The Meat MysteryTo tell it true, ground meat makes Lunch Lady nervous. Ever since a friend told her that the beef at a certain delicious fast-food place is designated Grade D by the United States Department of Agriculture—which means it can legally …
Fly: Recipes For The Plug-In CauldronHalloween lore has it that witches stirred potions in their cauldrons constantly, breaking rhythm only to wipe dripping saliva from the corners of their mouths with wart-covered hands, or to swat flies—killing a few and sprinkling them into their concoctions …
31 Pounds of CheeseWhen most people bust out statistics like "the average American eats more than 31 pounds of cheese each year"—give or take a few pounds, depending on your source and the year—they are generally mourning the state of nutrition in this …
You Are What You EatLearning how to cook is always such a hit-and-miss experience. It requires patient and tolerant people who are willing to wait long, hungry hours while you figure out just how long to cook lentils or bake a 10-pound roast.
Dining With MaoWhen I was preparing to travel to China, people in Mississippi College's international center loaded me and my fellow travelers with stacks of Chinese phrase sheets and English-as-a-Second-Language packets. My boyfriend, JP, and I were signed up to teach English …
Facing the FoodI recently started watching the Food Network—partly for inspiration and partly because I now work at home and need outside stimulation. I don't like most of the female cooking hosts—not because they don't have any good ideas, but because they …
Eating By The BayI recently returned from a week in San Francisco visiting my lovely sister, Annie, and her husband, Jess. I planned my trip several weeks in advance so that our first stop when I got off the plane would be Zachary's …
The Sunset in Your GlassNow that summer is almost over, you might find yourself longing for another hot and lazy afternoon in the hammock, a chilled glass of wine at the ready, instead of your now-harried schedule of before and after-school chauffeuring and parent-teacher …
Pardon My FrenchWhen I was a kid, my family and I would go on long fishing trips, involving hikes with several pounds of equipment, baiting our hooks with both a wriggly worm and our fingers, and getting our fishing poles stuck in …
Cooking the Way the 'Ladies' WouldRestaurant-goers and home chefs alike are becoming conscious of the beauty of a good food and wine pairing. A true gourmand should think of wine as an ingredient in the meal rather than just an accompaniment and, in doing so, …
Out Of The House & Into The ShackThirteen years ago, Larry Emmett and Michael Parker were traveling through Mississippi on their way to New Orleans from visiting friends in Nashville. On that fateful day, their car broke down. With little money and a car that could only …
Pulp NonfictionThe three stickers on my car sum up my value system pretty well. There is the Amherst College sticker, an homage to my beloved alma mater, whose ever-increasing social consciousness is working to make higher education more accessible to the …
Tripping the Wine FantasticTired of taking the same vacations? Even if you adore New Orleans, Atlanta or Florida, you might be itching to find yourself in new surroundings, doing activities unavailable at home. Why not try a visit to wine country?
Your Friendly Neighborhood Thai HouseAt the new Thai House, the food is exotic and elegantly showcased in a venue awash in muted color, exposed brick and imported furniture. But there is something beyond the ambiance. Perhaps it's the warmth of the proprietors or the …
Nashville Chicken FeathersNashville has always, and will forever be, the country music capital of the world. Even though I had never been there before, I knew this was true as soon as I arrived on Interstate 40 from Memphis. Signs sprinkled with …