Just stumbled across your substack (following a long line of LWS writers) and love your storytelling and imagery. It makes the very grey and dreary days in the UK seem a little more poetic ❤️
awww, thank you Lucy! I actually lived in London 1990-92, studying Art History and writing extensively about the work Gwen John. The experience of trying to find oneself at home in another land left a deep imprint - and of course there was the weather... . ..
Okay, I have to try that pudding recipe! And I feel the same way as the author quoted about Ani DiFranco. But only her first 4 or 5 albums. After those years I lost track of her work and by the time I encountered her again that rabid, youthful enthusiasm was gone.
the pudding is to die for ~ it’s almost more mousse-like than pudding!
and i know what you mean about ani difranco too. her early work takes me back to a younger version of myself, but also because she was playing the same bars and clubs i was frequenting in the buffalo/rochester area...nothing beats the pulsation and energy of live music.
Coffee! Cayenne! Butter! Love this twist on boxed brownies.
I say keep it old school and bag the microwave idea. If you really feel the urge to add a new kitchen appliance to the new digs, try a toaster oven. Still kinda old school, and kills two birds with one stone (toasts and reheats, albeit with less speed than nuking).
I really see no need for a microwave, or even a toaster tbh - I still prefer to make toast bread under the broiler just like my grandmother did.
Living in an un-electrified cottage for over ten years really clarified how little you need (in terms of kitchen gadgets) to make the most amazing meals AND that the perfectly-seasoned pots and pans one inherits with the cottage are often the best.
I just happened to have a lone box of brownie mix in the cupboard- and I tried your recipe. I will always make Sarah’s Brownies from now on! And the recipe is just the tip of the iceberg, of course. I look forward to every new newsletter!
I live in New York without a microwave and never even think of it except when houseguests ask where it is. In a remote place you might want one for defrosting something for dinner if nothing else. In the city, if I forget to defrost, I can order in. In Maine, if you can't order in, you can have eggs or pasta or toast. Reheating coffee or tea is easy in a small saucepan. If you do add a microwave, try to get a microwave drawer. I put one in my office and it's the best microwave I've ever used. It's by Sharp and is also very good-looking.
oh no, i’ll never have a microwave (or a 📺 for that matter) on monhegan - absolutely no desire, no need plus the added cost of the electric would be insane.
this is for our house in Rochester - in lieu of the previous over-the-stove-microwave, we put in a hood. I carved out space in our small pantry but I still think we can go without.
our old microwave currently lives in the garage, along with John’s bread maker and air fryer 😂😂
I don’t have one on Monhegan and could not agree more...when John moved in, so did too a lot of screens (comes w the territory of falling in love with a sports bar owner), but never in the bedroom and even though they’re here, they still aren’t idly on - at least I don’t
I like the microwave that I find in my cottage on Monhegan. It means that I don't have to use the precious water from the island, or the aluminum pots in the cupboard. I can also take frozen premade meals and have less waste from items in boxes or packages that would increase my waste for the island... XOXO
Nancy, I wrote a long comment but did so from the Elizabeth Ann and it didn’t seem to go through, so second try!!
You are one of the few who thinks start to finish about island cooking and island waste. I love the thoughtfulness 💛
I actually am a fan of cold, congealed leftovers I’ve never been much of a re-heater. The only thing I ever use a microwave for is obscene quantities of microwave popcorn, which I’m better without.
still...I’m pretty sure John will win this battle, and at the end of the day I’m fine with that too. xoxox
Just stumbled across your substack (following a long line of LWS writers) and love your storytelling and imagery. It makes the very grey and dreary days in the UK seem a little more poetic ❤️
awww, thank you Lucy! I actually lived in London 1990-92, studying Art History and writing extensively about the work Gwen John. The experience of trying to find oneself at home in another land left a deep imprint - and of course there was the weather... . ..
Okay, I have to try that pudding recipe! And I feel the same way as the author quoted about Ani DiFranco. But only her first 4 or 5 albums. After those years I lost track of her work and by the time I encountered her again that rabid, youthful enthusiasm was gone.
the pudding is to die for ~ it’s almost more mousse-like than pudding!
and i know what you mean about ani difranco too. her early work takes me back to a younger version of myself, but also because she was playing the same bars and clubs i was frequenting in the buffalo/rochester area...nothing beats the pulsation and energy of live music.
Ooo, I'm going to play with this one during our week at the lake. A lake vacation treat!
Coffee! Cayenne! Butter! Love this twist on boxed brownies.
I say keep it old school and bag the microwave idea. If you really feel the urge to add a new kitchen appliance to the new digs, try a toaster oven. Still kinda old school, and kills two birds with one stone (toasts and reheats, albeit with less speed than nuking).
I really see no need for a microwave, or even a toaster tbh - I still prefer to make toast bread under the broiler just like my grandmother did.
Living in an un-electrified cottage for over ten years really clarified how little you need (in terms of kitchen gadgets) to make the most amazing meals AND that the perfectly-seasoned pots and pans one inherits with the cottage are often the best.
I just happened to have a lone box of brownie mix in the cupboard- and I tried your recipe. I will always make Sarah’s Brownies from now on! And the recipe is just the tip of the iceberg, of course. I look forward to every new newsletter!
awww thank you Robin AND if you have any go-to recipes from India, I’m all ears!! forever grateful for being my fellow traveler through everything 💛
I live in New York without a microwave and never even think of it except when houseguests ask where it is. In a remote place you might want one for defrosting something for dinner if nothing else. In the city, if I forget to defrost, I can order in. In Maine, if you can't order in, you can have eggs or pasta or toast. Reheating coffee or tea is easy in a small saucepan. If you do add a microwave, try to get a microwave drawer. I put one in my office and it's the best microwave I've ever used. It's by Sharp and is also very good-looking.
oh no, i’ll never have a microwave (or a 📺 for that matter) on monhegan - absolutely no desire, no need plus the added cost of the electric would be insane.
this is for our house in Rochester - in lieu of the previous over-the-stove-microwave, we put in a hood. I carved out space in our small pantry but I still think we can go without.
our old microwave currently lives in the garage, along with John’s bread maker and air fryer 😂😂
I haven’t had a TV in the house for 18 months! Bliss.
I don’t have one on Monhegan and could not agree more...when John moved in, so did too a lot of screens (comes w the territory of falling in love with a sports bar owner), but never in the bedroom and even though they’re here, they still aren’t idly on - at least I don’t
I like the microwave that I find in my cottage on Monhegan. It means that I don't have to use the precious water from the island, or the aluminum pots in the cupboard. I can also take frozen premade meals and have less waste from items in boxes or packages that would increase my waste for the island... XOXO
Nancy, I wrote a long comment but did so from the Elizabeth Ann and it didn’t seem to go through, so second try!!
You are one of the few who thinks start to finish about island cooking and island waste. I love the thoughtfulness 💛
I actually am a fan of cold, congealed leftovers I’ve never been much of a re-heater. The only thing I ever use a microwave for is obscene quantities of microwave popcorn, which I’m better without.
still...I’m pretty sure John will win this battle, and at the end of the day I’m fine with that too. xoxox