Body/Soul: God's Green AcreThe first time I saw it, I thought it was too ugly to eat. Really. A bundle stood tall on the back of the Rainbow Whole Foods produce counter—huge dark green/blue/gray leaves with purple veins and fleshy bulges all over …
A Whole Lotta Puddin'In the midst of Mardi Gras, self-indulgence becomes a virtue, and what carb-loaded, butter-laden, sugar-crusted Crescent City dessert better thumbs its nose at caution than bread pudding? The origin of this classic Creole dessert is generally credited to frugal cooks …
Where to Take Your SweetheartValentine's Day makes us think about love, which quite naturally leads many of us to thoughts of enjoying food with our significant others. Jeanne Losey, former poet laureate of the Indiana State Federation of Poetry Clubs, penned a delightful poem …
DIY: Making FoccaciaFor some, cooking is a form of both physical and spiritual nourishment. In a time when it becomes more and more difficult to find a young person with the desire to cook, Ashton Deakin, 24 years old, has a passion …
Chili to ShareChili con carne is Spanish for chili with meat; it got started in Texas, and Texans think it's a crime to add beans to it. So says "The New Food Lover's Companion" (Barron's, 2001, $16.95).
New Year's TwosomeIt's a toss up—go out or stay in to celebrate New Year's Eve? Pair Shrimp Fettucine with your favorite Pinot Grigio, an unoaked Chardonnay or a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for the perfect celebration.
A Goodie Is A GoodieOver the almost eight-year-long span that my family spent on the road, we never had a chimney for Santa. Being well-loved, wide-eyed and innocent of grown-up concerns like how late would the stores be open in a new town, my …
Let Them Eat OreosLast Christmas a friend asked me to help him put together a swing set for Santa to deliver for his daughter. I reminded my friend that I am mechanically challenged. One cannot devote one's life to the demanding career of …
Dough Done RightTraveling to Europe turned out to be the best of the unexpected benefits of teaching, right up there with walking the sidelines of high school football games, snapping photos, and keeping score on the bench at away basketball games, at …
Take-Out TurkeysDespite the record-setting hot weather, this week's forecast appears more seasonal. To help you make your preparations for Thanksgiving, whether you're eating in or out, here's a list of helpful folks.
A Yam By Any Other NameThanksgiving is nigh. Along with giving thanks for life, love and liberty, Americans give thanks for the traditional holiday meal of fowl and dressing—that might be turkey or chicken or stuffing to some, or baked ham—and all the fixings.
Potluck Dinners In The ParkMama always thought she and Daddy ought to become full-time RVers once he had retired in 1987. It would have been natural for my parents because they spent 7 1/2 years back in the '50s pulling various house trailers behind …
Yummy For The Tummy?Oh, the joys of food! The colors that appeal to our eyes, the tastes that satisfy our tongues, the textures that delight our mouths. We humans would be in a cosmic quandary were it not for the varieties of food …
Pumpkins, The Stuff of MemoriesWhether you call it autumn or fall, it's here. The natural signs of fall include the leaves on many trees that ignite in color. Thanks be to God, the temperature finally falls and the humidity decreases, affording us here in …
Look Ma, I Made An Omelette!My earliest recollection of actually seeing an omelette dates back to late 1969, early 1970. I had moved from Jackson to Kansas City, Mo., and being in my early 20s and desirous of a night out now and then, I …