabinet, and moved rarely used tools back into rotation or into the donation box. […]
Coming clean in the kitchen
It’s almost that time again. You may be thinking spring cleaning, which applies this time of year, but I’m focused on preparing to move. I’m running down pantry items and clearing cabinet clutter. Our time in Austin is coming to a close in June, and as we trim the household for our anticipated return to New York, […]
While you were sleeping
If you’ve met any big-talkin’ Texans who boast about their brisket, you’ve shared in the reality of passionate smokers of Texas beef. As the process demands, work begins long before you savor a slice of the barbecue. My Austin neighbor has dedicated years of practice to perfect his brisket, and last weekend, he and his brisket-smoking teammate tested their brisket in preparation for their […]
Leafy Green Itinerant Tales
In a recent article in The New York Times, Patricia Leigh Brown takes us into a classroom and onto the farm fields in Salinas, California. The scenes in the article appear familiar as a decade ago, I worked in Seaside, over the hills and around the corner from Salinas. From picking leafy greens to plump strawberries, itinerant farmworkers labor long hours. […]
Wanted: neighbor with backyard chickens
With appetizing joy, I recently received a dozen perfectly imperfect eggs from someone who keeps backyard chickens. We’re not in egg-tossing range, but within an easy two-mile stretch of each other. I appreciated the fresh eggs, and their minimal travel distance. Track back your breakfast. Find out how far food travels before it reaches your […]
When you care enough to get your hands dirty . . .
make your own truffles. If there’s an argument for processed cookies, let it be this one. Using Oreo cookies as the primary ingredient, you and yours will love these easy-to-make truffles. I first tried this divine variation on truffles a couple of years ago when my neighbor shared a selection of white and dark chocolate […]
Hot tip on tea
It’s nurturing to find a large serving of relaxation in a small cup of hot tea, made with pure leaves from my choosy tea supplier, and often lately the Tazo Calm herbal infusion from a teabag, otherwise known as the “filterbag/sachet” (your basic bag on a string). Smooth and lightly fragrant, one sachet of Calm easily stretches for two cups. The […]
Dumplings on my doorstep
We’re guilty of polishing off heaping servings of potstickers and Chinese dumplings. Can you guess where these beautiful potstickers came from? Neighbors, yes, and they were made from scratch (no pre-made wraps in their household) and delivered to our Austin doorstep. Beyond delicious! If you want to create Chinese dumplings or potstickers, drop by Metrocurean with resident food temptress […]
Banking on food
If you tossed a few canned goods into your local food pantry collection over the past few months, your donation has most likely already made its way on and off of food bank shelves. Our Pack 61 Cub Scouts are at it again this week . . . gathering food for one of our local Austin food banks. Need pick-up and delivery? […]