Grubarazzi

The end of the year never ceases to amaze me. It goes by in a frenzy of food, family, booze, parties, really happy holiday music, and feasts. I can barely remember which way is up through the haze of sparkle and lights, but oddly I would not have it any other way. This Thanksgiving we hosted a “night before the bird” party. Let me tell you, trying to run in a Turkey Trot 5k after a heavy handful of drinks and only two hours of sleep is near impossible. But I digress. It was fun nonetheless. This year we played the role of happy guests for the big turkey feast, and we were each tasked with bringing one item to the party (a brilliant hosting tip I must steal). I chose the appetizer and decided to make something light, easy, and totally fancy pants. This appetizer covered all of the bases. It forced everyone to eat at least one vegetable and was pretty as a picture. This recipe is just as delicious without the smidge of goat cheese I tucked in for my family. Try using a vegan crea...

For more than a decade my grandparents have owned a home directly on the water at Smith Mountain Lake, a rustic small town in the heart of Virginia. At least five times a year the family members uproot their normal lives to drive hours to this charmed place. We drink, we eat, we laugh, and we annoy the hell out of each other. The men typically spend the entire weekend fixing things while the women cook and the kids sleep in. It’s just the way it is down there. We all revert to 1950’s house wives. I am not sure if it is the long, windy tree topped roads, the gorgeous Virginia Mountains, or the absolute tranquility we feel spending just a couple of days in the country. But we simply can’t stop going, and we simply would not. All of us don’t make it down for every weekend but we do our best. The kids are all in college, the older cousins are establishing their lives, and the aunts and uncles are strewn about. The truly special occasions are when we all make it, and the house i...

Another storm is on the horizon. The aptly named Athena is tumbling towards Baltimore threatening to envelop the northeast coast in snow, rain, and heavy winds just days after Sandy devastated much of the region. Fortunately, Sandy spared my little spot on earth and I’m gleefully anticipating a thin blanket of snow covering the fallen leaves in my messy garden. Nothing looks more beautiful than a freshly white landscape. Let’s just hope the power stays on, the tides stay back, and Athena passes through as calmly as she can. Speaking of devastation, I totally demolished this salad in one sitting (yeah, I just did that). This salad is best served while the butternut squash is still hot from the oven, and the dressing is warm from the pan. I brought a double batch to the “election day” pot luck at work today and every morsel was eaten. It turns out the best way to celebrate a presidential election is to stuff everyone’s faces with food so they can’t discuss politics. Roasted butternut...