There's nothing like a trip back home to Columbus to bring out the Buckeye in me. Maybe it's the Buckeye-flavored ice cream at Grater's, loaded with peanut butter and chocolate chips bigger than my mouth. Or maybe it's the Buckeye attire sported by half the people in every public venue. Even when it's not game … Continue reading Buckeye frozen pie
Food for the road
As a kid, we spent a lot of time on the road, traveling either to Hilton Head for vacation or Detroit to visit family. My parents knew how to travel in style too--RV and all. We'd play games, listen to Neil Diamond and Harry Chapin, and of course, stuff our faces with gas station food … Continue reading Food for the road
Lotsa Latkes
A friend once raised an eyebrow at me when I mentioned that I'm making latkes tonight for Chanukah. "You'll eat latkes?" he asked incredulously. As a matter of fact I do, thanks to a simple rule espoused by Michael Pollan: if my great grandmother would recognize it as food, then it's fair game. Now, I … Continue reading Lotsa Latkes
Homemade coffee creamer
You know those flavored coffee creamers at the grocery? French vanilla, Hazelnut, Irish Creme, Chocolate caramel...they all look delicious. Unless you're like me, and you read the fine print. No, thanks. And no problem. Here's how I make my own. CHOCOLATE ALMOND COFFEE CREAMER 1 cup milk, heavy cream or almond milk (depending on how … Continue reading Homemade coffee creamer
Amazon’s poster child
If Amazon had a poster child, I might be it. Except that the site exists for the millions of other moms like me. Even when I'm on my way out to Target and remember my baby needs new pacifiers, I stop at my computer to quickly buy them with "one click." That's right, I'm so … Continue reading Amazon’s poster child
Produce store adventures
My latest food shopping adventure has been to buy a new vegetable each week. Lucky for me, the immigrant population in Chicago means that any decent produce store is stocked with veggies I not only have never tried, but I can't even pronounce. The stores are also full of employees from cultures steeped in home … Continue reading Produce store adventures
Waffles for dinner
If I could go back and tweak our wedding registry, there are a few items I could do without. That Nambe bowl that everyone my age owns? No thanks. And the enormous mixer that takes up half of any decent-sized kitchen counter? I brought that back to Bed, Bath & Beyond ages ago. But the … Continue reading Waffles for dinner
Almond butter dressing makes everything taste better
I opened my fridge this week to make a big ol' salad only to find nothing but napa cabbage and a diced raw beet. And then I spotted a container of almond butter dressing leftover from the day before. Mmm...this dressing is so good it can even make iceberg lettuce taste gourmet. Toss it over … Continue reading Almond butter dressing makes everything taste better
The antidote to greed is gratitude
It's a sad week for the State of Illinois. Pathetic might be a more apt word. Our former governor joins a long line of former governors who ended their careers in jail. Except he's going for 14(!) years because of what one former governor and jail-bird, Dan Walker described as turning Illinois' image "from the … Continue reading The antidote to greed is gratitude
Tiny treasures
Amidst his escape from the trickster Laban, Jacob in this week's Torah portion, vayishlach, abandons his wives and kids to return in the night for some small vessels they had left behind. What happens next is well known: Jacob's wrestling match with an angel leaves him permanently injured and earns him the name of Yisrael. … Continue reading Tiny treasures
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