The Crabby Cook - by Jessica Harper

Okay, I came back from the east coast this week, stopping in Chicago where it was cool and brisk and autumnal and gorgeous, as it should be in October. I stepped off the plane (admittedly a little crabby due to my American Airlines 4-hour delay) into a hellish heat—I think it was 100º–and I almost wept but thought better of it and just cursed.

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I am in Cape Cod today, on vacation with my husband’s extended family. Yesterday it was my turn to make dinner, and I envisioned a gorgeous piece of broiled bluefish. I made the fatal mistake of sharing this vision with my in-laws. Read More

A friend brought me 32 peaches. She’s growing them in her backyard in Burbank. I didn’t think much of anything was growing in Burbank except the Disney coffers, but there you go. Read More

Anne, my sister-in-law, was having a ladies’ potluck dinner for her sister-in-law. Well, actually it’s her soon-to-be sister-in-law, who is marrying Anne’s brother, who also happens to be my friend Amy’s brother-in-law. I know, don’t even try to figure that out. Read More

I would happily take up golf, If it meant a close encounter with George Clooney…
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As I write this, it is August,, but it seems like summer’ has not begun. This is partly because in California, where I live, there is no summer really until everyone else has finished theirs; our big heat kicks in in September. Yes, we are all screwed up: no winter, no spring unless you count June, and summer in the fall. Read More

KALE SLAW

This recipe comes from Holland. No, not the country: Holland is a lovely person I know who lives in California.

She gave me the recipe for this simple and healthy salad some time ago, claiming that she’d eaten it every day that summer. I inspected her discreetly and noticed that she looked great and that she had a compelling abundance of energy. So, as I sometimes do when I notice people are in better shape than I am, I decided to eat what she was eating. Read More

As I write this, I’m in Cape Cod, and I just found a casaba melon at the market. I seldom find them in Los Angeles. I suspect they’re too busy with other pursuits to be hanging out at Ralph’s. (If you are wondering what other pursuits a casaba melon could possibly have, well, my friend, click here and your appreciation of this lovely fruit will deepen, trust me.)

Anyway, whatever their other agenda, casabas apparently like to summer in Cape Cod. I took one home and stared at it for a while, wondering how I could mess with it, turn it into something more interesting than just a juicy slab on a plate. I had basil and a lemon. Some Recipe Angel whispered in my ear, telling me to go back to the store and get a cucumber and some feta cheese. I did that, on a bike. Then I started chopping. Read More

Okay, potato salad lovers, you have got to SEE THIS.

And while you watch it, just imagine how much more fun it would be to cook dinner if the Ross Sisters could come over every day around 6pm and perform a few food-related numbers to power you through your cooking tasks. I, for one, would never be crabby again.

My guess is, however, that the Ross Sisters are either no longer on the planet or a tough act to book, so I will simply view this video whenever I make potato salad and I suggest you do the same.

A caveat: don’t attempt any of the things the Sisters do in the 2nd and 3rd minutes. Although you may burn a few potato-related calories, you will most likely end up in the ER. Read More

Wolverine Salad

If your Salad Hands are making you feel like Wolverine (to read the back story on that peculiar thought, click here) I suggest you stoke that fantasy and make a salad in his honor. And if you really believe, who knows, maybe Hugh Jackman will show up for dinner. (Sigh.)

¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 chicken breast, skinless and boneless, halved Read More