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Category Archives: Justifications
When You’re Trying to Capture a Memory, Details Count or Auntie Ev’s Plum Pudding, Part The Third
The plum puddings I made last week are not good enough to serve for Christmas. Why? It’s not because they turned out badly. They actually taste quite good. But I didn’t task myself with making Plain Old plum pudding. My … Continue reading
A Love Refrain for Tony Bourdain, and a Horror Theme for Sandra Lee(m)
How do I love thee, Tony? Let me count the ways. I love your hair; I love your eyes. I love your tall/skinny/sexy self. I love the way your eyes twinkle when you’re being mean, the way your skin crinkles … Continue reading
The Hot and Cold Challenge
I don’t know anyone who is on an even keel All The Time. I mean, even the most serene folks have a day every now and then when they must feel a little less-than-serene. High energy performers aren’t always necessarily … Continue reading
Posted in Justifications, Pastry Challenges
Tagged cold desserts, desserts, hot and cold desserts, hot desserts, pastry, pastry challenge
10 Comments
Why I Do What I Do
*Voting is now open through Thursday, September 23. To vote pour moi, click here. Just scroll on down to the “P’s” until you get to Pastry Methods and Techniques. Then, click the cute little gray heart to turn it red … Continue reading
If You Don’t Believe Me, Maybe You’ll Believe Julia
Often, I am amazed by the small coincidences that can add up over time to equal Kismet. The following is just such a case. Read on, won’t you? In 1988-ish, my Auntie Ev and Uncle Ray retired from Plainfield, NJ … Continue reading
Posted in Cookbooks, Justifications
Tagged Exellent Cookbooks, Julia Child, Kismet, The Way to Cook
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And Now is the Time on PMAT When We Poke the Anthill. Join Me, Won't You?
I am a bit of a Rabble Rouser. I always have been. See: Scene: Holiday dinner table with adult guests all around including my 3-year-old brother and 5-year-old me. Uncle Ray: Male ballet dancers are athletic. My Father: Oh, please. … Continue reading
You Know It’s True: Every Pound Cake I Bake, I Bake It For You
Okay, I might be the only game in town that revisits the humble pound cake on a regular basis. But, you’ll thank me. Honest. Soon, all of you I Don’t Bake people will be riffing on the basic pound cake … Continue reading
Posted in Justifications, Pastry Methods, recipes
Tagged Anita Bryant, cake, cake recipes, pound cake, Van Halen pound cake
7 Comments
Garnish: It’s More Than Just a Sprig O’ Mint
Growing up, I thought that garnish was green frilly stuff. It was the anemic lettuce leaf under the crab salad, the parsley nestled between the steak and potato, the mint shoved into the whipped cream on top of the chocolate … Continue reading
Smashing the Culinary Ceiling, or How to Overcome Recipe Anxiety
No pretty pictures here, people. Just the cold, hard, sometimes uncomfortable facts of how I got to be a better cook than I used to be. Off and on, I spend time talking about becoming an automatic cook: about letting … Continue reading
Posted in Justifications
Tagged becoming a better cook, confidence in the kitchen, how to cook
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Oh, St. Cecile, How Sorely They Have Used You.
Dear Miss Swiss Miss, I wonder what your real name is? I took the liberty of doing some research, and I’ve decided that your given name, heretofore lost in the sands of time, is probably Cecile. You must be Cecile, … Continue reading
Posted in Justifications, recipes, Uncategorized
Tagged homemade hot cocoa, hot cocoa, Swiss Miss Instant Cocoa
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