Here on the east coast, asparagus is in season from April until June, but the peak for slender, pencil-thin spears may have an even smaller window. When I was preparing for the Bloomies cooking demo, asparagus was on the menu, but those gorgeous, slim stalks were difficult to find, while its fatter, less-sweet sister was[…]
Meals, Steals and Discounts
Get more for your money with these shopping, dining and traveling discounts NY’s New Baking Examiner has posted a round up of Manhattan bakery-treats for under $1. Just like the olden days! Over at Daily Candy, America’s on Sale, all of it. Go “glamping” in Montana at Paw’s Up; wine taste in Mendocino; or learn[…]
Nice to Meet You
Oh hi, it’s me, Mariel. I suppose this is my first official, out-from-behind-the-scenes post, so here goes. As the daughter of a truly talented chef, I’ve learned a few things along the way. While my friends were eating hot dogs, burgers and Big Macs growing up, my mom was using us kids as taste-testers for[…]
Images and a Recap: Live from Bloomingdale’s
The Bloomingdale’s demo on Saturday is over and done with and I have to say, it was a blast. As I had mentioned last week, my daughter, Mariel, is the silent co-creator of this blog suggesting posts, writing posts and keeping me apprised of national and NYC-specific food news. On Saturday, she went from silent[…]
Top 12 Time & Money-Saving Kitchen Tips
Mary Anne here. The Bloomingdale’s demo yesterday was fantastic – exhilarating, exciting and a little nerve-wracking, but more to come on that tomorrow. Yesterday, at the demo, I shared my Top 10 Kitchen Tips for saving time, saving money and saving food. There are hundreds of tips and I’ll keep sharing, but these are a[…]
Bloomingdale's Demo, One Last Reminder
Just a gentle reminder to any interested readers/foodies/Mother’s Day shoppers in the New York area. Tomorrow, Saturday May 9th, I’ll be at Bloomingdale’s in White Plains dishing up my favorite menus for at-home entertaining on a budget. I’ll also be doling out tips on how to swap out expensive ingredients and generally lower cooking costs.[…]
Nana’s Chocolate Gateau with Crushed Almonds
Mary Anne here. This cake was my Nana’s signature dessert and it was highlighted in her cooking journal – a.k.a. the aforementioned book of “Receipts”. It’s an absolute knockout for any chocolate-loving company, and it’s incredibly easy. During my years catering, it became my most requested dessert. If you don’t own an egg separator, now[…]
Family Bonding, Just in Time for Mother’s Day
This story from the Star News in Wilmington, NC. Reminds me a lot of the bond that cooking has forged within my own family. One of the things I did for my mom’s 80th birthday was to take her mother’s handwritten leather-bound journal of “receipts” – as they call recipes in the south – and[…]