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Last Scenes of Summer
As September settles in with sweater weather and the smell of wood smoke from chimneys, I thought I’d offer here on my blog one last glimpse of summer. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. I’ve been busy with a number of endeavors, including tending to a smiling but always hungry two-month-old and tackling another revision of my book. In all the busyness, summer has started to slip away, quietly, as it always does, like a guest leaving a party without saying good-bye so as not to interrupt the fun. A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to taste the spectrum of summer’s final, peak flavors at Milkweed, a private family farm…
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A Seasonal Recipe with Swiss Chard
I’ve been busy these past few days taking care of my brand new baby boy. I wrote this post last Sunday, the day I went into labor! I didn’t have a chance to post it then (for obvious reasons), so I’m posting it now in case anyone is looking for a good recipe to use up summer veggies. I’ll be back soon! Back to baby cuddles and kisses… At this time of year, big bunches of green things arrive in my CSA box from Vermont Valley Community Farm. Some of them have obvious uses, like lettuce for salads or pea pods for stir fry. Other veggies require a little more…
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A Sunny Springtime Recipe
It’s been awhile since I’ve featured a recipe on this blog and, since warmer weather is finally here, I thought I’d share one of my favorite springtime meals. I first had this dish a few years ago when a friend made it for me from her Barefoot Contessa cookbook. I have made it several times since, and have modified it slightly to lighten it up. Though it is still by no means a diet dish (nothing dreamed up by the Contessa is), it tastes light and has less fat than Ina’s version. This pasta dish also tastes great leftover, even if served cold. LEMON FUSILLI WITH ARUGULA Modified from a…
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A Green Wedding Fit for a Queen
Today is the last post from college guest blogger Dorothy Munholland. She’s braving her last round of finals before moving on to graduation and beyond. Best of luck to you, Dorothy, and thank you for your contributions to Glossing Over It. Hope to see more of your writing in the blogosphere soon! A GREEN WEDDING FIT FOR A QUEEN By Guest Blogger, Dorothy Munholland I’m only slightly embarrassed to admit that I was awake at 4am on the day of the royal wedding, anxiously awaiting the first glimpse of bride Kate Middleton, while at the same time conducting an extensive Google search on Prince Harry’s relationship status. I say only…
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Local Spotlight: Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar
It’s unfortunate that the grand opening of Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar on Madison’s East Side occurred just a few weeks before dump trucks and fork lifts rolled in to tear up Willy Street in a major road construction project that won’t conclude until October. Umami is located at 923 Williamson Street in a building that, from the outside, just looks like a renovated house. Inside, though, the space is modern and I dare say hip… all this in a neighborhood where tie-died shirts and Crocs are considered appropriate dinner attire. You can still wear your Crocs there, but you might feel upstaged a bit by the sexy lighting, bamboo…
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A Recipe for Wintry Weather
It’s been snowing all day here in Madison. My daffodils and hyacinth are covered in glistening chunks of ice. There’s almost nothing good about winter weather in spring, except for the fact that it gives me an excuse to make just a few more hearty meals before turning to lighter, springtime fare. And nothing says hearty like beer and cheese. As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a stipend from New Belgium Brewery to purchase their beer and create a recipe with it. Since I can’t drink beer these days (I’m 28 weeks pregnant), the next best thing is to cook with it. Most of the alcohol cooks…
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A Quick and Delicious Weeknight Recipe
Is it just me, or is life moving faster than usual these days? When I’m busy, my cooking falls into a rut. That’s why I was eager to try out this hearty, delicious, and easy soup idea from a fellow food blogger. Since I’m incapable of following a recipe, I added a few of my own touches. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight meal, and tastes great as leftovers. If you want some extra protein, you can add cooked Italian sausage. It’s also great accompanied by a loaf of crusty bread. Tasty Tortellini Soup Adapted from a recipe posted by Melissa Bakes Yield: 3-4 servings Ingredients: 2-3 tablespoons olive oil…
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Sexy Beverages Sans Sauce
A pregnant friend of mine recently asked a waiter, “Do you have any sexy non-alcoholic beverages?” The waiter looked confused, but rose to the occasion and came back with a Reed’s Extra Ginger Brew–a strong and sweet ginger ale. The eager young server watched as my friend took a first sip. “Is it sexy?” he asked. She declared that it was. See, we preggos get tired of seltzer and Sprite (which I think basically tastes like sugar dissolved in water). It’s good to have some options to mix things up when mixed drinks are off limits. In the last few months, I have become somewhat of a connoisseur of nonalcoholic…
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The Great Chili Debate
My foodie friend, Amy, and I have a debate that resurfaces every winter. She’s from Texas and believes with the zeal of a Bible-thumper that chili should be burn-your-mouth hot and consist of large chunks of steak-like stew meat. Beans, to her, are sacrilege, as are any kind of carbs in the chili. I grew up in Green Bay, where chili is made with ground beef, flavored with spices of the type that sell for $0.99 at the grocery store, and served with macaroni noodes. Where I’m from, chili is also relatively mild, to suit the Northern palate, though I always put Tabasco on the table for those who want…
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A New Project… and an Announcement
I’m back over at Wisconsin Public Television’s website, blogging about sustainable and local food for the next 5 weeks. My posts will go up every Tuesday. Come on over and check out this week’s post about How to Eat Locally Without Lifting a Finger. I love to cook, and when I agreed to do a food-specific blogging series for WPT, I had grand visions of trolling the aisles of natural foods co-ops and the winter farmers’ markets to come up with new ways to eat squash and kale. And then came a little “bump” in the road. Literally. I’m 15 weeks pregnant and, though very excited, I’m finding it hard…
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