Cheryl Stahle was introduced to me during Passover/Holy Week. She writes, practices yoga, seeks out new stories in local coffee shops and teaches English to high school students. A literary consultant, Cheryl's passion is in teaching women to tell their own stories. Sampling her first Passover Seder that week, I asked her to share some of her thoughts as an adult experiencing this religious ritual for the first time. Cheryl is another woman [...]
by Chrysa SmithI'm not a big cook book collector. Those that I have collected over the years have been gifts, from interviews with chefs or those spiral varieties from charity fundraisers.In all honesty, the fundraiser cookbooks were rarely cracked open----at least until now. It's not snob appeal; culinary superiority or anything. It's just that I've rarely found more than a handful of dishes that I might enjoy, because they have generally contained recipes [...]
by Chrysa SmithHave you been watching America's Next Great Restaurant? I know, another reality show. But besides the fact that it involves food and becoming an instant restauranteur, it's got Curtis Stone :). If you don't know who he is, well, you've obviously been hiding under a saute pan. Because Curtis is not only an accomplished chef who appears regularly on popular TV shows like the TODAY show, he's by far, hands down, [...]
by Chrysa SmithIf you've been following Showtime's latest mini-series: The Borgias, The Original Crime Family, you're in good company. I must admit, while I do hold a certificate program in Theology and watch those Mysteries of the Bible shows I confess that I'm no saint, no preacher, no zealot. I just find these sorts of ancient, historical, theological mysteries more than a bit fascinating. So, it is with no surprise that The Borgias [...]
by Chrysa SmithAs expected for such a regal event, Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding cakes are two big secrets. Are the ingredients growing in the garden of a medieval castle?Valued at over 100,000 British pounds? Bottled since the time of Henry VIII? I can't help but laugh, as I think of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine wanders into Mr. Peterman's office, finds and tastes a beautiful, boxed layer cake. After finding it [...]
Break out the Lipitor, get on those running shoes and postpone any blood tests, because today I'm sharing a great-tasting, high-fat alternative to the standard grilled cheese sandwich (as if a standard grilled cheese wasn't fatty or high enough in cholesterol already).It all began quite innocently. When I went to see the movie It's Complicated, I fell in love with the role of Meryl Streep. If you haven't already seen it, she runs [...]
by Chrysa Smith Alright, what image does fish fry dredge up for you?Lenten suppers? Redneck roadside shacks? Deep southern delicacies? Up to your elbows in flour and oil? A saturated cholesterol reading? Let's face it. In this day and age, anything that has 'fried' in the title sounds a bit taboo, even though the once sacrificial 'fish' is not.In the meat and potatoes age, giving up a 20 ounce steak one day a [...]
