Five years ago my organization underwent a merger that led our new leadership to establish a fresh organizational culture. A consultant was brought in to establish the culture to bridge the two legacy organizations—one based in the Midwest, the other in the East Coast. Now I’ve never been one to accept any one doctrine or … Continue reading Camp Cooking Culture
I am huge fan of Gretchen Rubin. Rubin started her career as an attorney. She was the editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Review and clerked at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Rubin left her illustrious career to purse writing, specializing in the topic of happiness and good habits. During a recent … Continue reading A New Look for September, the New January
Sept. 15 marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of Hispanic culture that goes till Oct. 15. I always thought it was pure genius that the observation cut across two months since Hispanic Heritage Month is officially 30 days long. Having the celebration straddle both September and October means that events get … Continue reading Guava Swirl Cheesecake: What in the Swirl?
The hardest part about testing a recipe when you’re living alone is the loss of a built-in audience. Luckily, I have a number of friends, family and even co-workers who I can solicit their honest feedback on my latest creation. Of my most trusted friends is Wendy. Our friendship spans nearly 30 years when we … Continue reading Sometimes You Have to Break a Few Eggs
It’s amazing how one person’s spicy is another person’s mild, yet that’s the reaction two people had about the stuffed peppers I served. I was even surprised at the difference in how they had assessed the heat intensity between the different variations of stuffed banana peppers and how those opinions differed from person to person. … Continue reading Taste is in the Tongue of the Beholder
No matter how good a cook you are feedback is important, especially for recipe creation. So for those of you who are in the Washington, DC area I offer the opportunity to taste new recipes that I will be creating on an ongoing basis. All individuals will be considered but families, parties and random get … Continue reading Adventurous Eaters Wanted
One thing I miss about my old life, other than the kitchen, is having people around to share meals with and to test my recipes. This was especially important as I was experimenting with a new recipe of my own creation. As luck would have it though, my college friend and fraternity brother, Carolyn, invited … Continue reading Taste Testing is Not Child’s Play
