Archive for August, 2008
Get Halloween-y: 13 Tricks and Treats
As sad as I am to see summer go, I’m really excited for fall—especially Halloween. It’s still a little bit early for me to bust into full-fledged spooky shopping mode, but here’s a baker’s dozen of goodies I have my eye on right now. Polpetteclay sells a series of peapod magnets (along with other great [...]
Lazy Sunday French Toast
Whether you’re planning on having house guests, or your Labor Day festivities unexpectedly last all weekend, this is a great thing to serve for brunch. (Hey, I know at least a few folks with relentless and admirable stamina when it comes to extending an after-party.) This French toast is hearty and filling and is an [...]
Sangria Tasting Bar: A Trio of Punches
For most folks I know, the word “sangria” almost always translates into “instant party.” And as with any good party, the more the merrier. Here’s how to set up a sangria tasting bar to infuse a little more fiesta into your Labor Day barbecue. Sangria is fun to serve and refreshingly yummy to drink. It’s [...]
Blueberry Cake-ettes
This recipe is a happy accident. I was planning on making my Coconut Bomb cookies this afternoon, and realized a little too late that I was out of, well, coconut. I had a container of fresh blueberries in the fridge, so I changed a few things and tossed them in instead. And man, am I [...]
Smoky Corn Chowder
This soup is gloriously rich and bursting with chunks of sweet corn and potato. It gets its smokiness from bacon and chipotle pepper. The pepper’s heat is tempered nicely by the creamy broth. If you’re serving it with a meal and not as a main course, I recommend dishing it out in cups instead of [...]
Labor Day Special: Bourbon Barbecue Sauce
At the risk of needing to rename this blog The Thirsty Mouse, here’s my recipe for Bourbon Barbecue Sauce. This is what I’ll be putting on my pork ribs this Labor Day weekend. It’s quick and easy to make, as barbecue sauces go. (Barbecue purists beware: File this one under “halfway-homemade,” since we’re starting with [...]
5 Spice Merchants To Try
Recently, The Angry Chef and I went on a spice hunt. We headed out to Penzey’s Spices in the sleepy town of Arlington, MA. We’ve relied on them for spices—first by catalog, then online, and now in person—for years now. Penzey’s quality is always top notch. The prices are decent. Their selection is huge. And [...]
Sweet & Sunny Lemon Drop Liquor
Apparently, this weekend is cocktail weekend. Contrary to yesterday’s Bee’s Kiss, though, my Lemon Drop liquor is light and refreshing. It’s a great late-summer-lazy-day-sitting-in-the-yard-waiting-for-the-barbecue-to-be-done kind of drink. If you start a bottle early this week, it’ll be ready in plenty of time for your Labor Day festivities. I love lemonade, so I guess it’s no [...]
One Bee’s Kiss, Please. Hold the Stinger.
I couldn’t tell you why, but I’m dying for a cocktail tonight. Not a glass of wine. Not an old standby like a martini or a bourbon, straight up. I’m in the mood for something a little fancy, a little girly, and definitely a little bit sweet. On evenings like this, when I’m feeling indulgent [...]
How to Cook All the Meat That’s Fit to Eat
Ah, meat. This is one of my favorite topics—and things to cook. Apologies in advance to all my vegetarian friends. I just can’t help myself. So, when I ask my friends what they have the most trouble cooking, the answer will very likely be: “Meat!” (Or, “Steak!” or “Veal!”) Sometimes it’s, “I can’t grill pork [...]
