Bacon IS a trail snack.

As a single career girl with three very large dogs, an old, very retired Arabian endurance horse and a rescue donkey, I rarely have time to eat sitting down.  Eating over the sink is a luxury too although the clean up crew is always ready to help out at a moments notice.  Lately I've been thinking a lot about, and missing the days of Saturday night dinner parties.  All of us sitting around till the wee hours, emptying bottle after bottle of fabulous wine and discussing the state of the world we live in. I don't think there even needs to be anything to celebrate to whip up a delicious, inventive menu, invite guests (let them know they need to "dress" for dinner), pick up some lovely flowers for a whimsical center piece and start cookin'! (ending)  I hope you can make it to the next one.  You know the food will be great!

It's the middle of January.  The "dead" of winter as it's referred to in some literature. Nothing much "dead" about this winter in my house!  From late night root vegetable roasting that sends a heavenly scent throughout my mini Winchester Mystery House, to pop up dinner parties bringing together old friends and new; nope, nothing "dead" about THIS winter. After working all day in an industry where nothing is ever what it appears to be and the word "creative" has little to no real meaning anymore, I find comfort in knowing that when I open my fridge and cupboards there is ALWAYS something delicious, patiently waiting to be created.   I think about food, pretty much all day long... how many different types of chowders can I come up with?  How do I want to use that lovely black onyx cocoa powder I received as a hostess gift from an amazing chef colleague?  It's going to rain later this week, should I grill all the halibut I h...