Sunday dinner with (an imaginary) Bachelor Farmer boyfriend

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At a dinner party Friday night my friend bemoaned the changing weather. He expressed sadness for the loss of warm weather and trepidation toward the coming cold. I tried to nod sympathetically, adding that we needed to pull our container gardens inside so I can freeze some pesto before the frost kills our basil. But mostly I was trying not to giggle with glee. “AUTUMN IS HERE! WINTER IS COMING! ” Continue Reading

Warm puppies and cook books

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My older sisters all went to a mysterious place called school while I spent quiet days at home with my mom and our dogs, and my imaginary friends Macaroni and Alligator. When my sister Susan brought home her Scholastic book orders I was overcome with jealousy. Not only did she get to go learn cool stuff all day, she got to bring home books! The “Peanuts Cook Book” appeared on her shelf and I couldn’t control my lust for warm puppies and recipes like Snoopy’s Steak Tartar. Susan, a Lucy van Pelt aficionado, was more interested in the recipes attributed to Lucy. It took years, but eventually I found a way to permanently borrow her book. Without her permission. Continue Reading

Girls who wear glasses

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I rode home in the back of the two-toned faux wood-paneled station wagon with my face pressed against the window as I marveled at all I could see. I never realized how much I was missing walking the earth as a mere two-eyed girl. Continue Reading

Peanuts and curry

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No one else in my family is obsessed with food, so I cannot blame my affliction on heredity. Maybe I’ve got one of those foodie brain lesions like Jeffrey Steingarten has. I know lots of poor souls who, like me, are already planning dinner as they flip their breakfast pancakes. We often find ourselves apologizing to non-food lovers. We bore them. They want to discuss heavy topics like politics and war. What non-food lovers don’t understand is that while we pour over cookbooks and contemplate The Perfect Dinner Party Menu, we are reaching for a greater purpose. We assign food the same importance as, say, politics and war because we believe good food is a means toward peace. And a fine way to arrive there. Continue Reading

Donuts filled with mocha cream and nostalgia

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Way way back, before there was CVS and talk of luxury apartments there was Bruegger’s and a Needle Doctor. There was Vescio’s, Burger King and of course McDonald’s. Back when House of Hanson and Gray’s Drug formed cornerstones of mom and pops along a few eclectic streets of stores and diners that were valuable to University of Minnesota students whether we were dirt poor or had money to shop elsewhere: we all bought our tablets and pens and toiletries from Gray’s and we all bought our groceries from House of Hanson. We found warm winter coats (slightly used) for $5 at Ragstock and grabbed a $2 slice for lunch from Perry’s Pizza. Continue Reading

Taste-tested local meats

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This summer we taste-tested our way through pounds and pounds of local, mostly grass-fed, bacon, chicken, and beef and bison. Our farmers markets supplied most of the tasty beasts, and we came to some interesting conclusions. While it was great tasting these locally and humanely raised meats, it was even better knowing that we were supporting our local farmers. Continue Reading

State Fair diary: Of cats and kids

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If you live in Minnesota you’ve got your own theories about our seasons. Maybe you enjoy the four seasons rationale: spring, summer, fall, winter. Maybe you subscribe to the two seasons philosophy: In Minnesota we have two seasons; snow and construction. I live by the three season code: there is Pre-State Fair, State Fair, and Post-State Fair. Continue Reading