Cooking like your Grandma's Grandma

Kitchen Basics

This is me, thinking about all the things there are to learn when one is learning to cook. I'll try to offer you a hand wherever I can.

Kitchen Glossary: A Work in Progress

What in the world is she talking about? Some definitions that may or may not be obvious.

How to Make Vegetable Pureé

Essentially a vegetable pureé is just a ratio of vegetable to liquid. We're talking mashed potatoes, for instance.

The Laughingmaus Manifesto for a WYHIWYN Kitchen

Creative restrictions keep things interesting.

More kitchen basics coming soon...

Kitchen Scribbles

This is me, thinking about all sorts of cooking, food, kitchen related things. These are notes I want to find again, thoughts had while peeling onions, amusements from the weekly market, uses for leftovers, zero-waste and who knows what else.

An Ode to the Underground Vegetables

Recently, I made Creamy Curried Lentil Soup and another night, Beef Rouladen neither of which would have been any good at all without a colorful variety of underground vegetables. Lots of them.

Dad's Garbage Soup

I love the following story because it shows that nothing is ever quite as easy as you think it ought to be and yet, it's not that hard either. It also shows that timing is everything. I smile every time I think of Garbage Soup.

Farmers Market - Autumn Tomatoes

One of the most wonderful things about Autumn is the harvest. The last really warm rays of sunshine, the apples and pears, the anticipation of brussels sprouts and snow -- and the tomatoes.

Recent Recipes

A cute little avatar unimportant in the natural scheme of things. Let's Make Labneh!

Labneh is not only delicious and nutritious as a dip with vegetables and pita. Labneh is an ingredient. Let's explore that.

A cute little avatar unimportant in the natural scheme of things. All Over the Place Cornbread

Our family history has us in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas. I think it's fair to say, "All your cornbread are belong to us."

A cute little avatar unimportant in the natural scheme of things. Bavarian Gooseberry Pie

To be fair, the Bavarians don't actually make what Americans think of as gooseberry pie. They don't. They do make something else we can use for pie. It's called Grütze.

A cute little avatar unimportant in the natural scheme of things. Beef Rouladen (Rindsrouladen)

The first time I had dinner in a private home in Germany, my soon-to-be Mother-in-Law welcomed us with Beef Rouladen and Spätzle. I was ready to sign on the dotted line by desert.

A cute little avatar unimportant in the natural scheme of things. Icebreaker Brownies

Family-sized recipe that halves well. Good brownies are always appreciated by the friends you have and friends yet to be.

A cute little avatar unimportant in the natural scheme of things. Semmelknödel - The Unstuffing

Looking for a gravy-slurping side dish that's like, not stuffing? Try Semmelknoedel. Mysterious balls made of bread and herbs; simmered not soggy.

A cute little avatar unimportant in the natural scheme of things. Harvest Breakfast/Coffee Cake

I was craving a big, moist, pumpkin, apple, walnut and raisin cake. Here it is. Have it for breakfast all week.