As this terrific video by Consumer Reports shows, you don't need to spend a lot of money on fancy spices. However, the key element is when spices get old. Ground herbs and spices are more exposed to air, and thus they lose their potency more quickly. Spices vs. Herbs First, its … [Read more...] about Spices & Herbs: A Quick Lesson
Event: Performance for Writers in Seattle
Public speaking is the world’s leading phobia. Although writers tend to be bookish types, at some point you’ll need to discuss or read your work in front of an audience, be interviewed on TV or radio, or take part in a discussion panel. In this busy session, you’ll learn (and … [Read more...] about Event: Performance for Writers in Seattle
Recipe: Mom’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
When I was seven, I dressed up as a cowgirl and traveled the neighborhood to hand out cookies to strangers. We'd just moved to a small bit of cul de sac away from the farm we'd lived on for more than a decade. In retrospect, I don't know what possessed me to do such a thing. … [Read more...] about Recipe: Mom’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Recipe: French Onion Soup
Something mesmerizes about soupe a l’oignon gratinée. If properly done, there's the cheese - thick, oozing, bubbling and likely a bit browned and toughened around the edges. Next, the slices of baguette, perhaps acting as a raft for the cheese or a lazy guard of the hot, fragrant … [Read more...] about Recipe: French Onion Soup
What Do Food Writers Eat When They Write About Food?
The New York Times had a great visual piece in its Sunday Review of Books by illustrator Wendy MacNaughton that charted the favorite snacks of many authors. Best-selling writer Mark Kurlansky, author of two of my favorite books -- Salt and Cod, likes to write under the influence … [Read more...] about What Do Food Writers Eat When They Write About Food?
