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Finding Community in a Cookbook
On a visit back to my childhood home a few years ago, I stopped by Headon’s Fine Meats to say hello to Lyle Headon, a grade-school classmate, whose shop in Creston, Illinois is known throughout the region as having the…
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Farmboys and Indians
One of Mrs. Farmboy’s favorite stories involves my longstanding aversion to Indian food. For years she knew that although I have a decidedly adventurous palate, I had declared that I didn’t like Indian food. She left it at that. Then…
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Fun with Tater Tots
You may not be well-acquainted with Tater Tots, but you’ll find them in any supermarket freezer section. And you’ll probably be seeing more of them in the future. They’re beginning to catch on here in the Northeast, even in finer…
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Have a (Meat) Ball
When I say “meatball,” what comes to mind? I suspect for most of us, it’s that family staple, good old Italian-American spaghetti with meatballs and red sauce. Culturally, my history with meatballs varies from my New England neighbors. In my…
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No Place But Home for the Holidays?
The holidays are approaching, but they won’t be the same this year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has just released its Thanksgiving 2020 safety guidelines, and the only low-risk approach is a small dinner with other members of the…
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Cinnamon: Think Outside the Bakery
Cinnamon has always been my favorite spice. In my youth, toast with sugar and cinnamon was a breakfast treat. And on occasion, there were cinnamon rolls. When my mother made pies, she’d roll out the leftover pie dough, spread it…
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Mom’s Fastest, Easiest Supper
Every once in a while, my mother would send me out in the late afternoon to gather a dozen-plus eggs for supper, as we called the evening meal. I recently asked her why. Was it that we were short on…
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Revisiting the Ever-Adaptable Eggplant
Are you one of those who doesn’t like eggplant? Or who doesn’t know how to prepare it? Or, if you think of the poor eggplant at all, maybe you associate it with one of those gooey, cheese-laden preparations – or…
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Pumpkins – The Oldest Sister
I have a warm spot in my heart for pumpkins. They are, after all, the oldest of the Native American “Three Sisters” – corn, beans, and pumpkins. The squash category of vegetables was likely first cultivated in Central America over…
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Welcome to Comfort Food Season
Tis the season for something substantial. The cool temps at night means that most diners are not in the mood for a salad. Nature agrees. The summer birds have headed south, and the leaves are beginning to turn. One advantage…
