I used to be afraid of baking bread. It felt like this giant activity that required time and planning. And time. Lots and lots of time. Baking bread is for people with time, and time is something I don’t have, I would tell myself. Because, really, I don’t. There are things like a job and four kids that take up most of that, and then there’s the cleaning that is never. ever. done. It’s more of a balancing act, and I promise you that someday (hopefully soon) I will give... more

Another week into summer. I had the feeling today that I’m going to wake up one morning and it will suddenly be over, my flowers done blooming for the season, the apples harvested, the leaves falling off the trees. I’ve decided I need to be a bit more organized in my daily affairs and responsibilities in order to appreciate the fleeting days of summer. It is, after all, almost July. When did that happen? I started my attempt at organization this afternoon. My family had taken my... more

I received an email from my sister a few weeks ago. All it said was: “Yum.” And then there was a link. Because I’m trying to get everyone to try asparagus, I knew it was something I’d be making. You don’t like asparagus? That’s too bad. You don’t know what you’re missing. My kids eat asparagus. One key thing when you’re purchasing asparagus. Pay attention. This is VERY important. Please buy young asparagus with tiny stalks. Fat, woody... more

I first made this dish several years ago for a ladies’ night I was hosting at my house. Instantly a hit, I knew I’d be adding it to my list of favorite easy meals. Adding (or not adding) the meat at the very end makes it vegetarian friendly. There is a lot of dumping from jars and cans into a pan involved and not a lot of cutting and chopping. The fresh basil makes it perfect for summer and summer it is, as evidenced by the heatwave we’ve been experiencing here in the Midwest.... more

On Father’s Day: Ole, thank you for being the father to my children. I look forward to another year of parenting with you and can’t imagine doing it without you. Thank you for your patience and your rationalization, your love and your tenderness, for the stability and support you bring to our family. And thanks for putting up with me. Really. I bought Ole Lobel’s Meat Bible for Father’s Day. He spent two hours on the couch browsing through its pages this afternoon. ... more

We don’t make birthday cakes very often here. It’s not that I myself don’t enjoy and appreciate cake. My kids don’t. I know, what kid wouldn’t want to shove their face in a piece of frosting-covered sweetness? Mine. Now, don’t get me wrong. They like the idea of cake. They may even take their piece happily. Then a bite or two into it, abandonment. They’ve traded up to a side of celery or a pile of strawberries. I made a cake once for Kiwi. She... more

To start off I have to say, this is not a grilling recipe.  I’ve never tried it on the grill, and I probably never will.  Certain things need stability – a high speed camera, a vintage moped and good cornbread.  The latter requires a type of stability that can only be provided by a highly predictable 400 degree oven.  Would it work on the grill?  Yeah, for the most part, but I can only guess that you would have varying areas of doneness depending on the temperament of your grill. ... more