died and gone to (italian) heaven

died and gone to (italian) heaven

New York City may be a long way from Boise, Idaho, but it’s certainly closer than Italy and is home to a place that definitely embodies the Italian charm. I remember walking down a cobblestone street in Rome, a shop owner out sweeping off the front step, singing...
ad hoc at home – or – the most complex soup I’ve ever made

ad hoc at home – or – the most complex soup I’ve ever made

I love cookbooks. I love leafing through the pages, looking at the glossy photos dreaming of the dinner parties that I would have. The problem is that I also get a couple cooking magazine subscriptions each month and they are equally enticing. And finally, factor in...
morningstar eggs florentine

morningstar eggs florentine

A few years ago I signed up to be a BzzAgent. It’s a cool program where I am sent products to try and then I report back with how I like them and also spread the word to my friends. It’s been a really cool way to try products I might not have otherwise...
basque-ing in the smoke

basque-ing in the smoke

I’m working on how I can become an honorary Basque. I just love the spirit of this ethnic group that inhabits the rugged region that straddles the French-Spanish border in the Pyrenees mountains. In fact, they are the oldest surviving ethnic group on the...
embracing the stereotype

embracing the stereotype

Let’s face it – stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, created by characteristics or behavioral patterns that occur at least enough of the time for it to define that group of people. And while the word “stereotype” might carry a bit of a negative...