The Brutal Honesty of the Young
I love the brutal honesty of kids and teens. They don’t need to stand in front of the Bocca della Veritá to state the truth because the world hasn’t piled the rules of gracious manners on their doorstep yet. Have you ever noticed that kids always talk about everything that is going on in their house much to the parent’s dismay?
Spend a few hours with a child and you will learn that Dad said the “F word” last night, Mom cooked breakfast for dinner, Grandpa has a new girlfriend that Mom and Dad don’t like, and Sister had a meltdown because she forgot to lock the bathroom door and Brother walked in on her while she was on the toilet. One day my friend’s 4-year son walked out of the bathroom and announced to his family “I have a big butt and a little penis.” Forks dropped, laughter ensued and my friend pulled his son aside and said “son, you may not want to advertise that family attribute.” Read more 
The King Arthur Flour Company: The 4 in 1 Baker’s Resource
There are an abundance of schools, supply stores, bakeries/cafes, and on-line resources dedicated to baking throughout the United States but there is only one place that combines all four: The King Arthur Flour Company. Located in Norwich, Vermont, a small town in central-eastern Vermont close to the New Hampshire border – the King Arthur store, bakery, cafe, and education center are easily accessible by car from the following major cities/towns: Read more
Holiday Mail Order Sweets
There are certain foods – usually sweets – that we buy or receive once a year around the holidays that lend nostalgia to the season (and a few inches to the waistline). In our home, we usually kick off the season in mid-November with the purchase of a sweet Italian cake called Pandoro that my daughter sprinkles confectionary sugar over. Read more
Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Right Gift: On-Line Resources
Giving a gift is easy but giving a gift that the recipient will truly enjoy takes time, thought and effort. Gifts are delivered with a message: Happy Birthday, Thank You, Congratulations, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah – and the message is best conveyed with a thoughtful gift. Read more
Peach Blueberry Crumble
Summertime and fruity desserts go together and one of my family’s favorite is a Peach Blueberry Crumble. Sweet, juicy fruit is very important – large white or yellow peaches and plump blueberries – but for me it’s all about the crumble – the more the better. Read more
Cream of Tomato Soup (Without the Cream)
It’s a keeper, mom” – those were the words spoken by my daughter last night after I made a my newest version of her favorite soup: Cream of Tomato. Music to my ears after a week of strike-outs (Rice and Shrimp Salad with Peas, Low Fat Italian Meatballs – frankly, I should have known better than to try something low-fat linked with the word “Italian”). Read more
The Alternative Blueberry Muffin
Blueberry muffins are one of those all American breakfast foods that should be included in a patriotic cliché similar to the 1970’s jingle “As American as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie.” But, somehow “As American as sports, meat, and muffins” doesn’t sound that great. We are a nation somewhat obsessed with sports, meat, and muffins but being reminded of that doesn’t always make us feel great about ourselves. Read more
My Favorite Mail Order Websites for Food
The growth in internet sites has brought the world of food into homes. Years ago, new and unusual foods were acquired by traveling to faraway places. Today, people still travel to eat but with the world becoming global, international and national foods can be ordered on-line and delivered to our doorstep within days. Special ingredients not readily available at the local grocery store can also be obtained at various websites. The choices are unlimited but here are a few favorite sources: Read more
Paddock Post 