Bess Abell was Lyndon Johnson’s Social Secretary. The daughter of Earle Clements, a man who served Kentucky as both its governor and senator, she has lived her entire life around politics, and is currently the dean of the former social secretaries sorority. I love being around Bess. In addition to having some of the best social secretary stories of all time, she is a gifted raconteur, and always draws roars of laughter with her tales of Lyndon Johnson. Johnson was […]
After a weekend of too many heavy meals, and possibly an unauthorized visit to Shake Shack (don’t tell my kids), a vegetarian meal can go a long way toward regaining one’s nutritional equilibrium. I guarantee that you will be completely full after eating this meal. The quinoa salad is very substantial, and the butter-roasted radishes have a mellow flavor that is very appealing – almost like a slightly-spicy potato. The quinoa salad comes from Gwyneth Paltrow’s It’s All Good cookbook, […]
I like donut holes more than donuts, because even though they are made of the same thing, they are so much smaller and thus there is the possibility of trying several different flavors, rather than committing to just one donut. I also prefer the donut hole because it’s cute, and easier to serve in clever ways – like the cantaloupe used to display them in this photo. The holes are stuck to it with toothpicks, so it’s nothing difficult or […]
It was a tough call to decide if a recipe from Michigan should feature luscious Michigan tomatoes, or their famous juicy cherries. I have great recipes for both from my friend Debbie Dingell, a lifelong Michigander who also happens to be running for Congress in the western suburbs of Detroit. This congressional seat is currently held by her husband, John Dingell, who has served in Congress longer than any other person in history. I’ve known Debbie for over twenty-five years. […]
A cookie can be so many things: a hearty breakfast substitute, a dainty two-bite morsel, or a guilt-inducing volcano of instant gratification. I love them all! Here are five of my favorite recipes, from the righteous to the utterly self-indulgent, which, if you slip into the school week, will undoubtedly be met by shouts of surprise and delight. I’ve been making the Big Breakfast Cookie since the Silver Palate cookbook came out, and they were a popular item in the […]
