Category Archives: Food

Memories of Home, of New Mexico

Posted on June 14, 2015 by John Swinburn

This morning, as I thumbed through an old blog I downloaded before I killed it off several years ago (if one can thumb through an electronic document), I came upon a lengthy post about a trip my wife and I made to New … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Sense of place, Travel | 1 Comment

An Afternoon Breakfast Break

Posted on April 1, 2015 by John Swinburn

After a morning in pottery class, followed by lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf with my wife and sister-in-law and a bit of shopping, I spent the afternoon doing a bit of research on breakfasts around the world.  During my explorations of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Writing | 2 Comments

Squid Pro Quo

Posted on March 26, 2015 by John Swinburn

An online video I watched this morning made me very hungry.  If you read the recipe below and like it, know this: if you bring me the squid, I will prepare this recipe and grill it for you. Even if … Continue reading →

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Not Bothered by Paraskavedekatriaphobia

Posted on March 13, 2015 by John Swinburn

Tonight, we will attend “trivia night,” an event that supports an organization that, in turn, supports the Village library. We are sitting at one of two tables of eight organized by members of the Village Writers’ Club. Inasmuch as today … Continue reading →

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Father Google and the Dilemma of Cilantro

Posted on March 10, 2015 by John Swinburn

It occurred to me yesterday afternoon that some people may have had the same experience I’ve had with cilantro. Maybe both some of the people who read this blog have had a similar experience with cilantro.  If so, I’m here … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Humor | 2 Comments

The Nude Vegan

Posted on March 8, 2015 by John Swinburn

I was a participant in a conversation yesterday afternoon that could turn into something interesting. Or ugly.  Well, it already has. Let me explain. Our conversation about blogging took a turn when my friend mentioned she once wrote a blog about vegan cuisine.  I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Just Thinking, Nudity | 4 Comments

Putting My Head in the Oven

Posted on March 5, 2015 by John Swinburn

Earlier, when I finished my first set of posts for the morning, I intended to go explore what my brain had in mind (pardon the pun) for me today.  But reality sometimes falls short of expectations.  Instead of exploring intellectual … Continue reading →

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Fascination with Flânerie

Posted on March 2, 2015 by John Swinburn

In my position as a professional flâneur, I sometimes stumble across interesting stuff. A life of loafing can be informative, illuminating, instructive, and entertaining. For example, I watched a YouTube video a few days ago (more than one, actually, but one … Continue reading →

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Tart Cherries

Posted on February 28, 2015 by John Swinburn

One does not speak of tart cherries (and let me be clear, I’m not referring to cherry tarts) unless one is serious about the subject.  It’s just not done in polite company.  So, I have to assume I am serious … Continue reading →

Posted in Food | 2 Comments

The Breakfast Project

Posted on February 24, 2015 by John Swinburn

I have gathered basic information about common breakfasts in sixty-two countries.  I am now beginning the process of checking whether the information I’ve gathered is legitimate (most of it came from the internet, though some from my own experience).  I … Continue reading →

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Tamale Fest

Posted on February 21, 2015 by John Swinburn

I spent almost the entire day yesterday—well, from 11:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m—working in the kitchen, preparing for today’s long-awaited tamale fest.  A couple of friends who have been after me to have a tamale party for more than twenty years (long … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Friendship | 1 Comment

Recipe for Uzbek Soup (Moshhorda)

Posted on February 17, 2015 by John Swinburn

Following is the recipe for the Uzbek soup our couchsurfer visitors prepared for us last night.  It was beyond wonderful.  Our visitors, biologists from the St. Louis area, were a delightful couple who have traveled extensively throughout Uzbekistan, Khazakstan, Russia, Mongolia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Couch Surfing, Food, Travel | Leave a comment

Silliness on Steroids

Posted on February 11, 2015 by John Swinburn

I’m not sure what possessed me to think about the idiocy of competitive eating at this hour. Not that it matters, of course, as almost everything I post at this hour arises from thoughts with no logical connection to the time … Continue reading →

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Slaughter of Tradition

Posted on February 9, 2015 by John Swinburn

My tendency to abandon tradition in the kitchen has become a more intensely practiced habit of late than in the past. Lately, breakfasts have been the subject of my passion for twisting what has long been socially accepted as satisfying and right … Continue reading →

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It’s New to Me

Posted on January 24, 2015 by John Swinburn

For the second time since I watched the bizarre instructional video on YouTube, I prepared soft-boiled eggs for breakfast this morning by steaming them.  I’d never before made soft-boiled eggs, as I had this idea that I would need a … Continue reading →

Posted in Food | 2 Comments

Evocative Seafood Stew

Posted on January 22, 2015 by John Swinburn

My wife made the most fabulous seafood stew for dinner a couple of nights ago. It included chunks of cod, sea scallops, and shrimp in a perfectly spiced tomato base.  As we were having dinner, I commented that the stew brought up … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Memories, Nature | 2 Comments

I Ate Spam

Posted on January 19, 2015 by John Swinburn

A few weeks ago, the subject of Spam came up during a conversation with my sister-in-law.  I don’t recall exactly what precipitated the conversation, but I think it had something to do with the fact that there are amazing numbers … Continue reading →

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An Ongoing Fascination with International Breakfasts

Posted on January 16, 2015 by John Swinburn

Last night, I spent the evening researching a subject I wrote about back in November, breakfasts common in different parts of the world. Long ago, I concluded that people who claims certain dishes are the “typical” breakfasts in any locale … Continue reading →

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Those Eyes

Posted on January 15, 2015 by John Swinburn

Well, the ophthalmologist has spoken.  My self-diagnosis of map dot fingerprint dystrophy was wrong.  I would have failed the final exam in medical school, I suppose. The problem with my right eye, it turns out, is an early-onset cataract.  Most … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health | Leave a comment

Creative Cookery

Posted on January 12, 2015 by John Swinburn

One of the many things I love about mi esposa hermosa is that she is creative in ways that surprise me and that encourage my own creativity.  Yesterday, as we discussed what we might do with the awaze paste I made, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Food, Love | Leave a comment

Cold and Grey and Suitable for Soup

Posted on January 11, 2015 by John Swinburn

The morning is dreary and cold, with grey skies and, from what I can tell, light rain.  Last night’s forecast called for sleet and freezing rain this morning, but I don’t see evidence of ice, though I hear an occasional noise that … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Weather | Leave a comment

From Congee to Habanero, Seaside

Posted on December 22, 2014 by John Swinburn

Despite the absence of some of the ingredients, I’m in the process of making congee again. The first time I made it, I used chicken broth to cook the rice; when it was throughly cooked and broken down, I added … Continue reading →

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Feeding on Fusion

Posted on December 22, 2014 by John Swinburn

A few days ago, as I was skimming through some old posts on this blog, portions of a screed I posted on Christmas Day last year caught my attention. I don’t know how I could have let the ideas I proffered … Continue reading →

Posted in Food | 1 Comment

About Breakfast

Posted on November 7, 2014 by John Swinburn

I find astonishing that, apparently, I have failed to write a post about my obsession with breakfast and, more specifically, breakfast traditions around the world.  If I have written about it, I cannot find it, though I did find a … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Just Thinking | 3 Comments

Beautiful Day

Posted on November 2, 2014 by John Swinburn

Art brings people closer, compelling them to think and to consider ideas and perspectives unlike any they had considered before. “What was the artist thinking?” “What does it mean?” “How does this piece of art fit into my view of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Food, Friendship | 3 Comments