Guess what? There is no Shelob at Valley Falls

March 27, 2022

Katie McDowell We were coming up the trail at a good clip when he stopped me. “Wait,” he said, holding me back. “Look.” I followed the direction of his pointing finger with my gaze — about 10 feet in front of us there was a mass of branches, growing in a strange swirl. “It’s a giant wood spider web,” he told me. “The spiders themselves get to be like this big.” With his hands, he made a circle shape about the size of one of my Fiestaware dessert plates. His eyes were wide. “Oh my god!” I said. “That’s terrifying!” Then I looked solidly ...

WIC Kitchen: Breakfast Tacos and Roasted Broccoli

March 9, 2022

BY SIERRA ROSALES From Easter to Mardi Gras to National Pancake Day to Dr. Suess’ birthday, March brings an event for everyone to celebrate with food. And between these huge feasts of gumbo or green eggs and ham, there are still a lot of meals that can help balance your diet and your ...

Winter soups for the soul

February 23, 2022

BY CHRISTELLE TEMPLE It’s about this time of year when I am dying for some sunshine — 70-degree weather with a light breeze, the ability to walk out with a light coat, and to see the flowers come in bloom. But, to cherish the present is more important than waiting for the future. There is about one more month of winter and what better way is there to spend your time than making a warm meal to eat with some fuzzy socks on and your favorite reality TV show. Here are a few soups and stews for the soul to end your winter on a delicious note. Beef stew! A classic. The perfect beef ...

Pack big flavor into a convenient one-pan meal

February 23, 2022

BY CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL It’s been a bit since the traybake crossed the Atlantic from Britain, where a host of cooking personalities popularized a technique that combines big flavor and weeknight convenience onto one pan. But for the uninitiated, meat and vegetables are placed on a ...

Making the best of a not-the-best year

January 2, 2022

I saw a meme the other day with a woman ugly crying and the words, “The moment you realize 2022 is pronounced 2020, too” written above it. A pretty horrible thought, given that 2021 already felt like an extension-slash-bad sequel to that terrible enough year. Here we are with this pandemic still clouding our collective conscience, keeping us mired in disconnection and uncertainty. So much for all that optimism we felt last New Year’s, amirite? But you know, when I sit back and think about everything that did happen this year, it’s a lot, at least in my little ...

Behind every window is a story: Just imagine

September 12, 2021

A handful of mornings ago, during my workout walk, I saw a man step outside a house, onto the porch, and bend down to embrace the woman sitting there.  I’ve thought about it ever since. Did they argue, and he was apologizing? Had she experienced a loss, and he was trying to ...