This leg has legs

After a very merry meal of roast leg of lamb for Christmas (with its glaze of red currant jelly, pomegranate molasses, lemon, and more sweet-savory flavors

), we made a navarin printanier from MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING. We often have this as Le Veau d'Or, but now that we know we can make a reasonable facsimile, I think we can enjoy their delicious sole more often.

What Is It About Chicken Pot Pie?

I am absolutely obsessed with mini chicken pot pies. I could eat one every night of my life. Tonight's was delicious: cobbled together from an on-line recipe that had a puff pastry topping which I replaced with the shortcut pastry from SIMPLE FRENCH COOKING. It called for basil, salt, and pepper which I enhanced with celery salt. It must be the Chicago in me, but that celery salt made it! A mini pie is like doll food: a tiny, perfect approximation of the adult version. Eating out of this little foil pan, I feel like myself at six, sitting cross-legged in Weston, CT, with Susie Rogers, pretending that we're at a dinner party, eating out of old bowls Mom didn't mind if we broke. During this mid-life crisis of my career crashing down around me, at least there's something that gives total satisfaction.

Tasha Tudor Reigns

As if illustrating A LITTLE PRINCESS and THE SECRET GARDEN, raising corgis, and running a Vermont farm wasn't enough, Tasha Tudor also wrote a cookbook. I found it in a used bookstore in upstate NY and have fallen in love with it (see my post on her blueberry muffins in August 2011). With a few ripe pears left from a Harry & David shipment sent by my friend Judy Kessler of the publisher Creative Homeowner, I made Tudor's recipe for coffee cake this morning. Such a nice contrast between the moist cake and the crunchy, pecan-laced topping. I brought most of it to choir. Nothing gets a group of singers more excited than free, hot food.

Tomatoes in Winter

Well, it is 60º in December.... Tonight I met Miriam Rubin, author of the next book in UNC Press's delightful Savor the South(TM) series, TOMATOES. She gave me a small jar of tomato jam which I cannot wait to try tomorrow morning for breakfast on my corn muffin. Gina Mihalik, the Press's publicity manager, gave me a jar of bourbon figs from the Farmer's Daughter stand at the Carrboro Farmer's Market which will be a treat with vanilla ice cream left over from Thanksgiving as I gobble up more "Mad Men" on video. After the day I had, I almost wept with gratitude.

Brunswick Stew...Hold the Squirrel

Chuck has such good ideas for delicious Sunday night dinners. We received a catalog of Southern specialties in the mail--succulent smoked hams, juicy pulled pork, fluffy sweet potato biscuits--and among the delicacies was Brunswick stew. Even this herald of Southern tradition has eschewed the squirrel for chicken. While I could've gotten a bead on a couple of gray varmints in Carl Schurz Park this afternoon, the NYPD frowns on its citizens shooting for food.