Category: (it's all about the) food

A very interesting book

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, baking, books, family, friends

Breaking Bread: Recipes and Stories from Immigrant Kitchens by Lynne Christy Anderson My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was mostly interested in the story told by the immigrant from Italy, and I was not disappointed. The woman's words were very compelling to me. She talked about the difference between growing up in Italian culture, … Continue reading A very interesting book

Mary Ann Esposito’s new book

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food

Ciao Italia Family Classics: More than 200 Treasured Recipes from 3 Generations of Italian Cooks by Mary Ann Esposito My rating: 5 of 5 stars It's by Mary Ann Esposito...what else do you really need to know? Well, here's one thing: follow her on Facebook: she is quite generous with her tips and recipes! View … Continue reading Mary Ann Esposito’s new book

Not wasting my vacation

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, family, friends, Holidays, local fun, movies, restaurants, shopping, tweens, yoga

I think that it's very important to get out of your rut--I mean, routine--on your vacation week. This is especially challenging, of course, if you are taking (yet another) staycation. Having part of your time off fall during the holidays can make it a little easier to break out...as in the  "Hel-lo? What day is … Continue reading Not wasting my vacation

Homemade eggrolls with friends

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, friends, Marriage, quest for the best, relationships

Last spring (we finally agreed that it was in the spring; I thought it was in the summer) my husband and I got together with another couple of friends to make authentic homemade egg rolls. Our friends make them every 3 or 4 months at home, but were gracious enough to drive an hour and … Continue reading Homemade eggrolls with friends

Coffee or tea?

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, friends, local fun

I love coffee. I became a regular coffee drinker in college. My friend Diane and I would go to HoJo's for late night breakfasts and bottomless cups of coffee. Because I drank it faster than the waitress could replenish the cream, I soon became a black coffee drinker. This worked well for us because then Di … Continue reading Coffee or tea?

National Cupcake Day

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, baking, family, friends, Holidays, local fun, quest for the best

I just got this in under the wire...I can't believe that I didn't know it was National Cupcake Day today! I must be pretty darned distracted to miss this. I'm not even in any position right now to bake or obtain a cupcake to consume, so I must celebrate vicariously through Thoughts of Cupcakes Past. … Continue reading National Cupcake Day

Christmas Music and other minutiae

by Karen, posted in family, friends, Holidays, quest for the best, relationships

Since I'm feeling all Christmas-y at the moment, and since (more importantly) I have a huge leg up on my Christmas shopping (and wrapping) this year, I decided to write a little more about Christmas.  Here are some random thoughts: When I was wrapping up the gifts I'd bought so far this year, I had the presence … Continue reading Christmas Music and other minutiae

Making Gingerbread Houses

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, baking, family, friends, Holidays, local fun, tweens

I admit it: prior to yesterday I was a Gingerbread House Virgin. Through twenty-plus years of motherhood, I'd managed to avoid ever baking, never mind decorating, a gingerbread house. The desire just was not there. I couldn't have been less interested. Then something incredible happened: I wanted to make one.  Something shifted inside me and … Continue reading Making Gingerbread Houses

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a garage?…NO! It’s a barn!

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, chicks, quest for the best, raising chickens

This is the little structure that could. It started out life as a garage, a two-car garage to be specific. It lived its quiet, two-car garage life for 15 years. Then we bought the house that it was cohabitating with, and then...everything changed. It started slowly...First, Bill didn't want to sacrifice the entire garage, and also … Continue reading It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a garage?…NO! It’s a barn!

Garden Update

by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, gardening

The garden is looking about as well as expected for early November. I still have carrots in the ground that I haven't had time to pull. I have snapped off some of the greens from them to feed to the chickens who LOVE them, but otherwise, that's it. The carrot portion is still laying on … Continue reading Garden Update