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]
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...]
late September gatherings
The dilemma of planning a [northeastern] September gathering: you and your guests want to enjoy the late summer sunshine, the transition of a warm day to a cool evening, and the last vestiges of summer outdoor dining. There remains a risk, however, that the weather will not cooperate. It could be oppressively hot and humid. A thunderstorm could strike. It could be cold and dreary. So while the deck could be the most popular spot in the house, you may also find your party guests huddled indoors, reducing the number of designated eating locations. … [Read more...]
