Thanksgiving chicken

Lesson 2: Roasting a chicken requires you to truss.  And trust.
To kick off our first holiday season in our new home, J & I hosted a “Pre-Thanksgiving Day” dinner with some friends.  I wiped off the dust collecting on my Martha Stewart ‘Cooking School’ book (I could have sworn Martha had a disapproving glint in [...]

french press & novel writing

This Sunday morning was filled with determination.  I woke up and decided on two things – 1) to break in my new Chambord French Press coffee maker and 2) to write a novel.
The latest addition to my kitchen, thanks to the World Market.  The box states that it is “probably the best way to brew [...]

schooled by Martha

Lesson 1: Choose your kitchen companion wisely.
This is a classic case of life imitating art.  Or to be more accurate, life that imitates art imitating life.
After watching Julie and Julia, the film based on the stories of writer/aspiring home chef Julie Powell and the famous Julia Child, I felt invigorated.  Eager to write, blog, cook, [...]

fabulous and frugal

My current MO and lifestyle – living fabulously frugal.
One would think that the two are contrasting ideals.  Living a fabulous life connotates living lavishly and indulgently, or in my case, impulsively and passionately without much concern for the aftermath.  An expensive month in Paris after grad school? Sure!  Move to San Francisco on a random [...]