I can go two days without. On the third, I start craving. As dinner ends, I shoot puppy dog eyes the length of the table, broadcasting my desire, and my husband wilts, then gives in, because after all, it’s his addiction, too. Taut nerve ends relax into the alchemy of butter and cream and sugar,…
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Mac & Cheese, for Real
Okay, my sister-in-law Michelle gave me this recipe, which we are trying tonight. For those who want to make the attempt alongside me. 🙂 For topping 1/2 stick unsalted butter 2 cups panko (coarse Japanese bread crumbs) or 3 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs (from 6 slices firm white sandwich bread) 1/4 pound coarsely grated…
Read MoreCheesecake Triumph!
I married an Italian man, which means it’s all about the food. In his family—and thus in mine—there is no better way to offend a person than to attack his or her family gastronomic traditions. I have developed into an opinionated, confirmed recipe fiddler. Christian is always teasing me for turning a tuna casserole recipe…
Read MorePumpkin Bread & Punkins
What do you do with two punkins on a Friday morning? Make pumpkin bread, of course! What’s the best part of baking? Snitching, of course! I won’t leave you in suspense. Here is our pumpkin bread recipe, which we make for every new arrival in the neighborhood, and pretty often for ourselves, too… Spiced Pumpkin…
Read MoreWFMW: Cake Decorating
We’re going to take a detour today from reflections on family and children and life in general. Because I have some wisdom to share on the subject of cakes, cake decorating and icing. This has been a source of frustration to me for so many years that when the answers finally began to be revealed…
Read More7 Quick Takes, vol. 83
1. Last night I started a Wilton cake decorating class. It’s very interesting to see how, uh, passionate, people get on the subject. Myself included. There could have been a knock-down, drag-out fight over icing recipes in the aisle of Michael’s last night, but we all managed to control ourselves. 🙂 2. As far as…
Read More50 (the magic number)
Part One: Fifty seconds. Ears popping, rising ninety-five floors above overtired children, train schedules, bad bus directions and the guy on the street corner screaming about the end of the world. And at the end of it, the doors opened on this: It was our tenth anniversary dinner, six months late, the first of…
Read MoreAny Day at Viviano’s Is A Good Day
On Friday, Christian took the day off and we all went to St. Louis. We went shopping, took the kids to visit the doctor who delivered them, and then went to the one place we absolutely must go at least five times a year, just to keep our pantry stocked: Viviano’s. If you are ever…
Read More7 Quick Takes-vol. 66
Alex and I played glow-in-the-dark miniature golf this week. I learned that fluorescent orange + fluorescent yellow + black lighting = one massive headache. That happened to be the same day that Nicholas discovered pasta. Now, my Super Baby Food book says that children are not allowed to have tomato until one year old.…
Read MoreA Little Something Sweet for your Friday
I’ve been exploring blogs recently, and I keep coming across really good ideas that I want to participate in. Without a doubt, the most mouthwatering—and most corrupting LOL—comes from Stopnsmellthechocolates.blogspot.com. (Who can resist checking out a URL like that?) Every week she presents Chocolate Fridays. (Now come on, seriously—who isn’t going to click that link?)…
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Kathleen M. Basi 