On the topic of vanilla ice cream, you can, of course, also make your own. It’s really easy to do. I’ve found that the key to making really good vanilla ice cream is to start with the best ingredients you can get your paws on. If you can get your cream and eggs from a [...]
I love vanilla ice cream. It’s kind of boring, but it’s true. I love Haagen-Dazs. I love Brighams. I love almost everything in between. Give me a Hoodsie cup on a hot afternoon or a dish of plain French vanilla, any brand, in the evening, and I’m a very happy mouse. Vanilla ice cream is [...]
I make this regular old basmati rice, plus whatever veggies look really good at our Asian market, the Super 88. You could easily toss in some mushrooms, chopped spinach, or even thinly-sliced baby bok choy. Some leftover chicken or bits or cooked pork or bacon would also be a really good addition. Use a good, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]