Author Archives: alibuczek
Please Be Mine…
There are many myths and legends surrounding the history of Valentine’s Day. The Catholic Church recognizes three different martyred saints named Valentine. Some believe that the celebration of Valentine’s Day began as a festival in the middle of February to commemorate either the death or burial of one of these saints. All the ‘stories’ suggest […]
To Bring Good Luck in the New Year…
My husband created a monster of sorts this past Christmas by gifting the Encyclopedia of Cajun and Creole Cuisine by Chef John Folse to me. The book is nearly 900 pages and weighs a ton. It is full of history, recipes and gorgeous photographs of the culinary Mecca in our country that I have written […]
The Merriest Season of All…
Christmas has its own special magic. You have the brightly lit twinkling tree and you share special moments with special people. One day perhaps I will write a story titled ‘A Notley Road Christmas’ as it was the most wonderful time of the year with some of the most lasting memories of my childhood. My […]
A Passion for Pumpkin
Pumpkins are everywhere as is pumpkin spiced everything! I love the colors, shapes and textures of all pumpkins and gourds. Only sugar pumpkins are suitable for cooking though. I have always used canned pumpkin but I am sure that the real McCoy tastes fabulous. The Thanksgiving feast is labor intensive due to the amount of […]
Chestnuts SHOULD be Roasting on an Open Fire…
Most cooks buy canned chestnuts because they are convenient to use and easy to find. Our neighbors have three gorgeous chestnut trees on their property. The nuts are in season now and are falling to the ground in droves. Thank you Maureen and Chris for sharing your bounty. The tree itself is deciduous and a […]
The Long Shadows of Fall…
The title may sound a bit ominous but autumn is without hesitation my favorite season; crisp days, cool nights ~ aaah, sweater weather at last. I have very fond memories of my childhood at Notley Road during the fall; running home late for dinner just as the sun was setting and the smell of dinner […]
Eggplant…Gassy but Good!
Anyone who has ever played the game Password knows that if you got the word Parmesan then your clue would immediately be eggplant as a drawn out phrase. My cousin/sister Ginny makes the best homemade eggplant Parmesan that I have ever had ~ hands down. She fries the eggplant to a non-greasy perfection after ‘sweating’ […]
Oh, That Maryland Blue Crab…
My friend Linda , as you know, makes one of the best crab dips in the Neck. I started thinking how could I spin-off a recipe for individual servings of her dish. Well, make small portions in a mini-muffin tin, that’s how! The blue crabs are still coming in strong on the dock but the […]
‘Cauli’ is the New Flower…
Just as fashions wax and wane, so do food fads. Eggs got a bad rap for a long time due to the cholesterol issue but now they’re even served on a green salad. Kale had its moment in the spotlight and is still adored by many. Well now it is cauliflower’s turn. Apparently, due to […]
Atlantic vs. Pacific
Summer is wild salmon season in the Pacific Northwest. Bears are busy filling their bellies for hibernation and literally catching fish flying into their mouths while fishermen are earning a living or pursuing a recreational activity. Having just returned from Alaska and eating enough salmon to grow gills, I feel I should compare the two […]
Ali's Epicurean Gems 