“Behind every successful woman is a tale of self reliance, persistence, and the joy of following one’s heart.” from the Victoria publication The Business of Bliss I have been in love with Victoria Magazine since I was 16. I picked up the premier copy back in 1987. The breathtaking photography of Toshi Otsuki was the…
Book Review
Book Review-The Art of Eating In
by Melissa • • 4 Comments
In the city where dining is a sport, a gourmand swears off restaurants (even takeout!) for two years, rediscovering the economical, gastronomical joy of home cooking Gourmand-ista Cathy Erway’s timely memoir of quitting restaurants cold turkey speaks to a new era of conscientious eating. An underpaid, twenty-something executive assistant in New York City, she was…
Mother’s Day Weekend
by Melissa • • 0 Comments
Book Reviews-My Favorite Garden Themed Books
by Melissa • • 0 Comments
“God gives all men all earth to love, but since man’s heart is small, ordains for each one spot shall prove beloved over all.” ~Rudyard Kipling My favorite garden-themed books: Two of the most beautifully illustrated books I’ve ever read are In and Out of the Garden and South of France-A Sketchbook by my friend…
Serendipity, Tea and Me
by Melissa • • 34 Comments
Cooking Together ~ Cottage Cheese Dill Bread
by Melissa • • 26 Comments
“Here is a collection of recipes for soups, breads, sauces, dips, spreads, entrees, and desserts influenced by many different ethnic cooking styles. The recipes are all vegetarian, utilizing a large variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, grains, herbs, and spices. This cuisine is about celebrating the bounty of nature in general, and a garden-and orchard-based…
Book Review-The Mercy of Thin Air
by Melissa • • 2 Comments
When I was going through book titles deciding what one to review next I could hardly believe that I’d somehow forgotten to tell you about this book. It’s one of my favorites. Such a beautiful book. A perfect springtime or “beach bag” read for summer… A historical take on Alice Sebold’s “The Lovely Bones,” “The…
Our Long Weekend
by Melissa • • 3 Comments
“Weekends don’t count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.” ~Bill Watterson John Mayer is singing in the background and I’m sipping a glass of iced sun tea. Aahhh, I love a lazy Sunday Morning. I wasn’t quite sure what to write about this morning, and then decided to tell you about our fun…
Current Crush-Apples For Jam
by Melissa • • 1 Comment
Current Crush-Mark Bittman’s “Kitchen Express”
by Melissa • • 2 Comments
“I’m not a chef, and I never have been. And though I’ve cooked with some of the best-known chefs in the world, I’ve never had formal training, and I’ve never worked in a restaurant. None of which has gotten in the way of my mission to get people cooking simply, comfortably, and well.” ~Mark Bittman…