entertaining with style- making it work for you
How many of you know that poignant feeling that rises up when you finish a really, really good book? I almost cried when I put down “Where the Crawdads Sing”. Tears did roll down my cheeks as I closed “Bel Canto” and “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats”. One of my greatest pleasures is reading a truly well written, beautifully crafted work of fiction.
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food detective
One of the many perks of southern California is that the farmers markets run almost all year. Wednesday morning I wake up and head down the hill to the one in Palm Desert. There I pick up a bag of some of the best avocados in the world, a jug of just picked-just squeezed orange juice, an armful of wild flowers, and whatever vegetables catch my
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food detective
There's something about Scandinavian men of a certain generation, just with their presence they seem to make those around them feel safe and reassured. My uncle, a stoic man with a slight smile and radiant twinkle in his eye, always made me feel as though he truly saw me. As the youngest in my family by years, I adored spending time with my
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food detective
Last month I traveled to Omaha for my aunt’s services. It was a bittersweet occasion, for she died quite unexpectedly right after my dear uncle’s passing. The services were held on what would have been their 62nd wedding anniversary. My cousins all did such a wonderful job of crafting a weekend that truly celebrated my aunt’s life and her love
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food detective
Happy Chinese New Year- it’s the year of the pig! What perfect timing that I stumbled upon the following recipe. One of my personal new year’s resolutions is to finally go through all my old cooking magazines that have literally been piling up for decades. And while I’ve been feeling some Marie Kondo pressure to simply pitch them all, I’m glad I
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Hats off to all of my friends who imbibed the hype and embraced “dry January” or went on one of those ten to (gasp) thirty-day cleanses. Suffice it to say that I did not do any of those things. I did however work diligently on trying to incorporate more cardio into my weekly routine and really tried to slash my portions in half. Next November at my
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making it for two
My husband and I are navigating the waters of the newly retired. When we moved to Dayton nine years ago I gave up my day job of thirty years and began working exclusively from home. A big switch for sure. This past fall my husband’s job transitioned, and he started a new venture and is now working remotely. Those of you of a certain age will
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food detective
I’m not a fan of gadgets and hyped appliances. Who needs a multi-chopper when one has a knife? Or an egg cooker when one has a pot? But I succumbed on cyber-Monday with what looked like an incredible sale on everyone’s seemingly must-have: the Instant Pot. I never needed a slow cooker, I have my Le Creuset dutch oven. And flashbacks of pressure
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Having loved ones return home is such a happy time. I love planning the dinners, stocking my freezer with hors d’oeuvres, and decorating my mantle. Each year my goal is to plan far enough ahead so that I can truly enjoy the holidays without getting stressed. But there’s one thing that tends to undo me- days of breakfasts for a crowd. Morning fare
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food detective
The other night I was over at my dear friends Maggie and Richard’s for a drink. They truly are entertainers extraordinaire. Their home is so welcoming, their cocktails such fun, and their hors d’oeuvres divine. Those two really know how to make a guest feel special. As Richard poured a wonderful white burgundy in his crisp white apron, Maggie
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Wherever I find myself, I’m happiest with a full dining room table. As a former professional chef and caterer I want to share what I’ve learned over the past three decades of entertaining. On this site you’ll find tricks of the trade to help even the most harried of you pull off a seemingly seamless fête. Come join the conversation! read more →