March 25, 2022 Our neighborhood crawfish boil weekend has arrived, and we couldn't have ordered better weather. Sunny and 75, with a hint of spicy. Actually, I wait for the second or even third batch to come out of the boil, because they do get spicier as batches progress and I like them spicy.  If you're not lucky enough to have a crawfish boil in your life this weekend, I hope you'll be able to get out and enjoy the weather; festival season is in full swing and there's plenty to do. This week's recipes in ...Continue Reading

March 19, 2022 It looks like we have a beautiful weekend in store and I have to say, after the initial adjustment to the time change, I love the longer evenings that daylight savigs time brings. I intend to put something on the grill; I included a recipe for my favorite grilled artichokes here a couple of weeks ago and we've been enjoying those about once a week since they're in season. I'm roasting a chicken today for the magazine, so maybe a nice steak Sunday night. We're deep into planning a crawfish boil for ...Continue Reading

March 11, 2022 One last hurrah around the state this weekend: St. Patrick's Day parades roll in various locations, including my neighborhood here in New Orleans. I'm hoping for a cabbage, some potatoes, onions, and carrots, all to go in with the corned beef I'll be making next week!  Spring sprung briefly yesterday; hopefully this weekend's cold snap will be the last one of the year. I think I'm going to make a pot of chili. If you're a subscriber, the chili with beans recipe in the April/May issue from last ...Continue Reading

March 4, 2022 Mardi Gras is gone, it's time for CRAWFISH. We started planning a boil earlier this week with some friends, and I'm really looking forward to it. The weather's nicer, the evenings are lighter, and it's time to move outside. St. Patrick's Day is less than two weeks away, and I've included a recipe from Alton Brown for making your own corned beef from scratch; if you want to give it a go, now is the time to get started. One of my friends is an adventurous cook and she's done it a few times; I think I' ...Continue Reading

February 25, 2022 Mardi Gras is here. Parades all around, so we have to carefully plan how and when we're going to navigate around the city; it only takes one time getting stuck on the wrong side of the parade route to make sure it doesn't happen again. With that in mind, we went across the river and picked up a Dong Phuong King Cake this morning; it made a fine lunch. This week's recipes can all be scaled up to feed a crowd if you live on a parade route and plan on having guests over. They also transport well if ...Continue Reading

February 18, 2022 Mardi Gras parades begin in earnest here in my New Orleans neighborhood tomorrow night; I have to plan my grocery shopping expeditions carefully so I don't find myself on the wrong side of a parade and get stuck for hours. Same holds true for all over the state; if you're visiting, make sure you take time to examine the parade routes and plan your excursions so that you can easily get back to your hotel after a long night of parade-watching.  This week's recipes are heavy on the seafood, bu ...Continue Reading

February 11, 2022 Many thanks for the birthday wishes last week. They roll around a lot faster than they used to, but at least they're still rolling around. Mardi Gras festivities are in full swing around the state, and I was happy to see the Mardi Gras "House Floats" reappearing this year. I'm taking pictures on my walks around the neighborhood, and I'll include some here next week. They're really clever and festive, and will become a staple of Mardi Gras, I believe. Last week I incorrectly ident ...Continue Reading

February 4, 2022 Yesterday was my birthday and we had a feast last night. New York strip garnished with blue cheese, a baked potato, broccollini sautéd in garlic and onion, and King cake. And champagne. As I always do on my birthday, I talk about one of my greatest accomplishments: I quit a nasty smoking habit on my birthday, 20 years ago. It wasn't easy, but I was determined, and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. So, I'm here to tell you, it can be done, and I'm happy to talk to anyone who ...Continue Reading

January 28, 2022 It's been so cold for so long here, although it hasn't actually frozen, I bundled up and sat outside for a few minutes last night; it's something we do almost every night, and I miss it. Looks like it might be a little warmer over the weekend. Mardi Gras decorations are going up; some of the houses are going over the top again this year, as the House Float phenom was so popular last year in the absence of actual parades. My friends who ride floats or participate in walking parades are busy decora ...Continue Reading

January 21, 2022 Brrr!!! It was almost 65 when I woke up at 5:00 yesterday morning; by the time I started out to the grocery store at 9:30 it was 52, 50 by the time I got home, and it dropped into the 30s overnight. At least we didn't get the freeze some of our northern neighbors did... I'm not a fan of cold weather. Because it was so chilly, I went looking for cozy recipes for this week's menu selection. The one with beans and sausage is a favorite, and a quickie. The other two are a little more labor intensive, ...Continue Reading