The road to success is paved with the debris of failure. These lemon sandwich cookies are a case in point. My well-worn life has been populated by many successes: Opened a bakery at 23. Returned to college and earned a teaching degree. Began a new career at the age of 41. Traveled for work and pleasure. The secret. Maybe secret is the wrong word. The … [Read more...]
Laughter Is the Best Medicine
2017 has been a hell of a year. In my journal, I flippantly wrote, ‘2017 the year I lost the Bij and my boob.’ It was only 50% true. I still have my breast. It all started after the Women’s March in January. Eight or ten friends walked to the march. The crowds were massive, and the group I went with wanted to move from the place we’ve been standing in for more than an hour. … [Read more...]
I Will Miss You Bijou Cat
Bijou the cat was the longest relationship I've had. It ended yesterday. Bijou happened into my life. I had just purchased the duplex that I now reside in. I sat on the kitchen floor, heat gun in one hand, a cigarette in the other, tears streaming down my face from fear and frustration that I had just done the worse thing in my life by buying this piece of shit building. … [Read more...]
Chicken Croquettes Wrapped in Shredded Fillo
I am a very good cook. I can chop, butcher, saute, grill, you name it. But I’m not the most creative cook. In fact, I’m a bit of a thief when it comes to new ideas. I outright steal from chefs: talented and extremely gifted chefs. Here and abroad. My travels to Valencia, Spain brought me to restaurant Seu-Xerea (pronounced: essay-u-se-er-e-a). (After watching this video … [Read more...]
Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal
I've spent a good deal of time in the past six months in New Jersey at my mother’s house. Each time I return, I marvel that eight people: two adults, three boys and three girls, shared this small space. A space that now seems crowded with just my mom and her caretaker living in it. So much of my mother’s house, the house I grew up in, has remained the same. The plate rack … [Read more...]
