Winter in New Orleans

Happy New Year! We’re finally having a spate of chilly weather, not cold enough to snow, but enough for thick sweaters, hot chocolate, and woolly socks. I’ve written before about the pleasures of hygge and how much I look forward to New Orleans’ cozy season. Having grown up in Wisconsin, I miss reading by a…Continue reading Winter in New Orleans

Book & a Bite: The Cabinet of Curiosities & Pumpkin-Oat Mini Muffins

Looking for some tricks and treats? Check out The Cabinet of Curiosities: 36 Tales Brief & Sinister by Stefan Bachmann, Katherine Catmull, Claire Legrand, and Emma Trevayne for some spooky short stories, perfect for staying up way past bedtime. While you’re up, snack on Pumpkin-Oat Mini Muffins (recipe below): nothing scary there, they’re gluten-free! Ostensibly…Continue reading Book & a Bite: The Cabinet of Curiosities & Pumpkin-Oat Mini Muffins

Book & a Bite: First Rule of Punk & Savory Oatmeal

If you like books, and you like to eat, check out my new combo: Book & a Bite. I’ll review a book and include a recipe inspired by some aspect of the story. My favorite books are so immersive, I want to live in them…and eating something the characters might eat seems the next best…Continue reading Book & a Bite: First Rule of Punk & Savory Oatmeal

Vegetarian gumbo recipe

It’s so COLD here! Good weather for gumbo, though. I’ve been a vegetarian for close to 30 years. (How have I done anything for 30 years? But I digress.) My whole family is vegetarian, so I’m always looking for kid-friendly, veggie recipes that are easy to make. Traditional New Orleans food tends to be spicy, meat-or-seafood-based,…Continue reading Vegetarian gumbo recipe

Sweet and spicy pecan snack

Wintertime in New Orleans means lots of pecans on the shelves. Here’s a quick, tasty afterschool snack. (Also popular when you need a snack-to-share.) If your munchers don’t like spicy treats, make a batch with just the sugar and a little cinnamon. Sweet And Spicy Pecans 2 cups pecan halves 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1…Continue reading Sweet and spicy pecan snack