Exotic. Different. Coleslaw? So claims one of our beloved Ladies’ Auxiliary cookbooks about its recipe for “Fruit Slaw”, possibly a perfect side dish for any summer weekend, and especially the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. Are you  planning your cookouts? Our lovely Ladies have lots to offer when it comes to our favorite classic, all-American salad.

That fruit slaw, unusual, I suppose, for the inclusion of apple (which I happen to love in my own coleslaw), grapes and mandarin oranges, comes from a favorite cookbook in my crazy collection: Out of Our League, compiled by the Junior League of Greensboro, North Carolina in 1978.

I also find myself drawn to this gem from Panic in the Pantry, a cookbook created by the Junior Section of the Manor Club, Pelham, New York, in 1975. (What is it with me and the 1970s cookbooks this week? Dunno. I’m having a retro moment…) And who was Mrs. Hart, I wonder, especially since the recipe was contributed by one Diana Beeton.

A 1956 book, the Silver Anniversary International Cookbook from sorority Beta Sigma Phi has multiple slaw options. A classic, above, as well as Old-Fashioned, and for the party people, 24 Hour.

This spiral bound beauty was edited, natch, by not one but two home economists, Betty Delmonico and Viola H. Ward. (No, I did not, could not, make those names up.)

The way I cook best is taking inspiration from the cooking of others, and making it my own. These are two of my favorite, original coleslaw recipe variations, but I want to know: What’s on the menu at your summer cookouts? Old favorites, or new experiments, either way, share ‘em with your sisters. And have a happy, safe 4th of July!

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YES, I KNOW: technically, it is not summer. But we’ve got forecasts in the 80s, and darn it, it’s (about to be! Whoo hoo!) Memorial Day weekend. Let the picnicking and ‘cue-ing begin! In need of inspiration? Look no further than our own archives of amazing summer recipes. Some vintage, some our own concoctions, there’s plenty to tempt palates from simple to soignée…

Let’s start with the basics, shall we? We love a good potato salad, and while we can’t make it from our own garden haul, not just yet, that’s no reason not to enjoy this all-American staple. Take a peek at our Ladies’ Auxiliary vintage recipe round-up, and you’ll find something just perfect for your picnic table.

I love fried chicken, but try to do like my disciplined friend Mimi: indulge in it, and indulge good, just once a year. If this isn’t your moment for deep fried decadence, my high school reunion special roast chicken is good hot, warm or cold, and makes a healthier, impossibly easy stand-in.

To continue the healthy theme, check out my Asian-inflected food blog roundup. Among other perfect-for-the-heat suggestions is a divine cold noodle salad from uber-blogger Heidi Swanson. (Want more of the wonders of the digital recipe box? Many more favorite food blogs await you.

But wait! What about dessert? Well, you’ve read my apple pie saga, right? Though not seasonally appropriate, apple pie’s always divine…but then again, in my family, it can cause some serious strife. Maybe best to stick with the season, and let the only fool be rhubarb. Mmmm.

Ok, sisters: your turns. What picnics are you packing, what sides are you serving for this upcoming, eagerly awaited long weekend?

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THANK HEAVENS FOR sisters. That’s my refrain this week, as I contemplate a tragic loss, and try to find my way through grief. Lucky for me, my sisters have some excellent advice.

Over on my personal blog, my own little commonplace book (virtual, that is), I’ve written about the death of a dear friend. I’m telling my story, inspired by the masterful advice of our own memoir guru, Marion, as she counsels another in grief to construct the list that helps with loss. I’m working on mine.

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WASP BY BIRTH, non-religious by choice, I nonetheless welcome the religious holidays that herald the start of spring. While my kids are counting down to the Easter Bunny, I’m thrilled to celebrate Passover tonight.

Passover has a special meaning for me, never mind my lack of faith or even Jewish roots. It’s a holiday when I celebrated the family I’ve formed over the years, from friends and children and shared experiences. When I lived in L.A., I spent nearly every Passover with my sister-friend Chris and her family…which is why this morning, I found the picture above in my email inbox. Chris’ email said “Brisket ‘before’ Picture.” I’ll just title it, “The Brisket I Won’t Be Eeating”.

Though I’ll miss my family-of-friends in L.A., though I’m lucky to be joining new friends for tonight’s celebration…and I’m bringing my favorite Kosher-for-Passover chocolate cake. I found the recipe thanks to Martha Stewart, and it’s a part of my ever-evolving sister, Passover story. I hope you’ll read, and enjoy, and if you need a seder dessert, cook along with me. Zissen Pesach to all.

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APRIL, FAMOUSLY THE cruelest month, at least according to poet T.S. Eliot and those writing big checks to the IRS today, is also the most poetical. Today marks the midpoint of National Poetry Month, and here on TSP, we loves us some poems. Distract yourself from taxation by reading on–we’ve got sisterly sonnets (and free verse, and haiku, and sestinas…)

It all started, on TSP anyway, with a sister-friend’s request for words of solace to get her through hard times. Her friends chimed in via email, and when I posted her request here, sisters and strangers far and wide shared their favorite poems and quotes. Before long, we had a whole discussion going on about the archaic, and beautiful, practice of making commonplace books, collections of words of wisdom and inspiration, and in our case, wonderful sisterhood poems.

Take a look, and see (and share) what poetry inspires you. Me, I’m loving this sonnet (found thanks to Facebook) which was translated into English by an old friend from high school. Enjoy, and share your favorite poetic discoveries.

To Evening
Sonnet by Ugo Foscolo

Perhaps because you are the image of that fatal quiet
so dear to me, you have come,
O Evening! And when happy summer clouds
and the gentle west wind are your escort,
and when from snowy restless heights
you send shadows and darkness into the world,
you descend summoned always, and gently hold
the secret ways of my heart.
You make my thoughts wander forms
that vanish into eternal nothing; meanwhile
this cursed time flees, and with it, the throng
of cares with which it me destroys;
and while I gaze on your peace, that warlike spirit
sleeps, that yet within me roars.

translation by Nick Benson of Ugo Foscolo (1778-1827), ‘Alla sera,’ published 1803

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MY NOSE WAS buried in my shopping list last week at the market, when a familiar voice interrupted my internal debate (Broccoli? Cabbage? Cauliflower?). The encounter wasn’t a surprise. But the message? An unexpected delight, especially evocative today, the official publication day of Margaret’s beautiful memoir.

It turned out that Ellen, a fellow mom at my kids’ school, a lovely, light-filled woman who I don’t know well, but who always makes me smile, had just discovered TSP. She wanted me to know that she’d found us while searching for info on her favorite astrologer (yep, our one and only Sheilaa Hite). And she wanted me to know that she was loving what she found here. She’s the kind of woman who talks to her own sister every single day, so she knows what means sisterhood. I’ve defined it for myself, in many ways through my life, but with special care since Margaret invited me into this unruly gang we call TSP.

I was an early commenter on Margaret’s magnificent garden blog, A Way To Garden. She came visiting my blog, left a hello, we chit-chat-commented back and forth, and before long, I was trundling down Margaret’s own dirt road to visit her and her garden–our first date. We like to tell people we met online. She and Marion and Anastasia were already sisters of different sorts, but soon they invited me to the party as well. We have lived through some things, the four of us, since our first meeting in Margaret’s cozy house; you can read about some of them in The Book. Mostly, there, though, you’ll read about Margaret and her search for self in a post-power-suit world.

I relate to that search, having packed up my own power suits nearly a decade ago. My motivations were both the same–the frustrations of reining in my own ideas in the service of others–and different: I had a toddler at home who seemed more compelling than many of those boss-like others. It took another three years before I’d trade in L.A.’s fast lanes for my corner of rural paradise-slash-insanity. In the process, I had to redefine myself (yeah, yeah, still working on that one, but coming ever closer), find new friends and face down fears. Mostly mine didn’t slither, like Margaret’s (read the book already if you don’t know what I mean by that snakey reference!), but they had no less powerful an impact on my transformation from a Hollywood television executive to a backroads writer.

Margaret writes in her book of the teachers who helped her find her away along a new, ever-unexpected path. Well, readers, I’m here to tell you, she’s been one of mine. As a mentor and a friend, Margaret is matchless. And when I ran into Ellen, a sweet sister at the supermarket, her effusive praise for this site reminded of how it all started here: escapees from two different rat-races, a couple different kinds of sisterhoods, and connections forged easily in blog comments as in the produce aisle. Sisterhood is where you find it, and I’m blessed to find it here.

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SISTERS BIANCA AND Sierra Casady, better known (maybe) as freak folk duo CocoRosie, offer up an otherworldly mix of vocals, strings, and sounds from children’s toys in their often haunting, undeniably original songs. The duo sometimes performs with longtime TSP fave, Antony of Antony and the Johnsons, but for many years, the girls didn’t see much of one another at all.

Then younger sister Bianca turned up for an unannounced visit to Paris-based Sierra. When Bianca’s stay turned into an extended recording session–in the tiny bathroom of Sierra’s Montmartre flat–the sisters’ first disc, La maison de mon reve was born. For a introduction to Cocorosie’s ethereal sound, check out their tracks “Terrible Angels” and “By Your Side”, and watch for their new CD, Grey Oceans, dropping this week.

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BROOKLYN-BASED, TEXAS-twanged sextet The Sweetback Sisters describe their music as “Honky-Tonk for the modern day cowboy and girl”, and really, who are we to argue? Watch for this fabulous band of harmonizing (non) sisters on tour. And meanwhile, sing along to one of my favorites of their tunes, “Don’t Put Her Down.” Let that one be your motto, sisters.

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Bedtime's not quite this peaceful...but it's close

F OR THE LAST few years, my family’s bedtime routine has been one of divide and conquer. The H would take bathtime, I’d deal with pajamas and teeth. One of us would read to the Rock, who generally demanded at least three books, one of which had to contain Clifford, while the River, for the longest time, was really engaged by Laura and the Little House, which I alone would read. But this spring, something had to give, and I feared reprisals.

The H, bless him, has been traveling almost the whole year. He’s working on a wonderful project, but it has kept him not just out of town, but mostly out of the country, for the better part of the last four months. The thing I dreaded most, as I anticipated week up on week of solo parenting: bedtime. (Ok, the morning race to get out the door to school isn’t so fun either. But at least I’m rested when it begins.)

I found ways to make the nightly wind-down easier: both children no longer get bathed nearly every night; we alternate. And often skip it altogether. The River listens to a book on tape while I lie down with his sister for the last snuggles she needs in order to settle in to sleep.

But when it comes to bedtime stories, my kids are unified. They each want a choice, and they want to be read to together. That’s not so amazing, really, but I’ve been stunned by the level of mutual respect each shows the other when it comes to what they choose for their read-to-me material.

The Rock is tending towards fairies, dancers, and animals who love their mommas. (Who can argue?) Not only does the River listen intently, he sometimes takes over the reading if have lingering kitchen clean up to do. And he, though he can now read chapter books on his own just fine, prefers to read non-fiction to himself (he’s big on the history of World War II) and have the fantasy stuff read aloud. We’re deep into The Lightning Thief, the story of half-human, half-god, all 12 year old boy Perseus Jackson. (Unlike the movie version, the book is quite good.)

The Rock, who used to twist and turn and interrupt and sing and generally make everyone but herself highly agitated during the reading of the dreaded Books Without Pictures (oh, the injustice!) now snuggles up between me and her brother, listens intently, and asks questions that show she’s not just following along, but actually captivated.

Will this peaceable kingdom last? I have no idea. But when the H finally returns, he can take back bath duty. I’m keeping reading.

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APRIL DOES SOMETIMES feel like the cruelest month, because for me, every year, this is when I revamp my diet and exercise routines. Something about warm air and sunshine makes me tune back in to my too-often-neglected body and my health, and as a result, I’ve been scouting around the net for blogs and websites that help me clean up and pare down my eating. Here’s a baker’s dozen of sites that are my current faves for inspiring me to cook and eat in a way that is healthy for me, and the planet.

Some of these you’ll recognize from prior favorite food blog lists, but others are new to me, and TSP.

Cheap Healthy Good

The name says it all. And besides staying true to its mission, the site offers great roundups of recipes from elsewhere on the net, tailored toward a particular goal. I like this list of “healthy one-dish meals with good leftover potential.” And not just because it features lots of gratuitous pictures of George Clooney.

Albion Cooks

Catherine describes her cooking as “Vegetarian, delicious, healthy” but it’s also beautifully photographed and geared towards cooking with what’s in season. I’m dying to try  her brussels sprout and blue cheese pizza, which combines two of my favorite things in the world.

Dr. Gourmet

This is, hands down, the best dieting website I’ve found. Created by New Orleans physician Timothy S. Harlan M.D., it has medically sound information and advice, and every single recipe tells you if it’s suitable for various nutritional needs (low sodium, gluten-free, etc.) Best of all, unlike so many other diet sites, Dr. Gourmet’s recipes focus on using unprocessed, real foods. The chicken vindaloo is calling my name.

Mighty Foods

This site’s mission is to “redefine the way you think about whole, natural foods” and with inventive recipes like Midnight Hummus (made with lentils) and Brown Rice Syrup Brownies, I think it’s got a good shot. I also love that like Cheap Healthy Good, it offers up well organized lists of other recipe sources around the web. Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks (more on her later) is one of the contributors, so you know you’re in good hands.

The Ethicurean

This one’s not a cooking site, per se. But if you care about what you eat, where it comes from, and its impact on the planet, this site is for you. It gives a great round-up of food, farm and environmental news in one pithy package. Good to read while you’re eating your (healthy!) lunch.

Mark Bittman’s Bitten

Mark Bittman seems to divide foodies straight down the line: some love him while others scoff. I’m a lover, so I was distraught when, just this week, The New York Times decided to fold Bittman’s Bitten blog into what they describe as the new “superblog” Diner’s Journal. My jury’s out on that decision, but all of Bittman’s posts are available here. His chickpea snack has my name all over it.

Grist

If you don’t know this smart, slightly irreverent environmental news site, you should, and not just because their food content is excellent. Great writing from strong voices make this entertaining as well as a useful resource. Recipes are featured occasionally, but this one is all about educated eating.

Fat of the Land

Langdon Cook (with whom, as it happens, I went to high school–go figure) is an author, and, perhaps more important, a forager…meaning: he finds his food. OK, not all of it, but if you want to read about hunting and cooking chanterelles, fishing for salmon, or digging razor clams, he’s your guy. And his recipes (and writing) rock. Since I pine for Mexican food here in my tiny nearly-New England town, his recipe for fish tacos may be a lifesaver.

Eating From the Ground Up

I met Alana IRL (you know: In Real Life) because the Rock (that’s my daughter) befriended her little girl, Rosie. They quickly became peas in a princess-y pod, and Alana and I were thrown together as only two mamas on a playdate can be. But it turned out that I love Alana as much (dare I say more?) than Rock loves Rosie. She’s a superior cook, an adventurer, hilarious, kind, and so dedicated to locavore eating that she kind of takes my breath away. She’s responsible for my discovering the wonders of homemade granola, but her blog is a treasure trove of healthy, family-friendly recipes. I can vouch for her nearly-no-sugar birthday cake: awesome. But don’t take my word; bake it yourself.

101 Cookbooks

If you’ve followed my previous food-blog picks, you already know how much I love Heidi Swanson and her gorgeous site, 101 Cookbooks. She’s the queen of taking healthy whole foods and turning them into inventive, delicious fare that appeals to a wide range of eaters. As winter winds down, and I await the real spring veggies, I think I’m going to try this Warm Red Cabbage salad for a super healthy and satisfying farewell to cold-weather foods.

Gluten Free Girl and the Chef

My love for Shauna Ahern and her delicious blog is not new news. My ardor for her kale chips, heaven on a plate for a chip-deprived dieters, might be. Check ‘em out, and be sure to read our profile of sister Shauna, too.

Gluten Free Goddess

I found Karina Allrich, aka the Gluten Free Goddess, thanks to Twitter, and I love her writing, her photography, and most of all, her recipes. Karina is gluten-, egg- and dairy-free, so great for people challenged by those allergies. I just like how her food tastes; this mayo-free coleslaw just may become my summer BBQ staple…

Post Punk Kitchen

I was never really punk, so I don’t think I qualify as post-punk either. But no matter: the rebellious vegans of PPK welcome all cooks willing to forgo animal products. Veggie friends of mine swear by their cookbooks, and I’m pretty sure their mango-ginger tofu would convert anyone to the joys of the humble soybean.

Enjoy, and share your favorite online resources for healthy eating.

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