Cooking | theclothesmakethegirl

Apr 7, 2013 Posted by Mel

Spice World

Not this one: This one: If you’ve cooked recipes from my blog or my cookbook Well Fed, you know I’m quite smitten with spices. Where would we be without Ras el Hanout, Turkish Baharat, Kebab Spice Mix, and Rogan Josh?! I’ve written extensively about my spice collection, weighed in on herbs vs. spices, shared my pilgrimages to Penzeys and the Savory Spice Shop, and declare proudly... read more

Mar 17, 2013 Posted by Mel

Favorite Things: Bar Towels

When I took the knife skills class at Whole Foods last year, I picked up a bunch of new good better habits (Confession: I’m still lazy about keeping my knife sharp. Terrible!) and added a few essentials to my kitchen arsenal, including a massive cutting board that I leave on my countertop at all times, a knife sharpener (ahem), and — perhaps the least sexy but surely my favorite purchase — a... read more

Mar 6, 2013 Posted by Mel

Austin Food Blogger Alliance Cookbook

I’m a proud member of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance, and we’ve got a new cookbook coming your way. Available in April, The Austin Food Blogger Alliance Cookbook is packed with recipes from Austin’s most vocal food lovers. The project was spearheaded by Addie Broyles, a.k.a., the dynamo. She’s a founder of the AFBA, the food writer for the Austin-American Statesman, and one of... read more

Jan 9, 2013 Posted by Mel

The Enchanted Broccoli Forest

Lest you think I’m some kind of kitchen wizard, I thought I’d share a tale of a colossal failure that took place in my oven today… Once upon a time… … there was a college student who fell in love with the cookbook The Enchanted Broccoli Forest. This girl wasn’t a vegetarian, but she didn’t discriminate: she adored almost all food, imaginative recipes, and charming... read more

Dec 11, 2012 Posted by Mel

Tuesday 10: Paleo Gifts From The Kitchen

Way back in the day, when we lived on a houseboat in Sausalito, I had more time than money, so I made gifts from my kitchen from this Williams-Sonoma book. I made Spiced Nuts and Fancy Olives and buttery shortbread and pine nut brittle and chewy caramels. I wrapped everything in clear cellophane and tied it with curly ribbon. I stamped brown paper lunch bags with silver snowflakes and stuffed them full of... read more

Nov 26, 2012 Posted by Mel

Is A Phone The Best New Kitchen Tool?

Me, circa 2009, when I got my first iPhone: I don’t see what the big deal is. Seriously. Everyone is losing their minds over the iPhone; it’s just a freakin’ phone. I don’t even like talking on the phone, so whatever. Fast forward to, um, yesterday… I used my phone as my camera, my running coach, my partner in word games (OMG: Spelltower!), my meditation timer, a reminder to... read more

Nov 1, 2012 Posted by Mel

Whole Foods Class: A Story In Photos

On October 10, one of my foodie dreams came true: I taught a cooking class! At the Whole Foods Culinary Center, no less. You know I have an overactive imagination, so in my mind, I was Julia Child incarnate. I was the star of my own TV show. I was the anti-Rachel Ray. I was the punk rock Martha Stewart. In actuality, it was the attendees who were the stars. They asked great questions during the Paleo 101... read more

Oct 12, 2012 Posted by Mel

Herbs vs. Spices

How much do I love spices? I own a board game called Spices of the World, have a well-thumbed copy of The Complete Book of Spices on my cookbook shelf, and it’s widely known that cumin is my all-time favorite spice. But this month, I’m abstaining from my lovely, aromatic friends while I give the autoimmune protocol (AIP) a shot. I don’t think I have an underlying sensitivity to spices... read more

Oct 9, 2012 Posted by Mel

Tuesday 10: My Favorite Cookbooks

One of the questions I’m asked fairly often is where I find inspiration for my recipes. Mostly, I let my appetite and my imagination take the lead: reading Jane Eyre makes me hungry for lamb stews and The Historian makes me crave Turkish food. Daydreaming about Prague inspired Czech Meatballs, and a particularly large bunch of collard greens were the catalyst for a new greens recipe. And then... read more

Sep 25, 2012 Posted by Mel

Tuesday 10: My Favorite Kitchen Tools

Here’s an insider secret for you: I don’t have a fancy, pro-level kitchen. Our cute little house was originally intended to be a rental property, so the applicances are bottom-of-the-line. Both our gas stove/oven and refrigerator successfully fulfill their functions — making things hot and keeping them cool, as required — but they would not appear in anyone’s dream kitchen. Add to... read more

Sep 10, 2012 Posted by Mel

Healthy Lunchbox 2012

The song “Love is in the Air” is going through my head as “Lunch is in the air…” which is not the same thing at all. But lunch does seem to be in the air — summer’s over, kids are back in school, and it’s time to start the march toward the holidays which takes me through my very favorite time of year: the fresh start of fall. YAY! (And how much am I dating myself... read more

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Reading right now...

The Redbreast: A Harry Hole Novel
I'm about two-thirds of the way through this detective thriller, and I'm hooked. It's set in modern Norway with flashbacks to WWII (catnip for me!) and features a somewhat grim hero that engenders empathy. I can't help pulling for the guy as I watch him struggle with his case and his life. The cast of characters is a realistic but motley crew, and it reminds me of other favorites set in cold, snowy climes: the Millenium Trilogy and Smila's Sense of Snow.
Recently finished...

The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million
I picked up this book after reading an interview with Lee Child (author of the Jack Reacher thrillers). He referred to The Lost as "the book of the century" and since I devour as much as I can about the Holocaust to try to make sense of it all, I decided I needed to read it immediately. Part memoir, part detective tale, this book was thoroughly engrossing. It's intelligent, annoying, moving, frustrating, and ultimately, rewarding and beautifully written. It challenged me in ways I didn't expect, and I was sad when it was finished.