Archive for the 'Lisa' Category
Some traditions really are just for grown-ups
January 6th, 2009by Lisa
A few weeks before Christmas, I found a recipe for caffe con correto con panna in La Cucina Italiana, one of my favorite food magazines. Basically, this translates to liquor-spiked coffee with chocolate and sweetened cream. I bought a bottle of Frangelico, which I had hitherto assumed was for people who liked drinks involving [...]
Christmas Eve, A Backwards Glance
January 6th, 2009by Lisa
I’m not sure how or why our tradition of fish on Christmas Eve began, but its roots stretch back to my childhood, when we celebrated with close friends. When it was my mother’s turn to host, she very often made a really delicious shrimp and rigatoni dish, accented with tomatoes and feta cheese. Those [...]
The Great Pumpkin
December 9th, 2008by Lisa
Halloween and Thanksgiving are long past, but today, some beast grabbed me and urged me to cut into the Galeux d’Eysines pumpkin I purchased in October. It was a gorgeous pale pink, and covered in sugar warts. It was gnarly, ugly and completely fascinating.
It was easy to cut, as far as pumpkins go but [...]
ButterScience, with recipe
November 24th, 2008by Lisa
Like many of my spontaneous ideas, this one began with a question.
After Finn’s long fever, he broke his fast with a brunch of green eggs and toast. For some reason, I was inpsired to butter his bread. Taking a bite, he said, “I got big bite of butter on toast.”
“Yes,” I said, “I put [...]
Dollars and Sense, one mother’s manifesto
November 21st, 2008By Lisa
With the economy in freefall, and no real end in sight, many of us are thinking about money and our weekly budgets, and how to save where we can. I’ve heard people talking about bundling phone, internet, cable, getting rid of their landlines, adjusting their car & homeowners insurance–all in an attempt to get [...]
Dessert, (urban) homestead style
November 18th, 2008by Lisa
Unlike Caroline, I don’t bake a lot. We were joking the other day about our families and how although we have many things in common, there are some major differences. The fact that we eat meat for one. The fact–as she joked–that I’m going “going urban homestead.” I demurred, but she’s not entirely wrong.
This [...]
Peppers, The Prequel
November 7th, 2008By Lisa
The padrone-eating incident (now updated with pictures) was not without precedent.
One of our family staples, especially when it’s high pepper season, is dish of roasted red peppers bathed in olive oil, with capers, garlic, and anchovies.
Before you stop reading at “anchovy,” please consider this: a mysterious alchemy occurs when the peppers meet anchovies and [...]
You Say Griddle-, I Say Pan-…
October 25th, 2008By Lisa
My offer was innocent enough, and both kids leapt at it, but there was a semantic conflict that nearly brought down the house.
“I want pancakes,” Finn shouted.
“I want griddle cakes,” Ella countered.
“No,” he protested. “Pan. Cakes.”
“They’re Griddle Cakes,” she insisted.
“I. Want. Pancakes.” Finn stomped.
“Finn! They are the same thing!. They are GRIDDLE CAKES!”
“NOT I [...]
Daddy got mad, and then he made pizza, and he didn’t go to Mexico
October 9th, 2008by Lisa. With some perspective by Ella.
On Saturday, I had another migraine.
I took a nap. I woke up. I still had a migraine.
Kory was supposed to take Ella and Finn to soccer while I cooked dinner in peace and let the medication work.
Instead we had a fight. Someday Kory may tell his side of the [...]
Lemonade for Change
September 29th, 2008By Lisa
Ella is much more a child of Silicon Valley than either Kory or I.
As soon as the weather turns warm, she begs for a lemonade stand.
She’d be outside three days a week if someone would sit with her, and while she’s constantly got a plan to buy a Barbie Peek-a-boo or some such Pony-&-Rainbow-pink-bespangled-toy, [...]