When I arrived in Paris last Friday afternoon, I intended to unpack and then have dinner at Au Chai de l’Abbey, a small cafe located across the street. By the time I did get settled and get my technical world up and running, I was not up and running myself. Tired Paris, Week #1 I…
DESTINATION: PARIS
As you’re reading this, I’m in Aspen about to board a flight to Paris. This week I drove back to snowy Colorado, dumped my belongings and grabbed a packed suitcase labeled France. Yep, the gypsy thing. Still living it. Note also, only one suitcase. Before my upcoming journey, here’s a parting gift – a wonderfully…
PERFECT PASTA & PUDDING CHÔMEUR
This post has it all. And, why not? I was happy writing it. I am even happier to share with you. True, we are bouncing from here to there to everywhere but ending with two fabulous recipes you can pull together this weekend. SHINY NEW TOYS Pudding Chômeur is a recipe from Christopher Kimball’s award-winning…
HOLIDAYS OVER. HELLO REALITY.
What’s a good thing to do after walking into the house, leaving your frenetic day at the doorstep? One answer could be go directly to the kitchen, fill the pasta pot with salted water and get it boiling. With that one gesture, a mid-week meal for 2, a family, even a crowd, could be on…
HERE’S to a NEW DECADE
WELL DONE, YOU Countdown to 2020. Five days until we step into a new decade. If nothing else the 2010’s have been for me about what I can’t control. That’s terribly uncomfortable on so many levels but, as I understand, it’s called Life. In the coming year I’ve promised myself to end each day with…
HOLIDAYS BRAKE for SHRIMP TACOS
Here’s the thing about this week’s blog. I need to step back from gingerbread, cheese balls, eggnog and other seasonal-related flavors For. Just. One. Meal. While you won’t find an ounce of Grinch- nor Scrooge-ness in me and realizing resistance may be futile, I’m on a mission. With a nod to those surprisingly quick Flash…
IT’S FINE, STUFF YOURSELF
Let’s just put it out there … one week. Thanksgiving. Followed closely by our December holidays nipping at its heels. Light-bulb moment: Promise yourself, right now and out loud, to embrace these next few weeks with joy and gratitude. (I can’t hear you.) Still skeptical? Why not dig deeper to pull up your kick-ass determination…
4 RECIPES = INSTANT GRATIFICATION = APPLAUSE
For someone who doesn’t like to cook, my friend, Deb Overeynder, certainly knows the way around her kitchen. Whatever she makes, she goes big, at least doubling the recipe. That’s why I often get a text, “Mary, do you feel like chicken enchiladas tonight?” or “I mixed up a big batch of soup. Want some?”…
MILANESE = BREADED & SAUTÉED
STORIES from THE GANT Last Sunday afternoon Paul, a bellmen here at The Gant, came up to the condo to help me move furniture. During our conversation he mentioned making dinner for friends the night before. “What did you serve?” I asked. “I made two Tri Tips,” he replied, rather nonchalantly, “and had mashed potatoes…
CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES for the WIN
GIRL POWER – So much to share this week. Let’s go…..My California granddaughters, Clara (L) and Emma, are 16 and 18. For nine years of their lives, Michael and I lived nearby, seeing them often. After he died and I moved home to Aspen, everything changed. My one hesitancy about moving 900 miles back to…
Palindrome Week Panzanella
FRIDAY the THIRTEENTH According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac and who doesn’t have a copy of that hanging out on the kitchen counter, if you’re superstitious, be wary. COOKtheBOOKFRIDAYS, the thirteenth of September and a Harvest Moon are in spooky sync. In America we haven’t had a nationwide Friday the 13th full moon since October…
NO KIDDING: YOU MUST BAKE THIS
NEWSFLASH: SELF-CARE IS NOT SELFISH It needs to be said. Summer arrived, lingered a bit and in the blink of an eye, vamoosed. Or, so it seems. I’ve spent the last week dealing with that. And, you? For me it’s September Spa & Self-care month, something I invented ten or so years ago. Honestly I’ve…
