The Labyrinth: Traveling Hopefully

December 16, 2011 Food & Wine

The labyrinth has always had important mythological, religious and cultural overtones.   Many embrace the challenge of walking the labyrinth or maze without giving a thought to its significance to civilizations that span known history.   For our family, the labyrinth has always signified “the journey.” Some years ago, I remember standing with Sheila at the beginning [...]

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The Grinch Gets into the Christmas Spirit

December 15, 2011 Food & Wine

I have been called many mean things, but “GrumPa” was just a little over the top with an impressionable young granddaughter celebrating her second Christmas at our home.  As such, the Grinch decided to come down from Mount Crumpit and help me decorate the house for Christmas.  While the Grinch and I are quite pleased [...]

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Penne with Cauliflower, Garlic and Oil

December 14, 2011 Food & Wine

I will be the first to admit that I am not a big fan of cauliflower.  Mind you, I have had some decent soups with cauliflower and even a potato substitute using smoked Gouda cheese that was quite edible, but cauliflower is not something that would be on my short list of essential food items [...]

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Potato, Parsnip and Porcini Gratin

December 13, 2011 Baking

As readers of Gourmay are aware, David “Bogey” Pinson is well known in Dallas for his over-the-top Christmas dinner.   In 2009, David shared the menu of a delightful Christmas dinner that had many gourmets requesting an encore.  Thanks to David’s generous nature as he sprayed errant shots around the golf course, I am now once [...]

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Gardening in San Francisco: Al fresco in December

December 12, 2011 Food & Wine

Even though people think we do not have seasons in California, we do.  The changes are just more subtle than those elsewhere.  December is a month for pruning, planting, and garden cleanup and fortunately the weather here in San Francisco has been fabulous.  But there still are plenty of things that are growing.   The last [...]

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Going Chernobyl: Get your De-Stress Kit now!

December 10, 2011 Food & Wine

Chernobyl: Where children played Carl Hiaasen is one of the funniest writers on the American scene today.   Some of his plots are so improbable that you are literally rolling on the floor with laughter after the first couple of pages.  Hiassen started out as a news reporter for the Miami Herald and draws his inspiration [...]

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Royal Christmas Cake – Part 2

December 9, 2011 Baking

The Brits don’t like to like to do things halfway, but they do make exceptions for retarded colonials.  As such, I am pleased to provide Part 2 of the recipe for the Royal Christmas Cake.   This tribute to the culinary art of the British is provided by Jackie Dennis, affectionately known to family and close [...]

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Spreading Peace & Joy: King Arthur Flour

December 8, 2011 Food & Wine

As Gourmay readers are aware, there are few “touchy-feely” stories that get past our editorial staff.  It is no longer considered fashionable to write human interest stories now that Readers Digest has gone bye-bye, so unfortunately my staff and I have to troll the cesspools of our “informed media” to find articles suitable for the [...]

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Sausage with Red Wine and Dry Mushrooms

December 4, 2011 Food & Wine

When I think of comfort food, I think Marcella Hazan. Clearly, there are many forms of comfort food, but for some reason, Marcella makes the most of limited ingredients to produce food that is not only comforting, it is delicious. This recipe for Salsicce col Vino rosso e i funghi Secchi contains only four ingredients [...]

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Do We Have a Debt Crisis?

December 2, 2011 Food & Wine

Gourmay readers would prefer that I stick to commenting on consumables rather than politics or the economy, but sometimes you just have to draw a line in the sand and pretend that you are just plain stupid.  For me, that is probably a lot easier than it is for those who read these anguished posts, [...]

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