Dear Facebook Friends,

It's time we had a talk.  I think we're close enough now (again?) that we can have an open dialogue.  Like a couple who have grown so familiar that they no longer close the bathroom door, we may have become a little too comfortable here.  There are some things that may not need to be shared with all 417 of your closest friends, know what I'm saying?

Unfortunately, Emily Post died 50 years ago, way before she could clearly delineate the rules of Facebook etiquette.  Still,  I have to believe that there are a few things she'd like you to consider.  I've jotted them down below.  Hope you don't mind.

Read the full story »

Sometimes, I just need to mix it up a little at dinner time.  Really.  There always comes a day where I find myself in front of the refrigerator wondering just how much chicken one family can possibly eat.  So when I feel stuck in a dinner rut (and--truth be told--when I am looking for something easy to make) breakfast for dinner can do the trick! And I don't feel guilty about it, because breakfast can be delicious and filling and even have some nutritional value.

Lately, I've been making this extremely delicious baked french toast dish based on a recipe from Paula Deen.  I love Paula Deen.  Now, I will admit that I have eased off of some of the extremely delicious and stunningly rich ingredients she uses in her version--but the french toast is delicious nonetheless.  You prepare it the night before--or even in the morning when you're doing the breakfast stuff-- and then just stick it in the oven when you're ready to make dinner.
Read the full story »

I used to cook from scratch all the time.  But little by little, in pursuit of quick and easy dinner options, I've delegated certain things to my friend and yours, Trader Joe.  I mean, that rice cooks in three minutes.  Three minutes, people!  And there is no dirty pot!!!
Read the full story »

Dear Cablevision and Scripps,

Can't we all just get along?

It's been two weeks without Food Network and HGTV and we're getting a little testy around here.

Now Cablevision, I know you are trying to tell us that this is all Scripps' fault, and that you are just the fall guy, taking the heat from the very customers whose wallets you are trying to protect. But come on. Who is buying that? We all know you are a giant powerful corporation and we all know that you got that way by getting us to pay more and more for TV, which most of us still remember used to be free. It can't be ALL Scripps' fault.

Read the full story »