So, you know the story of Prince and the Pauper? They swapped places for a day. Well, minced/ground meat, (which some might consider the pauper of meats), should be treated like a prince on meatball days. Why? Because moist meatballs…
Migrant Mother – A Poem
It’s funny what we remember, and how memory is triggered. In this case, by a soup bowl. More of my ekphrastic poems can be found here. More on the huitain form here. Migrant Mother My mother made me drink pea…
National Cupcake Lovers’ Day
Young or old, there’s something about cupcakes that brings out the child in us! They’re like a little present, half wrapped, with a confection of ribbon on top. I put together a little video to celebrate National Cupcake Lovers’ Day…
Life in Arles – A Poem
I love that you can access incredible artworks through galleries’ open access policies. I encourage you to follow the links in either the quote or the caption below and see van Gogh’s painting in zoom close up. There’s no way…
Cheats’ Caramelised Onion
Show me a home cook, and I’ll show you someone who has shortcuts up their sleeves. The “proper” way to make caramelised onion is to cook the onion very slowly for an hour or more with olive oil, maybe butter….
Still Life with Mustard Pot – A Poem
Mustard goes back thousands of years, with references in ancient Indian, Sumerian, Greek and Roman texts, and in the Bible. If you’re a mustard fan, here’s a brief history and a summary of different mustard types. I was struck by…
National Chocolate Ice Cream Day June 7
I’ve always been partial to vanilla ice cream. But, I thought, hey, why not step out of my comfort zone and celebrate National Chocolate Ice Cream Day? 😂
Contemplation – A Poem
Analysis has shown that originally this painting had a glowing orange sunset, which is partially what inspired me to write this poem. Beyond that, I find the colours, the body language, even the weight of the pumpkin tranquil. I can…
Break The Cycle – A Poem
The Art Institute Chicago tells us that this painting is from a much larger portrait of a family that Manet decided to cut into sections, not all of which have survived. It was not the only time Manet decided to…
Good Old Corned Silverside
Words that come to mind when thinking of good old corned silverside: hearty, tender, filling, aromatic, nourishing, mouthfeel. Honestly, I eat cold silverside leftovers like I eat popcorn at the cinema. After the MANY years I’ve been cooking good old…
Apple Pie with Shortcrust Pastry Sheets
I’ve referred before to my belief that frozen puff pastry is the lazy cook’s best friend. Well, frozen shortcrust pastry has just joined the BFF party 🥂 . Hunting around for a simple and quick “apple pie with shortcrust pastry…
Woman and Child at the Well – A Poem
Part of what appealed to me about this painting was the Art Institute Chicago description: Woman and Child at the Well is one of a series of works depicting peasant girls taking a break from their chores, their poses and…
