The Crabby Cook - by Jessica Harper

This salad is what happened on Saturday night when I was cleaning out my vegetable drawer. If you had something re thrilling to do that evening, you probably have a better life coach than I do. Read More

I’m told that coleslaw dates back to the ancient Romans, although it didn’t really kick into gear until mayo was invented in the 18^th century. (Can you imagine life before mayo? One more reason to be glad that, in the birth lottery, you got a later century.) Read More

I recently made this potato salad for 15 people. I will I never do it again unless I lose my mind and become a caterer.Nor would I recommend that you undertake such a preposterous task. But I would recommend that you try this recipe in smaller proportions. It’s my family’s new favorite. Read More

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