I did not know there was a need for this advice – another case of “behind closed doors”. Making toast is usually done in the privacy of one’s own kitchen, an intimate affair, and I was under the misguided impression that what goes on in my home is “normal”. We freeze bread. And bagels. Sliced. For toast. For sandwiches.

My family is small. My mother’s family was small. She freezes sliced bread. As mother, as daughter.

So yeah, duh, unless you have bread at your elbow at every meal, freeze on.

Photos by

Story by 

Toast lovers, I have a modest proposal for you: Do not bother with bad bread. Say goodbye to sweet, cottony, lightweight toast, the kind that squishes under a butter knife or slumps under a blanket of jam.

Read on here.

Thank you, Karen Barry Schwarz, cabin roommate, nighttime hilarion, toast connection.

This is my new book and I’m very proud of it.

While it comes from the wonderful American Girl people and is a terrific book for girls, it is also a terrific book for boys. Girls and boys of any age – school age to dotage – who want to cook. I think it would make a great gift for college kids, young adults, newlyweds, or anyone else who is beginning their kitchen adventure.

Recipes include hot and cold sandwiches (of course there are sandwiches!), roast chicken, salads, the best chocolate chip cookies ever, amazing chocolate cupcakes, perfect marinara, what to do with vegetables, and all that one needs to create all meals, snacks, and occasions surrounding food.

Seriously, I love this book.

You’re the Chef is available right here.

Get ’em while they’re hot. The griddle is on the back berner.