All about miso
I did not discover miso until just last year, when the pandemic cooking doldrums spurred me to look beyond my usual repertoire. Several of my cookbooks had recipes that featured the fermented paste, so I ordered some…
Darcie
Food news antipasto
Even though I have pared down my kitchen tool collection, I still have several different whisks. Each handles a particular task better than others. If you're wondering which whisk performs best for different uses, head…
Would 'Lockdown 2.0' be easier?
The Delta variant has thrown us for a loop. It seems that this version of the coronavirus is easier to catch and it can even affect a small portion of people who have been vaccinated. Given the low vaccination rates in…
The path to better fried foods
A few years ago when I wrote a post about the secrets to better frying, I briefly thought about titling the post 'Fear of frying' but thought the title was too esoteric, as not that many people would get the reference I…
Get a gold medal for snacks
This year's summer Olympics are unlike any other: first they were postponed for a year, then the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus meant that fans would not be able to attend in person. Athletes are…
How cast iron pans are made
Cast iron cookware has enjoyed renewed popularity of late, with people singing its praises in blogs and magazine articles, and crowd-sourced companies adding 21st century flair and technology to the time-honored craft.…
Food news antipasto
Millions of people watched famed chef Jacques Pépin's short cooking videos during the pandemic. Although I never much paid attention to the clothing he was wearing, Charlotte Reilly of Inside Hook took notice. She added…
Everything you always wanted to know about vanilla
Vanilla as an adjective is a synonym for boring, but as a flavoring extract it is anything but blah. Why the term 'vanilla' took on such a connotation is an interesting story in itself, but we're here to talk about the…
Why you should add tahini to your pantry
When I was growing up in a tiny town in the midst of the US Great Plains, I was not exposed to a wide variety of foods. It wasn't until I left home to attend college that I first experienced items most people would find…
The "Cookbook Queen" of Mar Vista is selling her collection
When you have a large collection of cookbooks, determining what to do with them once you are no longer around can be a difficult decision. Some people opt to pare down to the bare minimum when downsizing a house, others…
Doing the can-can
Just as the home gardening trend has continued this year, so has the demand for canning supplies. Last year's shortage of canning jar lids spilled over to 2021, and it is still difficult, if not impossible, to find jar…
Food news antipasto
The Anthony Bourdain documentary titled 'Roadrunner' was released in theaters on July 15 and is getting mixed reviews from critics. Helen Rosner likes it (but is disquieted by the artificial intelligence used to…