• Farm Stories

    Dispatch from the Cabbage Patch

    My friend Tom suggested I was missing an opportunity to extol the glories of cabbage, especially during the week of St. Patrick’s Day when boiled cabbage and corned beef reigned. As for cabbage, we’re talking about a vegetable that, to…

  • Farm Stories

    Meditation on Meatloaf

    One universal meal on the farm was meatloaf. Every farmhouse had a freezer with plenty of ground beef, and meatloaf was a great mainstay to feed a crowd of hungry people. Each farm cook had their own recipe that varied…

  • Food Stories

    Bright Ideas with Citrus

    When I was young, this time of year usually meant a big basket of citrus arriving from Florida, courtesy of my grandparents. For a few weeks, it was fresh orange juice in the morning and grapefruit for breakfast. No fancy…

  • Food Stories

    This Spud’s For You

    Spuds get no respect. I was reminded of that when, this past week, we needed a no-nonsense evening meal. A late meeting meant that we would not be dining until about 8:30, so we needed a fast repast. Thanks to…

  • Food Stories

    A Feast for the Eyes from Persia

    Mediterranean cuisine is currently trendy for its healthy use of vegetables and meat. But the focus tends to be on Greece and Italy. Instead, I’ve been digging into the food of Persia – or Iran, as we know it today.…

  • Food Stories

    Snack Attack

    This is the time of year when a lot of us are trying to trim some of those holiday pounds. But come mid-day, we’re often wishing for something to munch on that will satisfy a hunger craving without also contributing…