Food Thoughts

Geography, Culture, and Class Influence Our Food Choices

4 March 2010 by Jean Johnson
As Bart Simpson would say on the idea that geography, culture, and class influences our food choices, "Du-uh!" Still, this edible geography site's maps are worth the trip.

Cross My Heart and Hope to Love Update

3 March 2010 by Jean Johnson
For those that haven't been following the romance, after Celeste appeared on the back cover of Beyond Measure, friend Laura said in a rather fetching way, "I have a frog." A moment of silence. My brows arched. "Is he a boy?" That's where it started and since then it's been a few of ...

Gettin’ to Know You Over Thai Slaw Rolls and Daffodils

2 March 2010 by Jean Johnson
Now that we're sure only those really interested are subscribed to this list, I'm hoping this blog gets a little more, like,  commenty. I know over on my facebook pages people like to visit--and it's fun to get to know others a bit. You're welcome to join the bantering there ...

Froggie Valentine’s Engagement Pah-tay

13 February 2010 by Jean Johnson
What can we say?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The recent Cross My Heart & Hope to Love Waffles and Chocolate Goodies videos were merely a prelude to the big Valentine's Day engagement party. It's been two years now since Mr. HH spotted Celeste on the back cover of Cooking Beyond Measure. Although Celeste turned her ...

Chocolate Goodies for Valentine’s Day

9 February 2010 by Jean Johnson
Here's a video on making Chocolate Goodies. If you don't have a grinder and go the cuisinart route, you might use a little brandy or juice to make things work. The best thing about this chocolate offering is that those of us who don't like dancing up close and personal with ...

Hippie Kitchen Upstaging Her Older Sister

23 December 2009 by Jean Johnson
Isn't that just the way. The first does yeoman service path breaking, and then the second comes along with her flirty name and catchy clothes and skates all the way to the bank. Speaking of the bank, though, both numero uno, Cooking Beyond Measure, and Ms. Hippie Kitchen are both ...

Flash Cooking = Hippie Stir Fry = Fast/Slow Food

18 December 2009 by Jean Johnson
Ah, yes, I remember my own trip to Mexico as a food writer. Here's one of my photos: So Mark Bittman's recent NYT piece on Mexican markets was a nice reminder of my own cruise-arama. Here he's talking about how Mexican women get fresh veggies on the table pronto--but he ...

Hippie Kitchen Appeals to the Upcoming Gen

17 December 2009 by Jean Johnson
Lenore's not two yet, and she's already in the groove. Angela, her mom and next door neighbor, sent these images and says they weren't posed. Rather Lenore loves to page through Hippie Kitchen, pausing particularly at page 159 where Iris (same-same from the Cat in the Cheese blog post here) ...

Rock & Roll with Hot Chile Cookies

by Jean Johnson
Here's the rap on Hot Chile Cookies straight from  the pages of Hippie Kitchen: Hot Chile Cookies The chile absolutely makes these cookies. Red chile flakes are such an affordable, easy boon to cooking. I use them so much that they sit out on my cutting board by the cinnamon and salt ...

Laura Gets It

27 November 2009 by Jean Johnson
Healthy, thrifty, delicious, and green. That's the whole point behind measure free. The idea that if we quit being slaves to paint-by-numbers recipes we'll be likely to cook more, eat well, be healthy, and save a bundle on the food bill. So at the end of the day, it's not ...