For all the years I’ve known Stoic (almost 37) I’ve not made iced tea to his liking. “Funny” and “OK” were the kindest comments until now. My mother’s mint tea he found really minty, not his favorite flavor. Where I come from, central Pennsylvania, tea was for drinking hot when you were sick. The Bostonians… Continue reading Iced tea that’s neither funny nor sticky sweet
The new normal; chard-crab quiche
I was diagnosed with breast cancer just before Christmas (yeah, Happy Holidays!), and that’s been my excuse for everything I don’t feel like doing ever since. Like eating well or exercising or going to bed at a reasonable time. “I oughta be able to do this — I have cancer!” Obviously, that’s not going to… Continue reading The new normal; chard-crab quiche
Boffo Brussels sprouts
Something I never expected to hear: Stoic the Vast saying, “Wow (!), I can’t believe how much I like these.” Nothing new for me — I’ve loved Brussels sprouts since before I can remember, but Stoic… These sprouts from the March issue of Our State — Celebrating North Carolina magazine, though, are something else. The… Continue reading Boffo Brussels sprouts
Easy Mongolian beef for the slow cooker
Stoic the Vast refills bird feeders daily in this frigid weather. Jays, cardinals, finches, nuthatches, chickadees, flickers, even crows, panic as soon as a few flakes blanket the fields. “Oh, my God, we’ll starve!” you can hear in their incessant, greedy cheeps. We humans are behaving the same — spending an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen,… Continue reading Easy Mongolian beef for the slow cooker
Holiday time machine; 12 vegetables of Christmas
Is there any more effective time machine than a Christmas tree? The first ornament that was mine and only mine was given to me by my maternal grandmother, Christmas of 1952. I pull out that silver cardboard horse to hang it up and, bam!, I’m 7 years old in Watsontown, PA, waiting with dread for the… Continue reading Holiday time machine; 12 vegetables of Christmas
Longing and weight gain; best purple cabbage ever
Years ago my best friend in the newsroom, the sunniest person I’ve ever known besides our younger grandson, asked if I’d ever been sad for something I’d never had. It’s taken me more than 40 years to figure out that’s all I was! Not knowing, of course, meant I was always trying to fill that hole… Continue reading Longing and weight gain; best purple cabbage ever
Punkin for pie. Also soups, pasta dishes, bread, etc., etc., etc.
How does a pumpkin get from being a decoration to one of the best ingredients you can keep in your freezer? First of all, pick out the right kind of pumpkin. Our neighbor Frank Myers used to share what he called cheese pumpkins with us. They were such a pale orange they were almost white, and… Continue reading Punkin for pie. Also soups, pasta dishes, bread, etc., etc., etc.
