by: Greer Macallister Finding the right gift to give can be a challenge, and sometimes even if you’ve narrowed it down to a category, the exact right choice within that category can be unclear. Take, for example, books. If you have readers in your family or friend circle, you know they’ll appreciate a book, but how do you choose which one to give? You may or may not have a chance to check their shelves, and asking directly about their…
by: Dena Moes “You should look at the smoke behind your house,” my neighbor said while pointing. “You really should look.” After a restless night’s sleep, I had woken up tired. My usually cheerful fifteen year old Sophia, who considered herself our “only child” now that her sister had left for college, woke up too late for breakfast and couldn’t find her shoes. Our morning was punctuated by yelling, which finally stopped when the carpool arrived. After they pulled out…
by: Dina Di Maio While Italians have many special Christmas foods and traditions, nothing says holidays in an Italian-American household like the start of the cookie baking season. Every nonna, mama, and zia (aunt) has her specialty cookie from a safely guarded recipe written on a crinkled paper worn with time. Cookies colored red and green, powdery balls of nutty goodness, jam-filled sandwiches and more are piled high into Mount Vesuvius-like mounds atop crystal plates and serving trays. These cookie…
by: Lauren Jonik Autumn is a time of harvest—of gathering up the fruits of the year’s labor. It typically is a time when we come together to acknowledge the nourishment before us. A recent conversation with a friend sparked me thinking about how closely the concept of abundance is linked to impermanence. My friend mentioned that one day, she likely would be going to her children’s homes for Thanksgiving instead of them coming to hers. It would be different. So…
Nourishment is one of the cornerstones of well-being. Cookbook authors Ivy Manning and Jill Lightner share ways to make food preparation easier– and more sustainable. Ivy tackles questions like how long it truly takes to cook an Instant Pot meal (is it really under 10 minutes?), while Jill offers practical tips for how to approach cooking from a more sustainable perspective while re-purposing ingredients in creative ways. And, don’t forget to check out their recipe collaboration below! Jill Lightner: It’s…