Jude's Culinary Journey

Diamond spells and the race in space

My sister Janet and I sat together in the back seat of the Ford as my mother drove home from the supermarket. Janet leaned toward me and whispered conspiratorially in my ear, “Don’t …

Frittering around

Who doesn’t like fritters? Even the word sounds cute. A croquette is nice, but a fritter is a delight. In some form or another, fritters (or patties–another adorable name for …

Summer camp food

I went to three different summer camps during my childhood. The second one requested that I don’t return, but that’s another story. The first was in Bear Mountain, just a short drive …

Tiny Napkins

The first few years that my sister and I visited Oaxaca, Mexico, we were both still working. Our stays were short vacations—around nine days to two weeks. Everything was novel and …

Home cooking here and there

Cold weather and I don’t mix. So my sister Janet and I spend half the year in Oaxaca, Mexico, and the other half at our home in Callicoon. It makes sense to spend the finest months of summer …

The glory of garnishing

To a large degree, it is true we eat with our eyes. The visual appeal of what is placed before us at a meal has a major impact on our appetites. Plating and presentation are practiced arts, used …