Archive: December 04, 2005 - December 10, 2005
Weekend Project: Taking Care of Gift-maskah
As you make those year-end lists of whom to thank for a job well done, please don't forget the cooks in your life. All year long, from the asparagus spears of spring to the stews and gratins of winter, the cooks excite your palate, fill your belly and warm your spirit. They are as vital to your daily life as the postal carrier, the newspaper delivery, the school crossing guard. If you haven't done so lately, give them an enormous round of applause or a bear hug. Then, follow up with a positive reinforcement - yes, a gift. Little things go a long way to make a cook happy and his/her arsenal well-greased and humming. Big-ticket items are not necessary to make an impression. As lovely as it may seem, forego the idea of pots and pans, which are a highly personal item, almost like underwear. One exception: Le Creuset....
By kimodo | December 9, 2005; 10:36 AM ET | Comments (2)
Eating Books
It is a fact (and not just promotional copy) that I often have my nose in a cookbook. There are piles on both sides of the bed with titles both new and old and I truly love to put my physical person into the pages. It's a life-long quirk, beginning at the age of two when I requested my own newspaper and shouted out headlines in toddler speak. I would cover myself in the newsprint and almost eat my books with glee. This time of year brings out the year-end reviewer in all of us, which is particularly helpful in the world of cookbooks since there are skedaddles to choose from. To get the book party started, check out this week's Food section, which offers a comprehensive cookbook roundup, organized in five handy categories, plus a sampler of recipes, so you can try before you buy. Great minds think alike,...
By kimodo | December 8, 2005; 12:43 PM ET | Email a Comment
Chat Doggie Bag
There were lots of leftovers from yesterday's installment of What's Cooking; here are a few assorted questions I pulled from the chat platter to add to the holiday conversation: Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: I need to plan an appetizer-only buffet for Christmas Eve. How does one put together a selection of appealing appetizers? Dear Saratoga Springs, without knowing the size of your party or any possible dietary issues, I will offer general rather than specific thoughts. A couple of considerations:...
By kimodo | December 7, 2005; 11:25 AM ET | Comments (5)
A World of Gingerbread
This year, I'm busting a move and building a gingerbread house, a holiday project that I've always wanted to embark upon. Such an undertaking would not be complete without a dedicated construction crew, particularly those under the age of 10. I've sussed out two eligible engineers in Chicago, where I will travel next week to join them in building our masterpiece. The Gonzalez kids - Ruby and August - will be my brain trust, with their mom, Nancy "Crafty Lady" Gonzalez, at the design helm. Stay tuned next week for pictures of the construction site and spewing batter. If you're curious about building a house of your own, there are a few books worth exploring, for recipes as well as cut-out templates:...
By kimodo | December 6, 2005; 10:46 AM ET | Comments (6)
Knock Your Choc-Socks Off
As much as I love chocolate year 'round, I love it most at this time of year. Maybe it's that seratonin boost that I so desperately need at the height of December darkness to keep me from becoming a grinch. There's also something psychologically soothing about the stuff, akin to the protection and warmth of a blanket when the weather outside is frightful. Chocolate has a mysterious way of bringing people together, too. Remember how in the movie version of "Chocolat," Vianne (played by Juliette Binoche), with her elixir of hot chocolate, lures the townspeople out of their shuttered homes and bad marriages and opens their eyes to the simple joys of life. Of course, Vianne is like a sorceress, which scares the beejeezus out of the mayor and his wannabe girlfriend, Madame Clairmont, but there's no doubt that chocolate possesses powers of its own. It's supposed to snow tonight,...
By kimodo | December 5, 2005; 11:40 AM ET | Comments (3)
