Pomato Revival

Some of my most potent childhood memories took place around a table. And I’m not even talking about eating. We’d often linger in our seats long after the meal was done, nibbling at fruit, cracking nuts, refilling glasses for wine and peaches. It’s when everyone’s personality truly surfaced, and we’d click into our familial roles: […]

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Every few months, my mom and I spiral into a heated debate about living in Brooklyn. It starts with the most well-intentioned comment, and without trying, we’ll quickly elevate each others’ blood pressure over our most irreconcilable difference: Brooklyn neighborhoods. Her argument is this: If Joe and I lived further out in Brooklyn (i.e., Bensonhurst, […]

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Living in New York can quickly turn one into a bagel snob, and with good reason. It’s impossible to go back to the dense, mushy disappointments found in supermarket sleeves or Dunkin’ Donuts once you’ve experienced the wonder of H&H or La Bagel Delight. And until last week, I was among the many who refused […]

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Writing this blog has turned me into one of those people who talks about food all the time. And I never even meant for it to be a food blog! But that’s ok–nothing brings family together like food, traditional meals, and the stories behind them. In fact, when Joe and I get together with my […]

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It’s the last day of the year, and with that, my final installment in the Italian Dessert Challenge. Your suggestions have been outstanding—I’ve stretched my baking brain to new limits and it’s only getting better from here. I think it’s fitting to end the year on shortbread cookies (thanks for the suggestion, Amanda!). Because in […]

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Happy snowed-in holidays! I’m house-bound at my in-laws’ enjoying the bliss of having nothing to do for a few rare days. I hope everyone’s having a grand week! Our Christmas Eve consisted of the customary seven-fish dinner, complete with shrimp, calamari, baccala, clams, lobster, scallops, and octopus salad. Rice balls and a few other goodies […]

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I really have to thank you guys for the Italian dessert suggestions. You’re helping me master things I love that I never thought I’d have the wherewithal to make. Exhibit 1: Gelato. Exhibit 2: My friend Daniel Sheehan‘s request for, and I quote, “that Italian cookie with a center like caramel and rice crispies with […]

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Your Italian dessert requests have been great, everyone! Feel free to keep them coming—I’m still cooking/baking from the list until next week. The first request that really got me thinking was gelato, mostly because I had *no* idea how to make it. I also don’t have an ice cream maker, and have no intenions of […]

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  I baked something for you. I think you’re going to like it. It’s sort of a cake, sort of a pudding, with more butter than I’d ever admit to using in one small dish. The first time I made this, Joe and I had recently moved to our new apartment. We were finally getting […]

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  I’m going to let you in on a family secret. It involves jars and eggplants and peppers. Sometimes green tomatoes, but not today. Lots of vinegar and salt. Garlic, garlic, garlic. And some other stuff. Sounds innocent enough, right? But these simple ingredients, when combined, create our family’s secret culinary weapon: Pickled eggplants and […]

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