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Pecan pie from Costco seemed like a good idea, looked like a good idea.  It came in a huge inflated raft of a container, reassuring in its bulk, spectacular in size.  It looked authentic, impressive, even ( Read more... )

My cheese addiction has reached terminal velocity.  I must break free.  It sounds as though I am kidding about this but I am not.  I have weaned myself from the hard stuff (aged parmesan) but only by substituting Asiago and Manchego in large quantities.  Also Asian Trail Mix, which is not cheese but which I keep snarfing in great handfuls and which ( Read more... )

!!!!!

No, seriously: !!!!!!

Have just made an entire batch of oatmeal cookies that are not flat.

I will pause here to let that sink in.

Not flat.  Amazing!  For years I've despaired over oil slick cookies. Flat, slithery ponds of cookies.  Cookie puddle.  Cookie -- oh, you get the idea.  I don't like them flat.  If only I'd known!  Bread flour.  That' ( Read more... )

Meanwhile, unrelated to any horribleness, we've been changing our eating a bit.  We haven't gone vegetarian, but we have ooched in that direction.  I actually would like to be vegetarian.  So many good reasons to do it, but the overhead for me is enormous.  That's what's stopped me.  Meat is easy and cooking for a family is relentless.  To have to ( Read more... )

Today my seven-year-old posted an unusually good mood.  When I asked her why she was so marekedly cheery she explained that food makes her feel good.  Certain foods give energy.  Fiber cereal in particular, she said.  "Some foods make me tired, though.  Ice cream.  It always makes me tired ( Read more... )