From Scratch

This will be on my Easter table along with the divine roasted asparagus in the photo. Their flavors complement each other well. I’ve made Coca-Cola Ham for years but decided to try something new and this fits the bill. Its gives the ham a more complex taste, less sweet, and there’s a perfect amount of glaze for a […]

It wasn’t too long ago that the appearance of asparagus at the market, in time for Easter dinner, heralded the arrival of spring. Now, like so many fruits and vegetables, it has become virtually seasonless, nearly always available, although the more tender white variety can be harder to find. Despite that, it’s still a labor-intensive vegetable and therefore […]

William F. Buckley, Jr. has died. He was 82, and while the cause of death is not known yet, his son Christopher (Thank You for Smoking) says Buckley suffered from emphysema and diabetes.
Buckley was an eloquent voice among conservatives, possibly the most eloquent. He never had to be encouraged, as toddlers of soccer moms are, to […]

A new CBS News/New York Times poll finds a jump in Barack Obama’s support since the New Hampshire primary, paired with increased confidence in his ability to lead the country and to beat John McCain.
Among Democratic primary voters, 59% now say Obama has the best chance of winning in November, compared with 28% who say […]

What’s not debatable is how delicious this four-ingredient dip is. It was served Thursday night at a little gathering to watch the debate. I asked for the recipe faster than you can say “senator” and stopped on the way home for a bag of frozen cherries.
This dip is ideal for cherries because it has almond […]

My first blogoversary is only a couple weeks away, as the countdown widget shows, so I’m giving an early thank you to you, my regular readers and subscribers. Many of you take the time to leave comments, so now when you do, your feed will be checked and the title of your most recent blog […]

The Academy Awards are tonight, making it a holiday in New York and Los Angeles. Leave it to the wonderful weekly New York Observer to combine a Best Picture nominee with an editorial viewpoint, through the work of RJ Matson.

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One of my favorite bloggers, MusEditions, is a fellow book lover and recently tagged me to take part in a fun little book-related meme. The rules were few: pick up the book nearest me, turn to page 123, find the fifth sentence and post the next three.
In truth, the book nearest me at the time […]

Conservative talk show hosts and their marionette listeners and viewers are still having a field day over Michelle Obama’s comment Monday about being proud of her country for the first time in her adult life.
Or did she say “really” proud and why, if one is certain of having heard her say that, is that word […]

I like this bread a lot. It’s perfect for snacking, whether as an afternoon pick-me-up or for kids after school. It’s terrific tucked into a backpack while hiking or trail walking. A schmear of cream cheese would be delightful but I prefer it on its own. It’s just sweet enough.
It’s a small loaf, only one pound […]

Barack Obama has defeated Hillary Clinton in the Wisconsin primary, a loss whose significance cannot be overstated.
With a small number of precincts counted and based on exit polls, Obama had 53% to Clinton’s 46%, for his ninth straight win. He finished at 58% – a true landslide.
Clinton needed a win or a narrow loss in Wisconsin, not for […]

Will he stop saying, “Bam!” and start saying, “It’s a good thing”?
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) has bought most of celebuchef Emeril Lagasse’s empire for $45 million dollars in cash plus $5 million in stock options. The deal could reach $70 million if future performance goals are met.
A news release at the MSLO site says […]

For me, few thing are homier on a cold winter day than a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup. It’s easy and quick to make and so adaptable to individual tastes or what’s on hand; canned soup just doesn’t compare.
I don’t think I’ve ever made chicken noodle soup exactly the same twice. A pinch of this, a […]

After sweeping three more primaries this week, you could say Obama’s got his groove on. In fact, that’s the title of Pulitzer Prize winner Ann Telnaes’ extremely cool animated cartoon that ran in the online edition of The Washington Post on Wednesday.

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The James Beard Foundation, celebrating its 20th anniversary, has compiled a list of 20 books it believes are essential to anyone’s culinary library. Most are cookbooks; The Food Lover’s Companion is an exception and is a reference I consult almost daily.
This presentation includes one of the judges, Charlotte Observer food editor Kathleen Purvis, who chairs […]