Jacques Pepin, one of my all-time favorite chefs, is turning ninety this month. His skills would be almost intimidating if he wasn't such a nice person and so down to earth. He can cut up a chicken in thirty seconds and he'll show the rest of us how to do it too. Maybe it'll take … Continue reading Cooking With (Another) French Chef: Three Favorite Jacques Pepin Recipes
Who Likes Leftovers? (Turkey Shepherd’s Pie and Turkey Pockets)
As those of you who read my "Cooking With the French Chef" post yesterday know, for this month's installment, I transformed three chickens into five meals. We're all looking for ways to use up leftover turkey for the holidays, and I thought I'd throw my hat into the idea ring, only using chicken as a … Continue reading Who Likes Leftovers? (Turkey Shepherd’s Pie and Turkey Pockets)
Let Them Eat Movie Cake
In a previous post we talked about how we never see crab cakes in movies. Regular cake, on the other hand, is obviously a different story. If there's a wedding, there will probably be a cake. If there's a birthday, there will probably be a cake. If there's an office party, there will probably be … Continue reading Let Them Eat Movie Cake
A Gallery of Graduations
Graduation, of course, is on the horizon for so many, my son and nephew included, and the bittersweet feelings are thick right now, as is the nostalgia. What better way to tap into that than watch some movies centered around graduation? Or at least have a graduation scene in them? It all works. In that … Continue reading A Gallery of Graduations
Five Movies That Get Nature Calling (In More Ways Than One)
We all know that movies can do funny things to us. And some say that the test of a good movie, or a good performance in general, is how much it keeps a person in their seat, even when nature calls. Sometimes nature calls in a different way, of course, but either way, it calls. … Continue reading Five Movies That Get Nature Calling (In More Ways Than One)
Mushroom Love In the Movies
As we talked about yesterday, who doesn't love mushrooms? Hollywood sure does, and here are a few of the times mushrooms have adorned the silver screen, magic and otherwise. Obviously this isn't an exhaustive list, but just a snapshot (Hollywood really loves mushrooms). And as a bonus, I didn't think stills would do our favorite … Continue reading Mushroom Love In the Movies
Fifteen “Gilmore Girls” Songs
It's hard to believe Gilmore Girls is turning twenty-five this year. The show is going strong on Netflix and just recently appeared on Hulu as well, plus people are still asking for a second reunion show nine years and counting following 2016's A Year In the Life. It's pretty safe to say Stars Hollow isn't going … Continue reading Fifteen “Gilmore Girls” Songs
Chatting With the Oracle (Judy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies)
And here's our first post in the Club 15 Tier! Why is it called Club 15? Well, it's a reference to 2015, the year Taking Up Room began. All right, I hope you enjoy... We all have something resembling an Oracle in our lives, whether it's a flesh-and-blood person or something intangible. When everything feels … Continue reading Chatting With the Oracle (Judy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies)
Taking Up Room 