[Pacific Ocean near Bodega Head, July 2009.] Today, Thanksgiving, is one of my one of my very favorite days of the year, mainly because it combines two things very close to my heart: food (and the cooking of it) of course, as well as the giving of thanks — or, really, the feeling grateful-for. Is [...]

[Roasted and stuffed pumpkin for Thanksgiving, fall 2008.] Thanksgiving is the cook’s holiday — sure, Christmas can be, too, or Easter, or even New Year’s Eve if you’re kitchen-inclined and like me take any excuse to have a dinner party. But Thanksgiving is truly the only U.S. holiday where the entire focus is on food; [...]

[Anniversary roses, August 2009.] I don’t think any day is worth living without thinking about what you’re going to eat next at all times. – Nora Ephron on gourmet.com The funny thing about this anniversary party was not that we made too much food — I think that was pretty much a given from the [...]

Yesterday afternoon I was working from home — in this case, my parents’ house — when my mom knocked on the door. Hot corn muffins, right out of the oven! she called. Luckily I had reached a decent stopping point and could take a wee break because when someone, especially your mother, tells you she’s [...]

[Morning at Drake's Beach, March 2009.] In wilderness is the preservation of the world. – Henry David Thoreau I’m a pretty simple girl, really. Things I love especially include gin and tonics on a warm Friday afternoon with lemon instead of lime; spending time with an old friend whom you missed but didn’t realize how [...]