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Spaghetti with Sardines, Lemon, and Anchovy Breadcrumbs

Lila, my youngest sister, loves burgers, chocolate, and ice cream. She’s turning 9 this August. But most of all, that girl loves cheese. One night, when she was younger, I walked into the… Read More →

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We Bought a Pasta Maker

On his dad’s side, Danny’s ancestors are from Italy. Sicily, I’m told, and I believe his father still has relatives living there. That’s where the name Valentine comes from of course. Maybe this… Read More →

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Simple Roasted Apricots

I came home the other day with a bounty of fruit. Rhubarb, local blueberries, cactus pear, peaches that ended up topping a cake, and fresh apricots. The lovely orange apricots I’m more familiar… Read More →

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Grilled Eggplant Parmesan

Do you have an Italian grandmother? Neither do I. My abuelita is Nicaraguan, and she makes fantastic arroz aguado and sopa de frijoles. Oh my goodness, the sopa de frijoles. I’ll tell you… Read More →

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On Collecting Menus

First, someone leads you in. There’s a clean table for you with a tealight candle glowing in the center. Drinks are ordered. An appetizer, or two if you’re hungry, comes next. Maybe the waiter snaps a… Read More →

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Spiced Feta in Olive Oil

Here’s another recipe from a cookbook we’ve been flipping through. It gave us the Adobo-Smothered Chicken Wings, and it’s called Salt Sugar Smoke: How to Preserve Fruit, Vegetables, Meat, and Fish by Diana Henry.… Read More →

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Adobo-Smothered Chicken Wings

Something happens when we’re apart. Danny goes out of town for a few days and… My appetite takes a dive, and the kitchen gets a break. I don’t remember what I had Wednesday… Read More →

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Five Things

It’s the weekend! Do you have any plans? I’ve got a little roadtrip this weekend. A surprise party tonight. Movie date with my sisters. And I need to paint my nails really quick… Read More →

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This is How We Roast a Chicken

This is probably the first thing we should’ve learned how to do. Everyone knows how to roast a basic chicken, right? Or they should. Now we do, and it’s one of the best… Read More →