This year, I will cook my way through my 67 cookbooks. You might think 67 cookbooks is a lot to own. Some part of me apparently thinks it's not nearly enough. My collection has overgrown its shelf space repeatedly, and if something isn't done, could take over the apartment entirely. So now, each book must prove its worth - earn its keep. Will I cook every recipe in every book? Hilarious idea. I…
The Alcazaba in Malaga is a military palace dating back to the 11th century when the southern part of Spain was under Moorish rule. The Alcazar in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada are larger and more spectacular, but impossible to experience in solitude due to ever-present throngs of tourists (of which I am admittedly one). I got up a bit early on a Tuesday morning and had the place largely to…
A view of The Gherkin, the Foster and Partners designed skyscraper in London
These are some favorite photos from a recent trip to Kyoto. We arrived at the tail end of October and stayed until mid-November. View this gallery on Flickr to see more from the trip, including Tokyo, Nara, and Miyajima.
The Kinkaku-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple commonly called the Golden Pavilion, stands serenely against Kyoto’s lush landscape. The top two floors are covered in brilliant gold leaf that glowed warmly in the afternoon sun on my visit. In spite of the crowds, it's a place of transcendent beauty, and it's easy to see why it's one of Japan's most iconic and historic sites.
A bell tower in Kyoto
This view of the Palace of Madrid at sunset was a beautiful moment in a quick, three-day stopover in Madrid before heading on to Seville, Malaga and Granada. Seen from about a mile to the north at the temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple gifted to Spain in the 1960s. The weather was wintry and the spot was crowded – although Madrid has a lot to offer, we were glad to be on our way somewhere…
Cooking is an investment of your time, effort and ingredients. Unfortunately, if you're working off a bad recipe, you may be doomed from the start. It only takes one or two truly bad experiences to realize that unless you know and trust the source, all bets are off. Tried and true recipes from trustworthy sources are key. But finding good recipes online can be surprisingly hard. One of the main…
Photos from a summer hike on the Sauk Mountain trail, in the Washington state Cascades.
iPhone photos from a trip to Paris, France in November 2021, with side trips to the Champagne region and Mont-Saint-Michel.