I have a few go-to ingredients when I need to punch up the flavor of a dish, and unusually for my cooking style—where I like to stick pretty close to whatever tradition I’m working from and not get too fusion-y—I use these ingredients completely indiscriminately. They’re flavor powerhouses, basically: Pomegranate molasses: This has a lip-smackingContinue reading “Unauthorized Uses: Secret Ingredient Edition”
Author Archives: mourningdove
Lost & Found
I was pretty sure this ring was lost until it turned up yesterday morning in the pocket of a pair of work pants I hadn’t worn since last fall, I think–(but who knows at this point in the pandemic?). I was ridiculously happy–not because I love the ring so much (I do love the ring;Continue reading “Lost & Found”
The Acadian Sazerac
My go-to cocktail is a Sazerac, which is kinda a problem because a lot of bartenders don’t know how to make one at all, much less properly. I once got a Sazerac that was literally pink from how much Peychaud’s Bitters was in it; yep, undrinkable. Fortunately, it’s easy to make at home if you’veContinue reading “The Acadian Sazerac”
Fall in a Jar: Wine-Poached Pears
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time canning fruit with my mom and sister. A mainstay was canned pears in sugar syrup: we had an absolutely freakishly giant Bartlett Pear tree, and I don’t know how many jars of pears it yielded, but it was a LOT. Enough to get usContinue reading “Fall in a Jar: Wine-Poached Pears”
Living in…a Taos Hacienda
It is a relatively serious plan of mine to retire back home to New Mexico, preferably Taos. I’ve joked with my friend David about us sitting on our porches in our rocking chairs in our houses next to each other in Ranchos de Taos and yelling at kids to get off our…well, nobody out thereContinue reading “Living in…a Taos Hacienda”
Friday Favorites: Anime Series
I was getting ready to re-watch Soul Eater because it’s coming up on Halloween, and I have COVID again (BOO! as Malena said). And then it occurred to me I haven’t done any lists of favorite anime. I’ll do another one on movies, but here are my top 10 favorite series of all time (inContinue reading “Friday Favorites: Anime Series”
Letter of Recommendation: Defiance
I like defiance because it’s positive instead of negative. It’s creative rather than destructive. It’s a “yes” in answer to somebody’s “no.” It’s a step into the world you’d rather be living in. And it’s time-honored across cultures: from the ancient Christians who continued meeting when the Roman emperor banned it; to Gandhi making saltContinue reading “Letter of Recommendation: Defiance”
The Wisdom of Youth
I’ve been watching a lot of vlogs lately with 20-somethings dispensing sage life advice. It reminded me that when I was that age, I thought I knew everything, and at the same time, I was totally insecure about myself and my knowledge about the world. As I’ve gotten older, I’m more sure of what IContinue reading “The Wisdom of Youth”
Letter of Recommendation: Fruit Salad
Fruit salad? I know. But once I realized I’d been doing it wrong and started doing it right, I can’t get enough of it–especially this weekend since it’s MUCH hotter than it should be out, and my friend Cassandra brought over the most beautiful assortment of candy-stripe figs, berries, and yellow-doll watermelon…. Here’s the thingContinue reading “Letter of Recommendation: Fruit Salad”
You Can Take the Girl Out of New Mexico….
Spent the day seeding/peeling and freezing quart bags of green chiles from Snake Ranch in San Antonio, NM (Big Jims and Sandias, saved 2 dozen whole for rellenos!), while listening to metal and feeling blessed to have grown up where I did. Speaking of rellenos, I can’t find a recipe online that’s like the oneContinue reading “You Can Take the Girl Out of New Mexico….”
The Rookery 