Living in Southern New Jersey, when my siblings and I were kids, we looked forward to the summer afternoons when my dad occasionally bought a big bag of clams on his way home from work. Standing at the kitchen sink, he set to work opening them one by one with a small knife, as the … Continue reading Taste of the Sea
When we knew that a lockdown was looming last year as COVID-19 began arriving in the United States, I found myself wandering the aisles at the grocery store looking for interesting new ingredients to try, as well as necessities. In the rice and beans aisle, I pulled a bag of farro from the shelf and … Continue reading Exploring Ancient Grains
A few weeks ago, our 3-year-old granddaughter arrived to stay for a few days as we awaited the arrival of her new baby sister. I was eager to pack in as much fun as possible since I had lost a lot of precious time with my granddaughters during the pandemic. As I brainstormed ideas, I … Continue reading Passing on Pasta Traditions
When we traveled to Italy, we discovered that Italians seem to savor their food more fully than Americans do. They lingered over dinner for hours, with no particular need to rush. However, in our lives, it’s not that easy to do. After dinner, I’m ready to clean up and move to the next task. When … Continue reading Savoring at Table
I love to make risotto. As I have written on my blog previously, I find it therapeutic. The act of stirring, adding broth, and stirring some more is soothing at the end of a stressful day. It encourages mindfulness because it’s hard to do much of anything else when you are making risotto. I don’t … Continue reading Culinary Therapy: Risotto
