polenta plum cake

I’m not a big fan of flashy. I don’t know how to do blingy. But I can do humble pie. And I can DEFINITELY do humble cake.  This is the cake equivalent of… Continue reading →

following the flare

I walked home from work in one continuous stripe of sunlight past the canal-side patios crowded with burnt shoulders.  Past the old slanted houses with their dimpled windows squinting in this improbable burst… Continue reading →

the globe is at it again

A little prickle of melancholy poked me this morning because it was all too lovely — the sunny window seat. The glass of milky cold-brewed coffee, glistening with condensation diamonds. The thick weekend paper.… Continue reading →

of the North

You may have noticed that things have slooooowed doooooown a bit here recently. Don’t worry. I haven’t forsaken you completely. Just partially. I’ve been stitching new patterns and eating berries and flying kites (the… Continue reading →

of summer incarnate

I’m a tropical fruit fiend. Living in the Netherlands. Add to that my preference for local produce and you understand why I’m in constant mourning for the buttery mango, lime-drenched papaya, and quirky… Continue reading →

of summer roasting

It’s almost July! *cue vacation shimmy* During the summer the country sucks in its beer belly and shrinks dramatically. The Dutch enjoy about 25 paid vacation days per year, and many use those… Continue reading →

of Spring being late to her own party

Spring is white wine and scratchy grass picnics. Spring is jam jars playing house on the pantry shelf. Spring is an odd ramshackle bird in the middle of the city. Spring is the… Continue reading →

of snaps

The Muss has been quiet this week — one of my dearest childhood friends is visiting from New Zealand, and we have been scuttling around, stuffing her and her husband with as much… Continue reading →