While I may have borrowed and then adapted this column's title from the Robert Bolt play A Man for all Seasons, there are in fact some recipes that can be modified easily by season. If you can create a recipe that covers all your bases and then update or change the rest to suit your preferences or seasonal availability...well, hence the title. Confession time I like cooking. … [Read more...]
About Alexandra L. Klein
The fruits of your labors
As summer winds down, it's time to savor the fruits of your labors. Literally. Anyone who has gardened at home knows the rewarding sensation of enjoying your own fresh fruit and vegetables. While my current living situation makes that a little difficult for me, my mother's garden exploded with produce this past summer and she was always happy to share with me. Thanks, Mom! Why … [Read more...]
Growing food in even the smallest spaces
I murdered my Parsley. I didn't mean to murder my parsley, but the tiny shoots weren't doing well and they expired, despite my careful attentions; turning brown and shriveling up. I live in an apartment complex, which means that my access to a growing space is severely limited, and my schedule is difficult enough to juggle without adding a trip to a community garden. I … [Read more...]
The joy of comfort food
It's safe to say that food has an association that few other things have. And smell is one of the greatest triggers for memory. When I smell baking bread, I'm immediately back in the kitchen in our old house in Highland County, Virginia (which had really hideous green linoleum, as I recall,) watching my mother flip fresh, hot loaves of bread out onto the cooling rack. The … [Read more...]
A cherry on top
The fruit seasons are beginning or rapidly approaching. And while it’s an absolutely amazing time of year, I've sometimes felt a sense of panic. There’s not enough time! I have two huge buckets of cherries! What am I going to do? A lot of things can be done with fresh fruit, but if you want to preserve the fruits of your labors—sorry, couldn’t help myself—for a longer period … [Read more...]