Jon Frankel

Spicy Meat Patties
Read here.

Jon Frankel

Chinese Red Cooked Oxtails
Read here.

Amy Bloom

La Divina Commedia by Amy Bloom.
Read here.

Local Scramble

Our neighbors down the road gave us a few dozen eggs from their backyard chickens. Normally I am not a huge scrambled egg eater. I prefer to make fried eggs or omelets but Saturday morning I decided to scramble these and they were the best eggs I'd ever eaten. They were so tasty and bright yellow. I hope we can make backyard chickens legal here in the city, but first the city has other more pressing issues to contend with.

Sore Throat

Gargling with warm salt water really works! It took the pain away immediately.

Three Brothers

The Three Brothers Calhoun were here for the weekend to perform in our parade band and I wanted to make sure we celebrated the occasion by eating well. The first night we bought a slab of Cod from Wilfred's Seafood and broiled it and enjoyed it with home baked whole wheat oat bread and steamed broccoli. We went to Jamie Sullivan's store, Shaw's Meats on North Main Street in Woonsocket and bought 4 slabs of top round and he tenderized them for us, by hand, using a sharp knife tip, while telling us stories. He gave us his own bottled formula of marinade. We set up the meat and marinade and shook it in our Tupperware container and overnight the magic happened. We grilled the meat 4 minutes a side over hardwood charcoal, as he instructed and let it sit a moment and then sliced it into thin strips, against the grain. I made brown rice in my iron pot and a batch of kale, onions, mushrooms, and carrots, steamed then sautéed and seasoned with garlic, Adobo, olive oil, red wine, and soy sauce. It was the best meal of my life. The cold leftovers were even better. I loved the food but I loved the company and the table just as much. Conversation is always better at the table. We no longer eat meals at the kitchen counter. Eating is not just refueling, it is a time to reflect, savor and enjoy. Even the simplest of meals are elevated to a delightful ritual when eaten at the table.

Notebook

I keep a four inch chunky square spiral notebook and pen on my kitchen counter to jot down information about my eating and drinking. This is a tool to help me see the patterns or foods that might be causing my allergies and migraines. Try it. Don't judge, just write. See what the habit reveals over time.

Good News about Coffee

Here.

Adversity Soup and the Bread of Affliction

I think the great recession has made me a much better soup maker! I load the available ingredients into my slow cooker: water, cabbage, tomato puree, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, lentils, parsley, basil, olive oil, red wine, salt, black pepper, Adobo, and bay leaves. The magic happens after a day of simmering.

Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.

– William Shakespeare, As You Like It Act 2, scene 1, 12–17

Decision Fatigue

Article

What Good?

I don't think my siblings have ever had to forgo buying groceries, but what good is unlimited food when you can't stomach the family?

Cold Potato

Summer is the only time
I crave the potato
cold potatoes are perfect
in summer heat
full of water
they cool you off!