Jenny Vergara is, for Kansas City, a culinary John the Baptist. No, she’s not some wild-eyed hermit, living in the wilderness on a diet of locusts and honey. She won’t scream at you or tell you you’re doing it wrong. But she will evangelize. She will tell you all that… Read full post »

To some people dressing/stuffing is an afterthought at Thanksgiving.  It’s become one of those dishes that lead to conversations like this:  

“Honey, why are you even making dressing this year?  We always make it and no one ever eats more than a spoonful or two. … Read full post »

Than Be Crowded On A Velvet Cushion

                                            &… Read full post »

You don't have to take a lot of time to make excellent hummus, but it can help in the final product. The key to smooth hummus? A good food processor. The key to great, amazing, silky, ethereal hummus? A tamis.

A tamis, also known as a drum sieve, is a pretty… Read full post »

Tamales are Mexican celebration food.  They’re meant for a party.  I don’t know if other Latino cultures, such as Guatemala or El Salvador, also claim the tamale as part of their national culinary lexicon so this phenomenon may not be strictly a Mexican one.  However, in my… Read full post »

It was hot. Summers in Kansas City are brutal. Imagine summer in Washington, DC but without the entertainment spectacle of congressmen under indictment. Kansas City is noted for it's sprawl and all that concrete and asphalt provides both a reflector of heat as well as a heat sink where all the… Read full post »

I love peaches.  Even more I love nectarines.  The only difference between the two is that a peach has a fuzzy skin and a nectarine is smooth.  I can’t explain why the skin of a peach, as delightful as it is to look at and a delightful as it is from… Read full post »

During the period of my courtship, I had a job that required a fairly significant amount of travel.  I was never one of those people you’d call a “road warrior,” but I traveled enough that I would be able to occasionally get free or drastically reduced upgrades to first class.&… Read full post »

I became a newlywed in June, 2001.  I got married a little later in my life than did many of my contemporaries and, as a result, I was set in my ways and almost certainly a pain in the ass to live with for that summer.  My wife, who is the… Read full post »

Here is the thing about tomatoes this time of year. They are the best thing ever. This is a universally known fact. Even people who don't necessarily care for tomatoes realize that summer tomatoes are the best tomatoes. The thing is, even the most perfect tomato needs at least one thing… Read full post »

I don’t like eggplant.  This is a grave concern to me.  As someone who thinks of himself as a “food guy” (I’m still not sure how comfortable I am with labeling myself a “foodie” or, maybe more pretentiously, a “gastronome”), eggplant is one of/… Read full post »

I don’t have a recipe for stew.  This is despite the fact that one of my absolute most favored winter meals in the whole world is a rich stew that has gently braised until a formerly tough   piece of beef chuck has taken on a silky tenderness that gently but convincingly… Read full post »

A lot of people are up in arms about Rush Limbaugh’s failed attempt to acquire an ownership interest in the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League.  Liberals are happy because Limbaugh was denied another toy and because it appeared that his chickens were finally coming home to roos… Read full post »

Overland Park, KS - Mark Sanders is a stalker and a music buff.  He is also lazy.  So when he recently re-heard comments from one of musical idols about the true meaning of one of his most popular songs, Sanders thought it was only a natural move to begin using carefully… Read full post »

Christine Brennan is not making any sense.  I have always liked her as a reporter.  I think she is smart, funny and displays a very strong understanding of the subjects about which she reports.  But her recent comments about Erin Andrews and the dirtbag who violated Andrews’ priv… Read full post »

Apparently, today is the last day of Michael Vick’s sentence for running a dog fighting ring and all the attendant atrocities that go hand in hand with such an enterprise.  The big debate now is whether Vick can, should or should be allowed to return to the NFL.  I’ll be honest;… Read full post »

Today the family of Dr. George Tiller announced the permanent closure of Dr. Tiller’s clinic, Women’s Healthcare Services, Inc. 

Fuck.  Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckety fuck fuck fuck. 

I understand this decision (or at least I think I do, despite being a liberal from Kansas, I… Read full post »

So it says here that Arlen Specter is going to switch parties.  Apparently he has come to the realization that he can’t win the Pennsylvania Republican nomination for Senate because he is too moderate and the party’s conservative wing is going to boot him in the primary.  Since… Read full post »

I'm not even certain this is blogworthy, but I do have an amusing anecdote I want to share about something that pisses me off and what I did to stop it. I keep getting my political yard signs stolen. First of all, it should be mentioned that all the people who… Read full post »

John McCain lacks honor.  I know, I know, this is nothing new and I do not write to provide some thrilling revelation or some clever new argument or equally clever new twist on an old argument.  I am writing to express sorrow and stupidity.

Sorrow because it makes me sad (and,… Read full post »

I’m no biblical scholar.  I’m a semi-practicing Catholic who attends Episcopalian services due to spousal preferences.  So maybe I am all wet on this, but I keep seeing all of these emails and websites that ask if Barack Obama is the Antichrist (the clear implication being that/… Read full post »

Don’t do it, Sen. Obama.  Just don’t.  Do NOT fall for McCain’s proposed campaign suspension so he can “work” on t he economy.  Do NOT allow the debate for Friday night to be canceled. 

I have to admit, I am impressed by this move.  McCain/… Read full post »

Really?  Sarah Palin?  OK.  I suppose you know what you are doing, Sen. McCain but let me make a few off-the-cuff observations about your new pick. 

First, let me admit up front that I don’t know a whole lot about Sarah Palin.  I know she is Governor of Alaska an/… Read full post »