• Earl Grey cocoa pecans
    Food

    Earl Grey Cocoa Pecans

    Lately I have been combining chocolate with earthy ingredients like smoked salt. While enjoying some chocolate covered pretzels I had sprinkled with an applewood variety, I had a craving for a strong cup of Earl Grey. Later that night I found myself coming up with these delicious cocoa pecans. As a poet, I love delving into the meaning of words and the connection between strings of words. Playing with ingredients and their qualities is a process that can be similar to the act of writing. Understand and test the limits of individual parts. Combine them. Take them apart. Often poets and novelists will say they have to write – that…

  • candied lemon slices
    Living

    Host a Stress-Free Holiday Party

    The holidays are most definitely here. With less and less time for last-minute preparations, those of us who are hosting parties can benefit from simple ideas to keep things calm and scrumptious. Throughout my recipes and tips, I advocate slowing down to enjoy the results of time spent in the kitchen, as well as the ingredients and processes involved. Savor the act of cooking while you uphold your own food traditions and experiment with creative approaches. Certainly, admiring the magnificent shape of star anise seems easier during the lazy summer, but I still make sure to slow down and enjoy Christmas and New Year’s preparations. Fresh herbs, spiced wine, and…

  • wooden kayaks
    Living

    A Skill Perfected: Mystic, CT Getaway

    From the expert casts of a few night fisherman to the beautifully built wooden boats headed for an event at the seaport, I was struck by the examples of perfect skill and artisanship we encountered last week in Mystic, Connecticut. Even our meals had the touches that let you know the kitchen is honoring its ingredients.

  • Living

    Living Through the Senses

    Thirsty Radish is centered on living through the senses, with a focus on the intersection of food, love, and creativity.  Throughout my life I have had the pleasure to indulge in many of my passions.  I am a published poet, mother, former nonprofit arts director, and wife, among many other roles, and I know my way around a kitchen.  Thirsty Radish is for all of the renaissance women and men who pursue life wholeheartedly – who are just as happy exploring a new recipe as they are making strides in their profession.