Author Archive
Training: Another Year, Another Adventure
I’ve been lucky enough to spend the holiday break in Hawaii. I’ve run three times — all relatively brief sunrise runs — and gone beach walking, kayaking, playing tennis and hiked over jagged lava rocks. I’ve also chased a 5-year-old boy, which might be the most tiring of all of my activities. Lessons learned in […] Read More
Braised Short Ribs
Anyone who knows me knows of my ambivalence towards meat, particularly meat that comes with an accompanying bone. Why, then, did I see this recipe from Food & Wine and simply have to make it? I have no explanation, other than to say that it was fantastic. Things you need to know upfront: This is […] Read More
Betty Says: Looking Ahead to 2012
You all know that I’m no fan of new year’s resolutions that are hastily made, require huge changes and set you up for failure. Nonetheless, there’s something about the inevitable post-Christmas downtime that lends itself to quiet reflection about what is or isn’t working in your life. I took an informal poll of friends and […] Read More
Babe Ruth Bars
There I was, the morning before my first-ever cookie extravaganza blowout. I had promised a dozen varieties but had made only 11. I was tired, sick of baking, and low on ingredients. That’s when I found this no-bake bar. I figured that it would just be a quick way to hit my goal of 12. […] Read More
Betty Says: Pack Like a Pro
I can pack for any trip, any length of time, in a single rolling carry-on suitcase. Don’t believe me? I recently packed for a 10-day winter trip for two adults and one child in two rollaboard suitcases. Jeans or pants were worn twice. Everything else was worn once. How is this possible? Rolling. I heard […] Read More
Training: Of Treadmills, Drool and Potential
Sometimes, all you can do is drool. I first read about the UCSF Human Performance Center last year in Runner’s World as I sat on the couch with my broken foot propped up on the ottoman. For a science geek, it sounded incredibly cool: using actual performance testing to determine what I should be capable of […] Read More
Snickerdoodles
I love snickerdoodles, but I struggle with the fact that every recipe I’ve ever liked uses shortening. I’ve decided that I need to get over my aversion to Crisco, accept that I only do this once a year, and just plow ahead. Ingredients 1 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 2 eggs 2 3/4 […] Read More
Oatmeal Bar Cookies
This is my variation on the classic Quaker oatmeal cookie. I make it as a bar because it’s easier to bake one batch than shuffle trays in and out of the oven. This year, the Tiny Kitchen Assistant and I, unable to decide whether to go with Cranberry White Chocolate or Dark Chocolate Macadamia, opted […] Read More
Betty Says: The Healthiest Food on Earth
There are some questions that don’t have easy answers. Mommy, what’s the healthiest food on Earth? I don’t mean what mix of foods is best. I mean what one food has the most of what I need to be healthy? – Tiny Kitchen Assistant Seriously? Can’t he ask something easy? I suppose that this is […] Read More
Chewy Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Those who know my Tiny Kitchen Assistant know of his love of all things mint chocolate, from the mint chocolate chip muffins that he came up with as a preschooler to the bright green ice cream from Marianne’s in Santa Cruz. So when he said, “Hey, I have an idea for a really good cookie!” […] Read More
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Health