This column originally ran in a Feb. 19, 2015 edition of the Bayside Gazette. Many times over, I am sure, my wife has questioned her sanity as to why she married me. During the first few years of dating, we would drive from Baltimore to Denton to visit my mother, and every time we would… Read more »
Cuisine
What to do with all that pesky leftover duck
Our oldest son just made a trip to California, helping his half-brother move out to Camp Pendleton, his new duty station in the Marine Corps. I can’t sit here and tell you that I wasn’t jealous, because I most certainly was. Visiting Carlsbad and Oceanside, Tyler was able to see where I lived/was stationed for… Read more »
It’s ‘Wayne’s World;’ we’re just living in it
I always find it fascinating how some things never change in our ever-evolving world. Our tastes seem to come and go, whether it be for a certain food or movie or musical genre. Many of our likes and wants are refined while others seem to regress backwards as we age, and if anyone could please… Read more »
Battered, pork-stuffed Sichuan eggplant
Now that we’re in full swing of the semester, it’s time to get our serious nosh on. And while the food in of itself is great, there is nothing better than standing back to watch our students receive accolades for the various foods that they are preparing and sharing with others. There is no truer… Read more »
The Clash, Minor Threat, and smoked fish
There was something very special and exciting about growing up in the mid-80s in Annapolis. I played piano as a kid, and studied at Peabody Prep for a few years, but once I realized that I was never destined to play Carnegie Hall (I hated all of those Czerny exercises and the hours of concentration… Read more »
Bacon jam, horsey sauce play well together
One and only one snowfall has occurred, and it was a blasted blizzard! What in the world is going on around here? To top it off, my family and I had to make a trip from here to DC on Saturday during the storm. Needless to say, it was a hair-raising ride. I… Read more »
Turn those holiday leftovers into potpie
So Christmas is over, and now it’s time to prepare for New Year’s Eve. When I say that, all I mean is that I have to buy a pork loin. That’s about the extent of our festivities these days, as we’re more concerned with socializing with family than actual ball drops and huge crowds. Besides,… Read more »
Grilled cheese speaks to your inner child
Grilled cheese sandwiches: What are they? What makes them so very comforting, yet so maniacally easy that a kindergartener can produce them flawlessly? I know, because I would be in the middle of making these or fried eggs after walking home from the bus stop before my mother could make her way to the kitchen… Read more »
Share tradition with Christmas ‘spritz’
How many of us remember the smells that wafted through the houses of family and friends during the holiday season? For me, I’m talking the early ’70s. For some of you, it may very well be the Dark Ages, but I won’t pick on you. I will never forget the cookies fresh from the oven… Read more »
‘Dad, this tree won't fit in our back yard’
My father loved Christmas. There were times that we were grumpy (I guess I came by that naturally), but Christmastime was the one part of the year when dad would light up and look forward to staying home and putting up the big tree. We lived outside of Annapolis, and I guess you could say… Read more »