Since we became parents, we’ve kept a running list unofficially titled: Things That Sound Like Fun with Kids, But Are Actually Not at All.* Parades fall into this category. Street fairs. Any event with the words “Harvest Fest” in its name. Beach day-trips made a brief appearance on the list, when Phoebe was four months old and we decided it… Read more »
I’ve only watched The Simpsons a few times in my life, but I vividly recall an episode where Homer stands in front of his bathroom mirror shaving. As soon as he puts down the razor and towels his face dry, his six-o-clock shadow emerges as gray and shady as it was before he began. I mention this here because I,… Read more »
A few years ago my coworker Alex was describing a friend of his — let’s call her Anya. While Alex sat in Anya’s kitchen he watched as she removed a homemade pie crust from the freezer, rolled it out, peeled and sliced a few Cortland apples right into the middle of the dough, sprinkled them with cinnamon, butter, sugar, nutmeg…. Read more »
I love this dinner. I’ve been making some variation of it for fifteen years — in fact I almost want to make the claim that it was the first recipe I had ever clipped from the New York Times Dining Section (technically the “Living” section back then…God I’m old) and cooked in my Upper East Side roach-infested studio. The fact… Read more »
After Phoebe wrapped up her final exams last month, she told me she was eager to embark upon plans to “aggressively chill.” ‘”What does that mean?” I asked. “Sleep in. Read in the hammock. Maybe fall asleep in the hammock. Walk Iris. Float in the pool.” It sounded so nice. She had a whole two-and-a-half days to pack in all… Read more »
.. Where do I even begin with this post? A little over a week ago we returned from a family vacation we won’t forget any time soon: Twelve days in Hawaii. The trip had been something we’d all been fantasizing about for, well, on my end, maybe my whole life. (Or at least ever since I watched the Brady sisters… Read more »
I’m pleased to announce that, as of Monday, my annual cookbook round-up for the Times Book Review is live and ready for your reading pleasure. As you know, I always love this assignment, not only because I get to pore over beautiful books all spring, but because it really forces me to cook outside my comfort zone, to seek out new… Read more »
For the last few weeks, when dinnertime rolls around I haven’t found myself where I like to be the most, namely sitting around a table with my family, downloading the day’s events over a plate of something quick and fresh. Instead, I’m sitting in a parking lot or on bleachers or walking around a track waiting for a practice to… Read more »
That’s what Andy said when he tried a bite of the inaugural Chocolate Chess Pie we baked on Friday: Maybe the best pie ever. Before I get into the details, let me just remind the readership at large here that Andy loves nothing more than a superlative. (<- Which is itself, of course, a superlative.) About the tomato sandwich he eats during… Read more »
Last week, in my Friday round-up, I linked to a recipe on Nate Appleman’s instagram feed and said it would be on this week’s line-up. I’m pleased to report that I am ahead of schedule on that one, making it not only once, but twice in two days this past weekend. Above is our chicken version of the salad-y dish,… Read more »
What I’m reading and eating this week: Is your tween or teenager obsessed with 13 Reasons Why, the Netflix series that some argue romanticizes suicide? Here are some good talking points from the Jed Foundation if so. (More guidance from the National Association of School Psychologists) Another reason to love John Green: His laptop art. Just pre-ordered The Dinner Party. On my dinner… Read more »
Once, back in the days when I used to assemble after school snack platters, I presented my go-to dutiful little display of apples and peanut butter and set it on the table before the girls. Phoebe grabbed one or two but Abby stood up and started scanning the pantry. “What’s the matter?” I asked. “You don’t like apples and peanut… Read more »
What We’re Eating and Reading (and Watching and Listening to) This Week: A few weeks ago, my neighbors sent me the “Saturday in the Park” Box from Brooklyn Larder to thank us for our patience during their construction project. In addition to it being a very nice gesture, I’ve been replicating the spread on my own ever since with great success…. Read more »
THE ROUND-UP: Currently coveting: The Eva Solo Grating Bucket. (If only not so $$$$!) Teacher of the year. (I’ve probably watched this fifty times.) The smart folks at Bon Appetit have launched a new website called Healthyish, devoted to people who want to eat well without deprivation. (Aka, uh, everybody?) Check it out or follow them on instagram. A dozen Five-Ingredient Dinners. This cracked me up…. Read more »
Thank you to everyone who noticed that Dinner: A Love Story was down all day Friday. It was frustrating, but the sheer number of “I can’t log on!” messages I received through social media channels warmed my heart. (They read me! They really do!) In addition to the nightmarishly long phone conversations I had to have with my web host,… Read more »
How ya doing on those New Year’s resolutions? I’m pleased to report that it’s only Day Five of 2017 and yet I’ve already checked off THREE of my big ones: Edit and organize passwords on important accounts, book mammogram, and start every single day with a Starbucks Grande Pike or its caffeine equivalent. (I take it to heart to set… Read more »
Welcome to our annual guide for everything we want, covet, crave, and, yes need this holiday. (I don’t know about you, but in my world, little tiny spoons qualify as essential.) As always, the round-up was compiled with cooks, eaters, readers, kids, and parents in mind, and as always, there are lots of free little treats and discounts for YOU sprinkled throughout, so… Read more »
. Good morning everybody! We are up early in the DALS house today — doing some pie-baking, turkey-seasoning, and last-minute farm-shopping before heading out to my sister’s house in Long Island to spend a few days with the family. As I’ve mentioned many millions of times, Thanksgiving is my Super Bowl. There’s no holiday I love more for its sheer bounteous… Read more »
Welcome! I’m Jenny, author of Dinner: A Love Story and Dinner: The Playbook More
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