Food writing – Page 4 – CYNTHIA D. BERTELSEN

A Trip to the Bathroom, Being a Reflection on the Passing and the Passion (and the red-walled toilette) of M. F. K. Fisher

October 21, 2020

The first guest post ever on Gherkins & Tomatoes! The following story comes from Leo Racicot, a talented poet and writer and friend of the famous author, M. F. K. Fisher. Ms. Fisher wrote extraordinary prose about food and life and everything in between. She pretty much started all the hullabaloo about food writing and … More A Trip to the Bathroom, Being a Reflection on the Passing and the Passion (and the red-walled toilette) of M. F. K. Fisher

I’ll Always Have Paris

October 11, 2020

The dog shit scene did it for me. When Emily, in Netflix’s new series – “Emily in Paris” – steps in the do-do, her immaculate pink shoes squishing with that “Oh no, ugh!” sound, I laughed out loud. You see, that happened to me as well. Rounding the corner one gorgeous late fall morning, headed … More I’ll Always Have Paris

Meatballs & Lefse: Memories and Recipes from a Scandinavian-American Farming Life now available

September 8, 2020

Available in Kindle and paperback, distributed by Ingram to nearly all online booksellers. A story of a family, immigration, and farming. And lots of comfort food. From page 247: The Endless Cookie Jar | 247

When Cooking is No Longer Fun: The Mental Load of Daily Cooking

June 22, 2020

I’ve been cooking for a long time. And it’s just not fun any more. I used to spend hours cooking, trying new recipes, thrilled to see the joy on people’s faces as they dug into one of my lemon meringue pies or my spin on curried chicken. And I remember when it all started. … More When Cooking is No Longer Fun: The Mental Load of Daily Cooking

The Cook’s Dilemma: How to Cook During a State of Siege, via Your Pantry

March 27, 2020

First, look at your pantry. If it is bare, you’ll need to act fast, as supplies – at least in my neck of the woods – are dwindling fast. I’m going to assume that you’ve prepared for the coming weeks and months with swiftness. The following list is only a suggestion. And to cook many … More The Cook’s Dilemma: How to Cook During a State of Siege, via Your Pantry

Memories and Memory and Memoir

February 22, 2020

Many years ago, after my mother-in-law passed away from failed bypass surgery, hooked up to God knows how many tubes and wires in the ICU, I spent a lot of time thinking about her. And, of course, I still think of her often, regretting her absence in my life. The other day, while digging through … More Memories and Memory and Memoir

Homage to La Cocina Española? Where are the Books?

October 2, 2019

Sometimes odd thoughts come to me while I’m stirring a pot of soup or crying over chopped onions. Perhaps you’ve experienced something such as this, triggered by some sort of catalyst. Like a chemical reaction, once it sparks, there’s no going back. In the latest instance of these mind games, one such catalyst appeared in … More Homage to La Cocina Española? Where are the Books?

Novel Due Out Soon: In the Shadow of Ravens

August 10, 2019

I’m happy to announce that my stab at an historical novel will soon be available. In the Shadow of Ravens is at heart a portrait of witchcraft as it evolved in seventeenth-century England. But, more than that, it is a story of a family of strong women, of healing, of cooking, and of love.