Pushing on a Rope
Recipes
Christmas Haystacks
I have had lots of requests for this recipe after having posted this photo on social media last week. Butterscotch Haystacks — and their cousins, Chocolate Haystacks — are a huge hit with all branches of my family, and so ridiculously easy to make that, like me, you’ll be turning out tons of these. I … Continue reading
Sweet somethings — from our house to yours
You can set your watch by it: If it’s December, I’m sure to be in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies as I was all day yesterday. Below, a classic to share. May they add a bit of sweetness to your holiday celebration. Peanut Butter Blossoms 1 cup shortening 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 … Continue reading
Berry Good Addition to Your Thanksgiving Feast
Thanksgiving prep is officially under way at our house, now that the Cranberry Relish has been made. Oh sure, come Thanksgiving Day, Basil will again argue the merits of the canned kind with its helpful portioning lines. But homemade Cranberry Relish is king here. Mom started making it years ago and included the recipe in the … Continue reading
Pig out
Basil was in hog heaven today at Pork in the Park, a barbecue competition in Stamford’s Mill River Park. We left the chores and errands behind for a touch of smoke and spice set to some passably played ’70s funk. It was a good time. As with all things — for me, anyway — the payoff … Continue reading
Recipe for a Rainy Sunday
My Facebook post of this bubbling pot of Portuguese Soup generated a lot of attention yesterday, including some requests for the recipe. It is an ideal dish for chasing away the early spring never-ending winter chill, and since it’s snowing here — again — this morning, here goes. I snipped the recipe out of the … Continue reading
Tastes of the Season
The great Vanech Christmas Cookie Bake-off concluded last weekend with 10 varieties baked and ready. I’ve written before about how Catherine’s tree nut and egg allergies changed the face of this annual family tradition. Lots of the old standbys — Black Walnut Crescents, Queenies, Sandies — are now just for reading. I often think, in … Continue reading
Soup-er Snow Day
Yesterday’s wet, icy weather sent me immediately into hyper-soup mode. Luckily, I had planned ahead and had all the ingredients for a family favorite (yes, even Catherine will — grudgingly — eat this one). The recipe is from a terrific blog, A Year of Slow Cooking. I tossed everything into the slow-cooker and let it … Continue reading
Pushing on a Rope 