During the height of the pandemic, we spent a lot of time driving in our antique Triumph convertible. Last summer, we made a list of two dozen lunch-ish spots within a one-hour radius that we wanted to try, and by the end of the summer, we had made it to over half of them. It…
Ben: The Brunch Denier and the Maine Thing
This week, the Ben’s Day Wednesday team cited creative differences in their nearly irreconcilable meal plan. Ben wanted shrimp teriyaki tacos. Definitively. Mom thought shrimp teriyaki tacos sounded shrimp teri-yucky. (I love shrimp! Why would I try to jam it in a taco with teriyaki sauce?) Ben’s position: I love shrimp! Tacos and sauces are…
“No! That is my rice!”
Years ago, Phil and I were in an antiques store in town looking for a good bargain. Antiques store pricing is often flexible, so when Phil picked an item, he decided to ask the proprietor for a discount. She was on the phone, and as he approached the counter, we heard her say loudly and…
Tender Roots
When we were in Virginia a couple weeks ago, I mentioned to Mary that I wanted to grow tarragon but couldn’t find seeds or a start. As we were leaving, she came running out to the car with a tarragon sprout in a little pot of soil and a plastic baggie. I watched it dubiously…
The Art of the Meal
When it comes to eating, Ben thinks big. We give him $40 on Monday and expect him to make it to Friday. This was originally supposed to cover some lunches out (though he can always pack something from home for free) and various activity fees like bowling, but Ben has figured out that we prioritize…
Spectator Sport
This week, Ben has been under the weather. I will follow that with the obligatory, “But he tested negative,” because that is the phrase we all wait for these days. Still, I didn’t want him near food prep, so he was a spectator this time. Like any good fan, he had many opinions, but he…
Your Pizza, Your Choice!
This week Sophia’s college roommate, Sam, was visiting, so we had them over for a make-your-own-pizza dinner. What fun to have some guest chefs in the house for Ben’s Day Wednesday! Of course, it was mayhem, and we suffered a major delay when it was discovered that either the oven had never been turned on…
Waffle Bar: for the indecisive eater
Waffling about what to make for dinner? Why not set up a waffle bar to satisfy all palates! Grandma’s Overnight Yeast Waffles are the perfect base for going savory, sweet, or even (gasp) healthy. It first came to my attention, on our road trip to Kansas last week, that each family member approaches waffles in…
Freundschaft
Unlike many of my first cousins, I don’t speak Pennsylvania Dutch, but I know enough to know that we spent the weekend with freundschaft (relatives). Ben and I didn’t get a chance to cook together, but reconnecting with cousins I haven’t seen for ages gave me the opportunity to reflect on family and identity. One…
Torn
When Sophia was in kindergarten, she had a play date with a friend who couldn’t say his Cs. I had very little interaction with this young gent, but when Phil was serving him lunch (half day kindergarten) and asked him what vegetables he liked, he paused a good long while and finally came up with…