Author Archives: rike52

rustic pie

You know you’re retired when you wake unsure of what you’ll do with the day then deciding to make a “torta rustica” (“rustic pie” in Italian) for breakfast.  Neither Kathy nor I had ever heard of the dish when we saw it on the brunch menu of Sauces, Italian bar/restaurant attached to the not bad HiltonContinue reading “rustic pie”

Auntie KC

So you know where it goes: years of NASA immersion, a decade of telling undergrads how to write, it can only come out as Children’s Books!  That’s where my sweetie dove, big time, and we’re getting ready to reap the efforts.  She’s dabbled in children’s books before, writing 2 that featured her nieces and nephews and theirContinue reading “Auntie KC”

Certifiable

The germ may have been planted by my dear late Uncle Jim, my mom’s baby brother.  That’s him on the left.   He was never given to boast, although he had much to boast about.  He played cornet in Michigan State’s marching band in their first ever Rose Bowl in 1954.  He took his honors management degree to Columbus,Continue reading “Certifiable”

meer-ah-poy

Or “meer-ah-pwah”, like you Francophiles might prefer, is a concoction of simple vegetables used to flavor other dishes.  It popped up as an ingredient for the octopus boil en route to octopus ceviche, which was the recipe I was pursuing.  I’d heard of the concoction during my years of cooking, but never tried it.  As Julia says “TheContinue reading “meer-ah-poy”

ironic

Did you ever iron your recipe cards?  I just did.   Several that had been in high circulation had gotten splashed, stained, and wrinkled.  They just didn’t look nice anymore, despite the treats they promised.  Sure, they’d still fit in the recipe box, but they deserved better.  So, when I went downstairs to iron that remaining blue handkerchief from my lastContinue reading “ironic”

return to Harbal

As I unpacked the final item from our Florida trip last week – the CD holder from our car – I realized it might be high time to write this puppy up.  We’d been home 5 weeks or so and I’d started the writing long ago.  Time to get it done before I start forgetting the details!  SoContinue reading “return to Harbal”

mega ghee

It began as something for the Spei family mid-February Christmas celebration extravgangza.  The February date allows individuals to have their close family Christmas then be available sometime after Valentine’s Day for a bigger blowout.  My birthdad, Dick Spei, was a gourmet/gourmand who taught all his offspring to approach each meal as if it were their last, adviceContinue reading “mega ghee”