This summer we have fruit in abundance and while fresh fruit is a handy and healthy snack on its own, sometimes our thoughts turn to more decadent desserts. This cake is rich with butter and sugar but isn’t too sweet.
The plums bring their own fresh tartness to the/… Read full post »

This was posted originally on March 31 of this year as a birthday tribute to my daughter. I repost it here in response to Thomas Rogers' Open call: Caring for a child with a disability.

Easter morning. You arrived amid the blooming, awakening of the Earth. You poked… Read full post »

In the late 1980's I worked for a local housing authority in another state that administered federal programs providing housing for low-income elderly persons, disabled persons and families. My job was demanding, rewarding and allowed me to provide for my children and myself at a time… Read full post »

My local supermarket often has produce marked way down when it reaches the point of no return. In my house, we call this “used fruit.” When

it comes to bananas, this status indicates that they are bruised and have copious… Read full post »

If you are frugal like me, you probably have ribbon candy left over from Christmas or you purchased it at
a HUGE discount right after the holiday ended.
And being a penny pincher, even though it’s now late February you just don’t want to throw it away.
That… Read full post »

 “One Hell of a War Picture” — Variety

There are many moods of CoyoteOldStyle and each mood has a favorite motion picture. Today I’ll wax poetic on 1970’s Patton, the 1971 Best Picture Oscar® winner that starred George C. Scott (Best Actor) and Karl Mald/… Read full post »

In the Boston area, sprinkles are called “jimmies” after their inventor, James Bartholomew.

1 cup butter

4 oz. cream cheese

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

Zest of 1 lemon and 1 lime

1 Tablespoon lemon juice (about half a lemon)

2½ cups all-purpose nonbleached flour

1 t… Read full post »

I took a drive from Boston on Saturday to New Hampshire and witnessed some of the devastation wrought by the ice storm that hit on Friday. Of course I brought with me my trusty camera and got a bunch of images.

This view is through the car windshield… Read full post »

Frozen berries can be used as is, with no need to defrost. If you are using fresh blueberries, rinse them in cold water. Pick out and remove any bits of stems or leaves and soft or mushy berries. It is easiest to do this in a colander set in a large… Read full post »

Once upon a time, boys and girls, there was a place called Checker Taxi Co. in Boston. (Their slogan was "Don't take a chance, take a Checker!") Checker is long shut down. The taxicab medallions were sold, the garage was sold to the university next door, and seemingly the employees were… Read full post »

Within the confines of this year's Presidential election we have a lot of things to consider: the fitness of the candidates to hold the highest or next-to-highest office in the United States, the issues, the potential ramifications on both foreign and domestic policy, the future of our nation and its… Read full post »

I've been thinking (see, you did  smell wood burning!) that it would be a great idea for grocery stores to offer teaching opportunities for customers to learn more cost-efficient ways to prepare meals. One local supermarket offers information about $10 meals (total for four people!) on their web… Read full post »