melias

I live in Brooklyn with my husband, wonderful new baby, and wild cat. We live across the street from a large park, where I spend most of my time. I teach U.S. history at a small community college. I write about food history and love to read old cookbooks. They always make me hungry, no matter what the recipe is--chicken croquettes or baked bean salad (I'll give you the recipe!). I'm thinking of reviving jello molds as art therapy.

There are so many books that I love, but I probably think about the Phantom Tollbooth more often than any other I have read. I love Alice Munro's stories and So Long See You Tomorrow, by William Maxwell. One of my favorite history books is Confidence Men and Painted Women by Karen Halttunen which is all about ideas of honor in 19th century America. And my latest favorite cookbook is Roast Chicken and Other Stories. The title alone delights me.

My favorite movies are made by Preston Sturges, but more recently I loved Children of Men--I'm still reeling.

I love young bands with a sense of silliness. Right now that's Vox Trot, the Rosebuds, Destroyer, and Dengue Fever. And I can't get enough of Bowie or Lionel Hampton.

I knit and knit and knit and seldom make anything recognizable. I have a hard time following patterns but am newly committed to learning. In yarns, I love the variegated. Anything with more than one color in it is a treat for me because it makes simple patterns more exciting.

I love to cook and bake and think about food. I make bread all the time and am always interested in hearing about good recipes. In particular I am in search of the perfect cocoanut cake recipe. Do you have it?