Why do we still bother with cookbooks? It is a question I am asked from time to time, and one I know Gary wishes I would revisit. They take up space, and most of the content is readily available online. Will a dash of history and culture make the meal that more flavorful? Can a physical collection of recipes inspire community in a way a website never will? Does the tactile experience of a book in your hands and on your kitchen counter impact the outcome of the recipe? Every once in a while, a cookbook comes along that reaffirms our faith: cookbooks still matter. … [Read more...]
the best of Barefoot Contessa for holiday entertaining
The holiday entertaining season is here. American Thanksgiving is next week. The December holidays are right around the corner. New Year’s Eve soon to follow. It is party season, not to mention food season. Deep breaths, we got this. Let’s channel our inner holiday entertaining goddess, and remember the lessons of blog posts past. I have tried and tested nearly all the strategies, and made lots of organized plans over the years. I’ll share a few more of my favorite tips this week, just in time for holiday entertaining. … [Read more...]
the best of the Barefoot Contessa [or, how I learned to cook]
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I am a self-taught cook. Sure, I learned a few things along the way in my mother’s kitchen, but as a trailblazing working mom, she was more about practical survival and less about Julia Child. My favorite aunt added a bit of French-inspired flair to the mix, and I picked up a few tricks every holiday season when all the women gathered to cook. But admittedly, I wasn’t really paying close attention. When I set out to learn to properly cook, I was essentially starting from scratch. … [Read more...]
inspired entertaining at home: mozza at home cookbook review
In case you missed it, I read cookbooks like they are novels, cover to cover. When Mozza at Home by Nancy Silverton entered my view, I knew I would be spending my summer weekends at the pool immersed in stories of romantic Italian dinners al fresco. To my pleasant surprise, I also spent my summer learning a few things from a woman known as an accomplished chef and restaurateur, but loved as an entertaining master. Mozza at Home was more than just a cookbook full of delicious recipes. … [Read more...]
family dinner with dinner: a love story
Family dinner. One of the great challenges of modern parenting. I imagine that caveman parents struggled to find a dinner that satisfied picky eaters and budding vegetarians. It has only gotten harder since those days. We now have dual-career families and longer commutes, and the irresistible force of easier-than-ever food delivery that goes well beyond standard pizza. … [Read more...]
summer cocktails and gardens with the drunken botanist
When warm weather strikes, my adult beverage preferences quickly turn to cocktails. I love wine, and I have learned to enjoy beer, but sometimes there is nothing like an ice cold martini to cool you down, literally and figuratively. … [Read more...]
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