A blog in letters. Two friends dish on family, careers, and the food that gets them through.

So Summer Goes

August 21, 2016 by Sarah in Salad, Weeknight, Gluten-Free Optional

Remember how, when you were a kid, summer was like this separate part of your life? Like, there was the regular life of the school year, and then there was summer? And it seemed to go on FOR-EH-VRRRR????

There is this huge part of me that still feels like that - or at least entitled to that. Like, I should have been born in France and come July 14th, been allowed to vacate for 6 weeks every summer. Congress would have been an alternative, I guess, but then you'd have to be in Congress. What is it about summer that just makes me feel a little lighter on my feet, a little more inclined to ignore bedtimes and definitely more than happy to eat all manner of cold food?

Byyyyee Bo bo!

September 21, 2015 by Sarah in Salad, Vegetarian

Libby,

The thing about September is that it is basically the calm before the storm: The Holidays. And while Seattle rain and Starbuck’s early roll out of the Pumpkin Spice Latte may be infringing on my ideas of summer slowly ooooozing into September, well, I’m not totally giving up. I’m still making weekly batches of ice cream (we’ve been doing a whole slew of PB Chocolate variations), wearing my flip-flops to the store (rain puddles be damned) and diligently going to our farmer’s market every Thursday come rain or shine or kids (ok, in all honesty, not for summer produce, but for this KILLER brick oven pizza stand).

A Salad Story

June 21, 2015 by Sarah in Vegetarian, Salad

Libs,

Looking back on many of my letters to you, one might think I don’t eat salads. I realize mostly I have written about some form of carbohydrate with a few alcoholic beverages throne in for good measure.

Well, that ends today. Mostly because it is getting too hot too cook and salads are so much more fun with summer produce.

Not So Farro Away

March 22, 2015 by Sarah in Vegan, Sides, Vegetarian, Salad

Montana maven,

This winter has been mild, but I am soooo ready for sunshine and warm days. Yet, as I dash through the produce section at the store, with both kids shoved into the cart that has the plastic car on the front end (you know, the one that takes up the entire aisle and inspires looks of heartfelt pity from total strangers), it feels like springtime is still weeks away, even though the official first day of spring has come and gone.

A Side of Christmas

December 22, 2014 by Sarah in Vegetarian, Salad, Sides

Hey there,

It’s almost Christmas. I remember as a kid this being “the moooooost wonderful tiiiiiiiime of the yeeeeaaaarrr.” I still feel that way, but, now, even more so because this will be the first year June is old enough to get it: Santa, reindeer, presents, etc. We’ve been talking about the whole thing nonstop: what kind of cookies to make Santa (gingerbread men), what kind of treats to leave the reindeer (carrots) and what we are going to have for Christmas dessert (haven't quite decided yet).

Let's Get Wild

September 19, 2014 by Libby in Salad, Main, Vegetarian

Chere Sarah,

The other day, Dash was playing in the living room while I was making something in the kitchen. After awhile, he put down his matchbox cars and came over to me, stared thoughtfully for a minute while I cooked, then said, "Mommy, is the stove your very faaaaaaavorite toy?"

I'm still smiling.

So here's a recipe for an easy wild rice salad that I made using my favorite toy...

Farmer's Market Plunder

September 03, 2014 by Sarah in Sides, Salad, Main, Vegetarian

Hey you!

So glad it is almost Friday. Actually, so glad it’s almost Thursday. That means farmer’s market day around here, which is what keeps us out of vegetable and fruit doldrums throughout the week and I get so excited just thinking about it.

Actually, that’s kind of a lie. The truth is, well, I have been meaning to ask you…do you ever feel kind of overwhelmed at these places? Like, you see all this great stuff (who doesn’t love the sound of a lemon cucumber?) and you buy it with these lofty goals of going home and doing something fabulous and new only to realize a week later that those damn squash blossoms are rotting in the cheese drawer?

August Corn

August 16, 2014 by Sarah in Salad, Vegetarian

Libby!

Today marks the first day of a much needed week-long vacation for my little family. We are staycationing for a bit, first in Seattle (hence the Instagrams from last night at Canon whiskey bar- oh my lord - followed by an amazing dinner at Lark) then headed to Sun Valley for the last half of the week to get some fresh mountain air.

Meat and Potatoes

June 30, 2014 by Libby in Meat, Salad, Sides, Main

Chere Sarah,

Man, that was quite a week. One of those long ones where I felt like I was limping across the finish line to Friday. Most nights I threw together one of our usual no-cook dinners -- you know, scrambled eggs, kale salad, or 718-499-9888 (that would be the number of our local pizza place) -- poured a generous glass of wine, and called it a day. By the time the weekend rolled around, though, I was itching for some time in the kitchen. Some friends had invited us over for ribs on Sunday and asked if we’d bring the potato salad...

What's Wrong with Kale?

May 05, 2014 by Libby in Poultry, Salad

Ma chere Sarah,

We’ve been friends for well over a decade, certainly the better part of our adult lives. We’ve supported each other through boards (you) and college breakups (me), fad diets and fashion faux pas (just say it…usually me), we’ve toasted Christmas in Paris and Vienna, stood by at weddings, and coached one another through the messy yet magical world of early motherhood.

And yet, there’s one thing you’ve been withholding from me all this time – a secret that, no matter how many times I ask, you just won’t share...