Pantry Items

December 1 and the madness has begun. Well, we knew that, didn’t we? That the madness was well underway? (Technically, December 2 now.) The questions is this: what with Brexit and the looming inauguration of persons no better equipped to be president than the IK is to perform neurosurgery (there’s a…

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So, if you’re American, on American soil, chances are good you’ve come through Thanksgiving. Congratulations. So, this migraine. There are migraines, and migraines. If you are a migraineur, you’re like, if she’s typing, it cannot be that bad. And you’re right: some migraines, it’s puke your way to the ER,…

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“There is nothing like a visitor from another continent to confuse you about your own homeland…One night an Indian friend came to dinner…He asked me to help him figure out American cooking, at which point I drew a blank. He said: “I would like to cook some American dishes, but…

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Mini Brownies

October 24, 2016

Granted, “Mini Brownies” lacks the alliterative ring of “brownie bites,” a name already popularly in use. Other names were batted around only to be shot down by the IK’s other half: no to Brownie Buttons. No to Brownie Bits. By the time “Wee Brownies” rolled around, visions of miniature Stonehenges…

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The IK is a many-imperfectioned blog. We will never offer fancy desserts, elegant photos of the artfully-arranged dishtowel variety, or get our act together in time to offer holiday-themed recipes. We’re just not that kind of site. Nor are we mad keen on posting photographs of ourselves. We realize how…

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Hazelnut Cakes

September 27, 2016

I write the day after the first 2016 Presidential Debate. And I am at a loss. Once upon a time, in the dark mists of the 1970’s, the Republican Party was sane. You could hold friendly discussions with its members. These discussions could even cover politics. Ideological disagreements did not…

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The NorCal Half Chicken

September 9, 2016

Sorry to vanish this week. The IK, or more accurately, the IK’s inhabitant, spent some unexpected time at her doctor’s office, where she learned postural orthostatic tachychardia syndrome is about far more than heat intolerance. It is suspected the IK’s inhabitant will live. She is grateful to her physician, and for…

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You’re wondering about the featured image, right? Last Sunday, some friends invited us out for dim sum in San Francisco. We took Bay Area Rapid Transit to the Montgomery Station, then hopped the 38 Geary MUNI, riding all the way across town to Ton Kiang Dim Sum, which is on…

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Corn Cakes

August 25, 2016

So much of life is ridiculous, right? You’re driving while wolfing lunch. Suddenly the idiot in front of you, who you just know is texting, lurches to a stop. Your carefully arranged lunch, which you so artfully wedged into the cupholder, goes flying, landing upside down on the shirt you…

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This morning found me with my head wedged in the oven. Despite my comparatively petite size, I was unable to squeeze in far enough. In an attempt to gain better purchase, I pulled the lower oven rack out. There. Perfect. Tweezers in hand, I wormed myself back in and got…

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