Sister-in-law Megan spoiled us with these breakfast goodies over the holidays. They are melt-in-your-mouth delicious, as only The Pioneer Woman can create. They also freeze well. Megan suggests freezing each puff in an individual plastic bag and nuking it (in the bag) in the microwave for 15 seconds. Instant hot and yummy breakfast on the go! French Breakfast Puffs (Printable... Read more
On Saturday, Nick and I drove 45 miles southwest of State College to search for our new home. We explored communities of townhouses and neighborhoods with For Sale signs. And we considered the pros and cons of buying vs. renting. To Buy: Pros: Build equity and take advantage of tax incentives. Cons: Possibly leave the area in 2-3 years and... Read more
For 3 1/2 years, my only brother, Andrew, has lived and worked in New York City. Today he packs his bags and boards a plane bound for British soil. Yes, London is calling. And so, of course, we had to throw him a proper farewell party. The Culinary Couple took over my parents’ house last weekend and prepared food for... Read more
Because my only brother moves to London (today!) and because he loves Reuben sandwiches, we prepared a similar dip to serve at his going away party last weekend. We all visited Andrew in New York City for Easter 2008. It was then he introduced us to Katz Deli in the Lower East Side. Established in 1888 by a Russian immigrant... Read more
In addition to serving a creative twist on a traditional British dish at Andrew’s going away party, we also wanted to serve one familiar to everyone. We considered fish ‘n’ chips, but settled on bangers ‘n’ mash. Some guests who have tasted authentic bangers ‘n’ mash declared this one to be much more flavorful. It’s likely the addition of lots... Read more
My little brother moves to London tomorrow! And so, naturally, we hosted a proper farewell party for him last Saturday. The Culinary Couple cooked a variety of American and British dishes for close to 50 guests. The local food choices were easy: Firehouse Pulled Pork BBQ and All American Meatballs. Both were made in mass quantities (I’m talking 8 lbs... Read more
My Grandma makes the best strawberry jelly. Hands down. So you can imagine my skepticism of a jelly recipe that calls for hot peppers rather than sweet strawberries. But sisters-in-law Megan and Kirsten assured me it was well worth a try. So we sanitized the jars, chopped the peppers, boiled the ingredients, and chilled the jellies. And then we sampled.... Read more
Christmas Eve is reserved for the Rowlands, and Nick has been part of the tradition for three years. We typically celebrate a “progressive” evening at the homes of four family members who live within 20 miles of each other. Each serves one dish — from chipped beef dip to steamed shrimp to burgers in sauce. And the night concludes at... Read more
Call them what you will: resolutions, goals, plans. Here’s what on tap for 2010. Cook and eat more consciously. After reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma and watching Food, Inc., Nick and I have decided to make this a priority for 2010. During the first week of the new year, we chose seasonal broccoli, parsnips, and lemons over imported strawberries and tomatoes.... Read more
2009 was certainly an eventful year. (2010 is shaping up to be pretty busy, too, which is why I’m almost a week late with this post.) Last year we said “I do” in a garden on the banks of the Susquehanna River. Nick left a good job in northern New Jersey and accepted an even better job in central Pennsylvania.... Read more