Linda Bassett

Who reads cookbooks? Who buys them? Who are they written for? The first acknowledged cookbook, De Re Coquinaria, was authored by Apicius during the Roman Empire. Discovered among musty manuscripts during the Renaissance, it is more a memoir of elite parties in Imperial Rome, more suggestion than instruction. Who reads cookbooks?  CURRENT PHOTO / LINDA BASSETT In the following centuries, cookbooks guided heads of large kitchens who oversaw a staff of cooks in a castle or a manor. (Home cooks learned by rote from mothers…

A blueberry cobbler recipe, famously created by Alice Waters, has long been considered the gold standard of that dessert. The West Coast chef reduced the amount of sugar in a traditional cobbler highlighting the fruit's natural sweetness. On the opposite coast, John Martin Taylor, king of the peach cobbler, does not shy away from sugar. He includes a full cup to his dough — and he's sticking to it. Surely their surroundings and culinary heritages influenced their choices: Waters is a Mediterranean-influenced Californian and Taylor…

Is it spring yet? You know, the season when a mother's heart turns to baseball. Yes, I recognize all those families involved in dance and musical instrument lessons and theater are also part of the equation. (All I can say is, thank the stars above that you don't spend afternoons and weekends shivering on aluminum bleachers). We do share a common problem. Dinner. Getting it on the table efficiently so there's time for homework, baths and a decent bedtime. We are always thinking of putting…

Signs of spring:  Daylight saving time. Tulips. Birdsong.  Artichokes.  Asparagus.   Although artichokes are my favorite, asparagus is more approachable, easier to prep, eat and clean. So, where to start. At the market, choose firm, uniform green and tightly closed tips. Pencil-thin stalks are great, but fat asparagus is a revelation, especially when baked under a cloud of buttery parmesan cheese. Store it in the vegetable drawer.  Experts say no longer than 24 hours, but I’ve stretched that another 24 on occasion.  No longer.  Buds…