After a few necessary days of work and rest, I’m finally able to sit down and breathe in the under-80ºF morning air. Utter bliss, aside from the drilling going on across the street. My apt. complex is an oasis minus the unwanted, over-amplified noises (i.e. drilling, leaf blowing, road rage honking and one neighbor’s very…
Paris’ Culinary Dreams Lost … and Found
“It’s just as important for a gourmand to know the strengths and weaknesses of his stomach as for a general to know the morale and strength of the army he commands.” – Grimod de la Reynière If any of you know me, or have read my previous writings, then you’re aware of my love/obsession for…
Au Régime!
Almost two months ago, mon meilleur ami came to stay with me, for about three weeks. Originally French, he grew up in Paris and now lives in Barcelona working as a theatre instructor. We met in Louisiana when I was in high school, back in the late 80s, and essentially, he is family. Even though…
Artichokes
Mom used to make steamed artichokes. Or at least she made them once or twice when I was little. I don’t know why she stopped. Maybe it was a 70s thing. Steamed artichokes went out with pu-pu platters and piña coladas. I miss them. From time to time, the thought crossed my mind to steam…
Biscuit-Makin’ Nana
Nana hasn’t made me biscuits in ages, and she missed it. Me too! These days, I’m usually the one cooking her meals. So this morning, here she is bright and early in the kitchen. Just a couple bickies though ’cause I unfortunately no longer have the metabolism of a six-year-old. She even managed to pull…
Shirking My Health Responsibilities
Last month, after at least a year of being too exhausted for normal life, I finally found a naturopath in my small Louisiana city. I won’t go into all the reasons I don’t trust doctors, but let’s just say instead of the normal 5 minutes (maybe) with an MD, I spent nearly 3 hours with…
Tea and Toast
Sometimes all you need to bring sunshine to a gloomy Sunday is strong tea and a rustic buttered and jammed piece of toast.
France, Ciggies, Living and Fidelma Cook
The question “what do I want to be when I grow up” often comes to my mind. As a freelancer, nothing is certain. Though, these days, that can be said for most any job, freelance or permanent, or for most anything in life. I have gotten lazy these past few years as flexible work-from-home writing…
Leftover Turkey = Gumbo!
In case you’re worried about what to do with all that leftover holiday turkey – a person can only eat so many leftovers or turkey-cranberry-stuffing sandwiches – click over to this recipe for Leftover Holiday Turkey Gumbo from The Gumbo Pages. Now that I’ve made it many a time, I no longer need a recipe. But…
Midget Momma’s Whoville Cookies
When I can’t be around, Nana’s neighbors keep an eye out, checking from time to time to make sure she’s ok. I am not a fan of the town she lives in, but that’s where she wants to be, and at least she has decent people around her. This year, she wanted to give them…
Beauty in (Any)Everything
Even when certain things in life make no sense at all, I want to see the beauty in those precious comforts I am so thankful for. The present moment. Sweet and juicy local satsumas, grapefruits and oranges; a frothy ‘good luck’ latté from Stumptown in New Orleans; savory caramelized fennel with goat cheese and a…
Gettin’ Back to My Roots
I don’t know if it’s the change in weather, the holiday season or the realization that human beings are in a state of unrest that conjures up memories of my childhood. Maybe it’s a combination of all of the above. There’s also the possibility that recently meeting new people has forced me to talk about…
