“Wounding and healing are not opposites. They’re part of the same thing. It is our wounds that enable us to be compassionate with the wounds of others. It is our limitations that make us kind to the limitations of other people. It is our loneliness that helps us to find other people or to even […]
A thirty-something went dancing, and now she cannot bend either leg. I won’t say who. But I’m sure butter will help. Buttery Butternut Squash Rolls and Wisconsin Chili Adapted from Food and Wine 1 1/4 cups whole milk 1/2 cup butternut squash puree 2 tablespoons sugar One cup of sourdough starter 1 large egg, […]
There is something paradoxically restful in the chaos of family visits over the holidays. The reassurance of roots, of home—the reminder of belonging. I made my Sourdough Surprises challenge early this month to take advantage of the New Year’s symbolism inherent in Chinese dumplings, the pork filling representing the prosperity and treasure tucked into every year, […]
Beta-cyanins! Or, a roll that looks like a little planet Mars. Minnesota beets have received a warm welcome here in the Ellis home. Made beet burgers last night, which Dad suggested might be called Rothlisburgers in honor of the football game he had on, and then since I already had stained fingers, and about four […]
Art on the Ave 2014 was a tremendous success. After a year’s work putting the event together, the block party on 4th Ave went by too quickly. The best part of the day, for me, was when staffing the Tibetan prayer flag booth, at which kids decorated squares of cloth with designs and messages drawn […]
I will never again be able to use the phrase “just us chickens” figuratively, because now I actually have chickens. Three to be precise: an Americauna named Betty White, a Lohmann Brown named Lucille, and a Plymouth Rock, my favorite, Quest Love. We rescued these ladies from Farmer Wayne who kept them alive in the […]
Don’t worry, I have no such medical analogy or educational tidbit on febrile gluteal folds to share with this special Sourdough Surprises edition post on hot crossed buns, though, I was tempted. I am keeping my off-color humor in check as we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord, how’s that? In fact, the cross on […]
Popovers are the hollowest of muffins. The perfect bread-form soup spoons, or whipped cream receptacles. They look like a herd of mollusks perched on the cooling rack. I’ve made these before, to the smooth tones of Teddy Pendergrass crooning on about hot oils (key ingredient, here)—but never with sourdough starter, which is this month’s Sourdough […]
If you have been having a hard time cutting Big Macs out of your life, consider trying to fake yourself out with one of these… The resemblance is uncanny. The taste is beyond compare. Trust me—I am not a health nut—several months ago I wouldn’t go near an eggplant because I thought they looked more […]
Happy Day of the Dead. Having the day off, I decided to celebrate the holiday spending an hour or two in corpse pose. Izzy joined me and snored loudly. Also, on the Day of the Dead, I’ve been dwelling on my beloveds departed, which makes me tearful. So I went for the onions instead of […]