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My friend Darby asked me if I wanted to go to a vintage craft fair with her in a place called Fletcher, N.C. I said sure; I love vintage, crafts, and fairs.
I assumed it was a tiny town nearby. …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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3/23/22
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In California, it’s called “Cost Plus,” which is a lame name if you ask me and doesn’t even begin to hint at the wonders contained within the four walls of those stores.
Here in the …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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3/16/22
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I’m not a chili fan. Never sat in front of a bowl of red with anticipation. Wendy’s chili moves me not. Keep that mess away from my dog, I’m a sauerkraut girl. The Kid feels pretty much the …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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3/9/22
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It was getting ever louder, but in a seemingly orchestrated moment — the kind of moment that happens in movies but never actually in real life — the restaurant went quiet.
Out of the silence …
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3/2/22
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It happened because The Kid had to miss dinner.
My child was coming over for supper because I wanted to share the greatest moo goo gai pan in the history of moo goo gai pan.
For the …
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2/23/22
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For people who’ve never eaten at my mother’s bounteous table, I have an extremely important piece of advice: when offered seconds, if you want a lot more, say you want a little more.
If you …
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2/16/22
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A couple of Sundays ago, a friend of mine came over to my new place and we decided to explore my new neighborhood (downtown in the best little city on the planet). We stopped in at a …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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2/2/22
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Years ago, I was in Costco, and met the then chief of police in my town. We started talking and I learned that both he and his wife are Puerto Rican.
I may have mentioned one or twelve hundred …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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1/26/22
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Last week, I had an awful day. Cruelty is the worst, but when it comes from someone you didn’t think was capable of it, it breaks you a bit and shakes the earth upon which you stand.
By the time …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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1/19/22
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In the last year, I’ve made a wonderful discovery.
I have many more friends than I thought, and they’re the kind of friends I call the “2 a.m. friends.” They are the people who you can …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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1/12/22
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I’d had a couple glasses of wine.
The Kid had a beer and two cans of hard cider.
I’m a laughably cheap drunk, so I was tipsy. The drinking had been over a few hours, so I assumed The Kid …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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1/5/22
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In days of yore, Gentle Reader, I would literally spend two or even three days on an elaborate, labor-intensive dinner.
Then I got a job selling cars.
So, these days elaborate and …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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12/8/21
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This is the only recipe that I offer every year, because these cookies are spectacularly, astonishingly delicious.
But their very humble looks are infinitely deceiving. Finished, they look less …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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12/1/21
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I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love brownie mix. I also generally fear and loath most other types of pre-fab, chemically enhanced food from a box.
But I must confess to you a dirty …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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11/23/21
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I have been visiting my new favorite grocery store every Wednesday and aside from always ordering some pizza we’ll have for dinner later, I have two “TO DO” lists.
One: I have a grocery list …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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11/17/21
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In classic French cuisine, there’s a concept called the Five Mother Sauces.
They are the five sauces from which all other sauces come.
They are (From Food52): Velouté: Roux + White Stock …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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11/3/21
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This week I’m mixing things up a bit, Gentle Reader.
Instead of talking about dish, giving you a pic and recipe, I’m going sideways.
I’d like to share with you some edible discoveries and …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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10/20/21
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“It’s really, really good. And, I’m not even kidding, Debbie.”
Damien, one of the sales managers at the dealership will probably end up a millionaire, if I don’t kill him …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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9/23/21
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I think some of the funniest people on the planet are the Brits.
The Kid would start and finish any list of hilarious U.K. people with Monty Python.
But I find just about every aspect of Brits …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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9/1/21
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“Now we season it. Where’s the salt and pepper?”
A blank look and a couple of very slow blinks. “I don’t have any.”
If the child had come to the door dressed in an Easter Bunny …
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BY DEBBIE MATTHEWS, The Curious Cook
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8/25/21
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