As the outer-space correspondent at The Atlantic, I spend a lot of time looking beyond Earth’s atmosphere. I’ve watched footage of a helicopter flying on Mars. I’ve watched a livestream of NASA smashing a spacecraft into an asteroid on purpose. I’ve seen people blast off on rockets with my own eyes. But I have never seen 2001: A Space Odyssey.This is an enormous oversight, apparently. The 1968 film is considered one of the greatest in history and its director, Stanley Kubrick, a cinematic genius. And, obviously, it’s about space. Surely a space reporter should see it—and surely a reporter should take notes.What follows is my real-time reaction to watching 2001 on a recent evening, edited for length and clarity. Even...
Growing up, my family spent every Christmas Eve with friends at the home of our neighbors, Pat and Paul Swanson. Though my family is Jewish, we loved being part of this tradition—the white lights, crackling fire, and, best of all, the annual appearance of Santa Claus. Always on the menu were Pat’s Swedish meatballs, rich mini meatballs made from beef and pork in a light cream sauce. The meatballs were standard cocktail party fare back in the 70s, but they’re still a huge hit at any party. They also make a fantastic and kid-friendly weeknight dinner served over mashed potatoes or egg noodles. This easy Swedish meatball recipe is adapted from Cooks Illustrated. To achieve the right springy yet delicate texture,...
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love cooking with cast iron. In fact, I use my favorite skillet on a regular basis. Besides being extremely durable and versatile, cast iron is known to handle extreme heat and help blend wonderful and delicious food flavors into cooked meals that no other frying pan can seem to do. But before you ever use one for the first time, it’s very important that you prep your cast iron beforehand. I love making recipes in my cast iron skillet like How to Make the Best Skillet Brownies in Cast Iron and How To Make Scones Using A Cast Iron Skillet! I’m always anxious to get my new cast iron products ready to...
The holidays can bring overnight houseguests. Bless their little hearts, they appreciate treats to enhance breakfast, baked goods that can make them feel like they are getting special treatment. These luscious add-ons aren’t necessarily intended as a replacement for protein-based breakfast entrees. They are a delicious way to make the first meal of the day more festive. I often rely on fruit-augmented cakes that can be prepared a day or two before guests arrive. A lemon-blackberry Bundt cake or an apple-cider enriched loaf cake are two favorite standbys. I put them on a pretty plate or footed cake plate where guests can see them when they arrive. That way they can look forward to a delicious mealtime the following day....
This crispy and cheesy eggplant pecorino by America’s Test Kitchen is a huge hit at any gathering! It’s loaded with tons of cheese and a mouthwatering tomato sauce. It’s actually very easy to prepare – great for make-ahead meals. You should definitely try this dish at home. Read on for the full recipe. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of butter 1/4 finely minced onion 3 garlic cloves 2 minced anchovy fillets 3/4 teaspoon of table salt 1/4 teaspoon of pepper flakes 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano 128 oz can of crushed tomatoes 14 oz can of diced tomatoes 1/2 teaspoon of sugar 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil 3 pieces of 10-16 oz eggplant flour...
