gratitude and Judith Jones – thanksgiving in january

I was recently reading an article in Saveur’s December issue. The article is entitled, “Personal Space: an editor’s kitchen reflects a lifetime.” The writing is about Judith Jones (an accomplished cookbook editor who published Julia Child’s first cookbook), her kitchen and recent publications, and about how one’s kitchen can be a telling reflection of the style and personality of the cook who spends time there. This was a thoughtful article, but what struck me the most were the pictures of Judith in her little kitchen and apartment, as well as the mention of her latest cookbook, The Pleasures of Cooking for One.

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the end of Gourmet – a letter to Charles Townsend

Dear Mr. Townsend,

I have written a letter to you over and over again in my head ever since hearing the devastating news that the revered and beautiful Gourmet magazine was cancelled. I believe that it has taken this long for me to write the letter because I’ve simply not been able to come to terms with this news. I am astounded. Grieved. Disturbed. Angry. Disgusted. Every time I look at my teetering stack of precious Gourmet’s, I feel the wind knocked out of me again.

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you are the chef – what would you make?

  The sky is the limit. Money is no object. Add anything you like. Use all of these ingredients. What is your creation?

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dusty memories – i’m curious

Wow – I haven’t posted all week. Terrible. I haven’t really even wanted to cook.

There. I said it. I can’t believe it. But it’s good to be honest. The truth is, I’m in garage sale hell. I am surrounded by boxes and old items and clothes and dust that seem to be multiplying magically, dividing and reproducing like little single celled organisms. This was a fun project when it started (seems like one hundred years ago); I have really enjoyed seeing little awards, drawings and photos from my husband’s past. It feels good to cleanse and purge.

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let’s talk local – i’m curious

My Aunt Valerie sent me some pictures of her second brussel sprout harvest; they’re beautiful. I’m so jealous that she grows these so easily in her backyard; talk about “local” ingredients.

Speaking of local, I have to admit that I am a bit tired of the overuse of “local” – the trendiness of it all has made it a tad too precious. I’m sure that I don’t need to tell you the benefits of eating local ingredients- whether you are or aren’t a foodie, the American marketing machine is exploiting the local food movement at every opportunity. However, the intrinisic goodness of growing food in your own back yard or eating indigenous vegetables from around the corner does feel kinda good.

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five ingredients – i’m very curious

Excluding bread and water, what are five ingredients that you could not live without? Not dishes – individual items. I’m really curious about this. I saw the question recently and I’ve been thinking about my list, modifying, deliberating, agonizing (why?!) and returning to my original thoughts. It’s harder than you think! Here is where I stand at the moment:

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i’m back! food for thought in the meantime…

Hello Friends – I have missed this little community.  Work, ear infections, Italy and the Beach have kept me away from the computer, but I’m happy to say that I’m back!  I have lots that I want to share about Italy and things that I want to cook and eat this summer, but in the  [...]

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