Comments on Sweet Amandine: more than food

Hi, Jen. Thanks for your note. It sounds like you...

2011-11-24T23:59:47.270-05:00

Hi, Jen. Thanks for your note. It sounds like you and your stepdaughter are off to a great start.

This ode to a stepmother gets to my heart. I fell ...

2011-11-24T23:14:46.832-05:00

This ode to a stepmother gets to my heart. I fell in love with a divorcee and specifically remember the first day I met his (then) 12 year old--who is now the sun that all of my free time revloves around. I can only wish she think of me half as highly when she grows up!

Megan - You're the cutest.

2009-09-22T09:02:43.659-04:00

Megan - You're the cutest.

Oh, Jessica - like any language, the potatoes have...

2009-07-27T13:20:52.865-04:00

Oh, Jessica - like any language, the potatoes have their own subtleties and I need more time with them...tender = just stabbable with the fork? quite yielding to the fork? crumbling from the fork? (Clearly not the latter two.) I'm confident the third time will be the charm.

You're hilarious, Megan. Have you tried the o...

2009-07-26T11:53:12.857-04:00

You're hilarious, Megan. Have you tried the old fork stab method? That will take the guess work out of it. Good luck with attempt number three. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Attempt number 2 took place on Saturday - I'm ...

2009-07-20T11:46:09.859-04:00

Attempt number 2 took place on Saturday - I'm still having trouble trusting the potatoes...but it was much better. Thank you for an excellent picnic!

xx
megan

Shannalee - Thank you! Megan - You and your y...

2009-07-19T10:28:27.638-04:00

Shannalee - Thank you!

Megan - You and your yellow beans and jam jar; you are so fun. As for the potatoes - just give them a stab with a fork at around 10 minutes. You'll be able to tell if they are done, or if they need another minute or two. Good luck with attempt number two. I've got my fingers crossed for you.

My jar is a jam one and the beans at the farmers&#...

2009-07-09T22:14:20.190-04:00

My jar is a jam one and the beans at the farmers' market were yellow but it still tasted delicious! I could have been a little better at following instructions - I didn't really believe that the potatoes would only take 10 minutes. Par for the course: I usually get it just right on the third try or so...Thanks for another staple!

xx
megan

What a sweet post! And I love, love what you wrote...

2009-07-07T15:58:03.499-04:00

What a sweet post! And I love, love what you wrote about saying your own name out loud when something goes wrong - I do that more frequently than I should admit!

oneordinaryday - Thank you. I love that you wrote...

2009-07-06T21:41:23.131-04:00

oneordinaryday - Thank you. I love that you wrote "your Amy." I once had a conversation with my dad about how difficult it is to assign a title to the role that Amy plays in my life. He said, "Well, I guess she's just your Amy." It sounds like you understand.

slowlikehoney - Yes, I am very lucky. If it's what you want, I hope you'll have the chance to learn from your stepmom (and she from you) like I have from Amy.

Anonymous and Anonymous - Well, we have quite the Amy fan club going on here, I see! And with good reason. Thank you so much for speaking up. It makes this space feel like a genuine birthday party. (And I LOVE that soccer cheer.)

Rosiecat - Thank you. I know just what you mean about those kitchen improv moments.

maybelles mom - I like the thought of our humble Dairy Queen possessing super powers. You never know.

Q. - Thank you, and congratulations on the new blog!

thomfech - Amy, you are so loved.

Suzi - Hello! Wow, everyone is piping up over here! You know, I don't think I ever paused to consider a time when those pots and spoons were brand new. Thank you for that image, and for your very kind words. A big slice of cake sounds wonderful, but can I swap in some of that cherry juice for the lemonade? That sounds amazing!

Erin - You are just the sweetest. Such high praise from one of my favorite bloggers means so much to me. Thank you.

I just love reading your posts Jess. You have such...

2009-07-06T10:18:52.424-04:00

I just love reading your posts Jess. You have such an effortless writing style. I hope your step-mother reads your blog. I'm sure you brought her to tears with your kitchen reminiscences.

Oh well, I am right in line with that thomfech, we...

2009-07-06T10:13:28.065-04:00

Oh well, I am right in line with that thomfech, weeping in to my chai cup here this morning. I claim knowing Amy long before the ice cream date and I knew those worn pots and wooden spoons, back when they were new. Oh, what a complete tribute to my AmyNel written by the girl who deserves a tall glass of iced lemonade and big slice of some nice cake- you are a delectable stepdaughter- you have brought your family innumerable joy and your post here is a sample of your HUGE heart. Happy July to you all. I am off to brew sour cherry juice. HUGS! from Suzi

you all are makin me cry

2009-07-05T21:46:26.903-04:00

you all are makin me cry

"Amy’s kitchen was more like a studio of sort...

2009-07-05T20:33:33.840-04:00

"Amy’s kitchen was more like a studio of sorts, with its tools and towels and three kinds of flour." -- That is a beautiful sentence:) What a great post. I may have to put my sack of red potatoes to use on this recipe!

As a Clevelander, it makes me wonder if our dairy ...

2009-07-05T17:10:34.153-04:00

As a Clevelander, it makes me wonder if our dairy queens have secret power... I adore a vinegary potato salad. I just recently posted my grandmother-in-laws recipe.

I, too love Amy, and have witnessed many of her ta...

2009-07-05T16:12:25.943-04:00

I, too love Amy, and have witnessed many of her talents. Her typical day starts with a workout at 6 am, a drive to her husband's ad agency to produce a tv ad, back to school to lead a writing workshop for middle schoolers, home to write press release for the district, photograph a concert, record school board notes and have lunch with friends - all in an afternoon. She can be relied on to dress up any conversation with a cornball idom or folsky anecdote. Sitting alongside her at a soccer game last Fall she chimed in with this winning cheer from her school days in the South: "Porkchop, porkchop, greazzzy, greazzy,
We're gonna beat you easy, easy."
Invoking food in a cheer? No wonder Amy is a constant figure in Jessica's marvelous food blog.
And by the way, as being frequent recipients of kindnesses, cards, home-cooking, and favors, being a friend of Amy's is to feel her fierce, forever love. She is, simply, supremely Amy. There is no one better.

I love your description of Amy's kitchen, espe...

2009-07-05T16:04:51.525-04:00

I love your description of Amy's kitchen, especially the line about it being "more like a studio of sorts." What a memorably lovely analogy! That's how I think of my own kitchen, especially on those days when inspiration strikes and the impromptu recipe makes for a meal worth remembering.

I know Amy and can vouch for her in every way--dir...

2009-07-05T15:54:59.411-04:00

I know Amy and can vouch for her in every way--direct, funny, talented, lovely cook, busy mom and wife, and a classic, natural beauty. Where I meet her most often is at our local gym, where she is working out at 7:30 AM before going on to her workday!

You are quite lucky with your stepmom. I don't...

2009-07-05T15:23:03.877-04:00

You are quite lucky with your stepmom. I don't know my stepmom that well unfortunately, but I know I could learn alot from her.

That is such a beautiful tribute to your Amy. I f...

2009-07-05T14:12:45.521-04:00

That is such a beautiful tribute to your Amy. I feel that same complete and utter love and devotion to my "stepdad." (I actually hate that word and would never call him that in real life!)