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Ramp it Up

Monday, April 18, 2016

It’s spring, and it finally feels like it (after that week or so tease in March) and Fresh Direct *was offering a deal on wild, spring ramps this week so I thought I’d ramp it up. I am embarrassed to admit I’ve never cooked with ramps before, and my planning for their arrival was typically […]

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April 18, 2016 - 11:00 am

Valerie Newman - Sounds yummy. Always a fan of quiche. I like hte dried dill idea in the crust. Adds a whole new dimension. I’ve never used ramps before, but you have inspired me.ReplyCancel
April 18, 2016 - 12:02 pm

Peggy Gilbey - Looks delicious Nancy! Happy Spring! Sorry I didn’t see you at Philly Farm and Food Fest last week!ReplyCancel
- May 10, 2016 - 8:57 am
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Hi Peggy, yeah I somehow missed it this year 🙁ReplyCancel

Lost Things

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

One of my favorite poems is Elizabeth Bishop’s One Art, a lesson on lost things. For me there have been many things, places and people dropped or misplaced long before I noticed their absence as well as those lost suddenly, leaving rough, tender places that I had to protect. I clearly recall the moment I lost my […]

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April 13, 2016 - 10:54 pm

Paul D. Brads - This is terriffic!
I mourn loss terribly. Sometimes I’m ashamed of myself.
Great post, very touching, very real.
Good stuff!!ReplyCancel
- April 13, 2016 - 8:48 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Thanks Paul, No shame!!ReplyCancel
April 13, 2016 - 11:12 pm

Sheila Qualls - Great post. I love “amalgam of all my losses.” Great use; great word picture. My fave for today!ReplyCancel
- April 13, 2016 - 8:48 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Thanks Sheila!ReplyCancel
April 14, 2016 - 6:52 am

Melony Boseley - Loss affects us all at some point, but sometimes the loss of the things that you attribute to a lost loved one can be equally devastating. Wonderful piece. I think someone definitely has your coat and it came to them at a time in their life when they were in the greatest need of it.ReplyCancel
April 14, 2016 - 12:32 pm

Laura Neill - Wonderful words – I can really relate. I lost my first childhood toy in the black hole of a hostel luggage storage room and I still chastise myself for it every day. I should have been more careful. I love your writing style! Very lyrical. 🙂ReplyCancel
- April 14, 2016 - 2:01 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Laura, Crying over lost things is both futile and necessary… And who’s to say how many tears are enough? Thanks for the kind words.ReplyCancel
April 14, 2016 - 4:28 pm

Cathy Avilez - Well, now you have me thinking about all of the treasures I may have misplaced. The loss of your coat is particularly touching after the way you connect it with your mother. Good read.ReplyCancel
April 14, 2016 - 6:39 pm

Laura - I love how this progresses from relatively minor losses to really huge, painful ones, and how the lessons you learned from each one are, in the end, the same lesson. Overall it’s a beautiful and oddly reassuring piece.ReplyCancel

Dinner in a Flash

Monday, April 11, 2016

Since starting my new job I’ve been getting home late, and my daughter, fresh from a long day at school followed by two hours of rowing crew is crazy hungry so I need to assemble a wholesome and filling dinner in a flash. We have a few dishes we rely on, like pasta with tuna and capers, or breakfast […]

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April 11, 2016 - 11:10 am

Valerie Newman - This looks yummy and delicious. I printed it out. Feta adds so much flavor to pasta.ReplyCancel
- April 13, 2016 - 8:49 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Valerie, please let me know how you like it!ReplyCancel
April 11, 2016 - 12:58 pm

Cathy Goodwin - Where do you get tomatoes outside the farmers markets at growing season? And do you have favorite brands of pasta?ReplyCancel
- April 13, 2016 - 8:50 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Cathy, This time of year I use grape or Roma tomatoes. I got these at Wegman’s. For pasta I look for imported brands made with durum semolina flour. ReplyCancel
April 11, 2016 - 5:30 pm

Connie Alexander - Looks good! All of my favorite ingredients.ReplyCancel
- April 13, 2016 - 8:49 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - That’s kind of what I thought!ReplyCancel
April 12, 2016 - 12:18 pm

Lola Marguerita - That looks gorgeous.ReplyCancel
- April 13, 2016 - 8:49 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Thank you Lola.ReplyCancel

100 Wednesdays

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

For the past eight years, I’ve woken Wednesdays knowing it was the day my daughter would be back home with me. Sharing custody of a child is hard on everyone, especially children. My concern about how it would impact her almost kept me from making one of the best decisions I’ve ever struggled to make. […]

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April 6, 2016 - 11:29 am

Hema - This was so beautiful! My toddler is only three and she will be starting preschool soon. I’m so scared of the day she starts going out into the real world. I can only imagine how you must be feeling 🙂ReplyCancel
April 6, 2016 - 11:54 am

Valerie Newman - My relationship with my daughter is one of the closest and happiest of my life.ReplyCancel
April 6, 2016 - 4:06 pm

Stacie - I love it that you find cranes everywhere! I never went through a divorce but my oldest is a soph in college and it’s so weird he’s not around anymore.ReplyCancel
April 6, 2016 - 8:27 pm

Marcy - It’s great that you can see she found equilibrium with the joint custody, and that you could do what was best for yourself and her. One of mine left for college last year, and the other one will leave in the fall. I love what your daughter said about being nice but not stupid. Here’s hoping mine can say the same.ReplyCancel
April 7, 2016 - 4:53 am

Lisa Shaw - This was lovely. Heartbreaking and hopeful too. Hugs mama.ReplyCancel
April 7, 2016 - 5:18 am

Melony - Such a beautiful tribute to your daughter. I know a thing or two about this whole shared custody thing, cuz I’m the wicked stepmother of two kids, and despite them not being mine, I used to spend my week deciding what to cook that they love, etc. Great piece!ReplyCancel
- April 7, 2016 - 6:56 am
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Thanks Melony. I was raised by a stepmother who saved my life! Rock on!ReplyCancel
April 7, 2016 - 2:48 pm

Natalie - I love the image of the origami that connect this piece together throughout. And the way you describe her absence is powerful.ReplyCancel
- April 13, 2016 - 8:53 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Thanks Natalie, I feel her absence powerfully. So much pressure on her I fear…ReplyCancel
April 7, 2016 - 3:14 pm

Samantha Merel - I love that you ended with the cranes. You are a really special mom to a lucky, lucky daughter.ReplyCancel
- April 7, 2016 - 3:21 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Thank you Samantha, but honestly I feel like the luck one!ReplyCancel
April 8, 2016 - 9:02 pm

Stacy Clarke - Beautifully written Nancy.ReplyCancel
- April 13, 2016 - 8:52 pm
  
  nrlowell@comcast.net - Stacy, thanks! So glad you enjoyed it.ReplyCancel

Scone City

Monday, April 4, 2016

For the past few months my house has become Scone City, when each Saturday I make a new batch of scones; trying a variety of sweet and savory. I am not the most disciplined recipe tester, but I’ve gotten into it as I play with different methods, flavors and ingredients. After making at least seven […]

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