Yesterday was my birthday. The first one since I changed the course of my life. I knew it would be different but I also knew that, in the same way I took control of my life, I was going to make this birthday the way I wanted it to be. Here’s how it rolled: After work I walked up to downtown Asheville and bought myself some presents: some clothes, a nice smelling soap, an inspirational mug (I am centered, I am happy, I am loved) and a couple of books. Then I stopped at Karen Donatelli Bakery and Café where I bought a lovely salted caramel tart for my birthday cake. And then I got ...
Kitchen Utensils & My Trip to the Smith McDowell House
For Christmas this year I was given a Master Class . It’s an online school very well produced and thought out. There are a number of great teachers and a wide range of classes from cooking to sports, architecture and design to fashion and literature. I really urge you to take a look at it. There are some amazing things on offer. My interests being such as they are I decided to take the Technique Class with Thomas Keller. He starts at the very beginning with the most basic tools of the trade. You might think this would be too basic but so far in every lesson there has been something ...
Demolition Brownie Bars
We are tearing the back off the house I am remodeling. It’s an old house, built in 1905, and at some point someone stuck an absolutely awful addition onto it. Seriously, I am talking concrete floor overlayed with linoleum, corrugated iron roof and a cheap window. The addition may actually be bigger than the original structure. Everyone I know, and that means pretty much everyone, thought I was crazy to buy it. But…it’s in a great location with a good-sized lot just right for a garden and the tiny original part of the house just needs a little love. Here in Asheville if you are located ...
