I was a lawyer – until I traded torts for tarts. I believe in the power of food to bring people together. For me, cooking is one of life’s great joys and sharing food an even greater pleasure. I am not embarrassed at how many spatulas, graters and cookbooks I own, nor by the pounds (literally) of chocolate stored in my pantry. After cooking and eating, my favorite activities include researching and writing, most often about something connected to food.
My blog, Mother Would Know, is aimed at those who appreciate home cooking and want to do more of it. Besides keeping the blog going, I have written for the Washington Post, USA Today, the Huffington Post and the Jewish Food Experience. I also coach people on how to cook more and feel confident in their kitchen, particularly young adults with disabilities and those who are self-conscious about their lack of cooking skills.
Although I no longer hunt for legal precedents, I still enjoy hunting for “information treasure,” particularly when the gems I find relate to food, culture, and history. My books are labors of love in those fields: The Hamilton Cookbook: Cooking, Eating and Entertaining in Hamilton’s World and All Stirred Up: Suffrage Cookbooks, Food, and the Battle for Women’s Right to Vote.
I live in Washington, D.C. with my husband. We had a wonderful dog, Klezmer, who lived to a ripe old age and was the source of considerable joy in our household. I’ve resisted the idea of getting another dog, both out of loyalty to our beloved Klezmer, and a sense that it would tie us down when I want to be free to travel. Our two kids have grown up and moved away. They make me proud and I love them to pieces, although I am mystified as to why they have become committed “cat people” when they had such a dog-centered upbringing. Oh well, just another curve ball that life has thrown my way.
