Molecular Gastronomy

It can be described as the intersection of chemistry and the appetite. Last week our local science museum created a special Science Salon to highlight cooking as alchemy. I’ll admit straight up that as a slow foodist, I was skeptical however, the journey that Josh Hebert, Chef and Owner of POSH “Improvisational Cuisine” was remarkable.

Dessert - Not Salmon Roe

Dessert – Not Salmon Roe

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Chip Off the Old Block

My children dislike this phrase because it highlights their lineage back to me. Used here, “a chip off the old block” means a person or thing that derives from the source or parentage. It first appears in the English language in or around 1621 when Robert Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln, giving his sermon said, “Am not I a child of the same Adam … a chip of the same block, with him?”

Chips off the Block

Chips off the Block

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Lightening Up

Do you know the feeling when you’ve just finished cleaning out the hallway closet? For me, that stack of old sweaters bound for the thrift shop is much more than a closet cleansing and it leaves me energized and feeling remarkably satisfied. I experience the same sensation at work when I hack through the items on my desk so that I can actually see the surface again.

A light dish for the New Year

A light dish for the New Year

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Plugging In

My sister carried three tins full of baked goods to our table on Christmas night. Our stockings were hung by the fireplace. Gifts were wrapped and finished with bows. My parents had scurried about hanging Christmas decorations and trimming the tree.

Lights shine when they're plugged in

Lights shine when they’re plugged in

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Uh-oh Cheerio!

In a classic display of free speech and economic politicking, General Mills corporation recently experienced a PR blunder.

Uh Oh! Cheerio!

Uh Oh! Cheerio!

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Tammy’s Top Ten (t3 report) Holiday Decorating Ideas

The irony is that I’m not doing it this year. We’re busy. We’re traveling. And I don’t want to arrive home after Christmas only to have to pack away decorations that I didn’t get to appreciate. But I keep thinking about it!

flickr.com/photos/marissamullen

flickr.com/photos/marissamullen

Perhaps it’s my recent post on tradition or perhaps it’s the way my brain is wired but in the absence of decorating, here are 10 ways to create a holiday setting with just a bit of effort and little cost:

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Hen Keepers

Three percent of U.S. homes have a chicken coop in the yard. Of course, I don’t know how many homes have yards but those with egg-laying birds are on the increase. Is this fad or economics?

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Infusing the Spirit

According to Father Paul Duffner, supernatural virtues that come with sanctifying grace are known as infused which distinguishes them from natural virtues that are acquired. Acquired virtues are good habits achieved over time through our own repeated effort such as the habit of telling the truth (veracity),  the habit of dealing with trying situations (patience), and the habit of moderation in eating and drinking (temperance).

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Traditions Matter

Traditions matter. While I’ve supported that notion on some level for a long time, it took a lesson from my 10 year old for me to fully internalized it.

The Waltz

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Going Dark

Nighttime

I recently spent the night in Dragoon. I was there as a guest of the AZ Humanities Council and had the privilege of staying at the Amerind Foundation. This little known, out of the way spot is a spectacular combination of the natural world and one of the finest collections of archaeological and ethnological artifacts in the country as well as a sizable research library.

Upon my nighttime arrival however, what amazed me most was the darkness. No glaring LED billboards advertising the nearby casino or street lights to set off the night sky – just pure blackness dotted with stars that we not picked up by my iphone. I shot the photo and sent it to my husband.

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