plums in the icebox

eats and reads roundup! week of october 1

 

some recent meals of mine via Instagram

There's no use apologizing for the infrequency of these posts anymore, because I guess they are just going to be infrequent. But here's some stuff I've seen around the internet lately that might interest you eaters and you readers. 

EATS:

Eat like your favorite author.

Best GF brownies I've ever made. Cornstarch instead of flour? Genius. 

OH YES EGGPLANT TACOS

Serious Eats tries every "species" of goldfish. Goldfish crackers, that is. 

One of my new favorite food blogs is Scarletta Bakes. 

I'll probably make this super easy vegetarian dinner from Daily Garnish sometime this week. 

READS:

I really, really disagree with #4 on this list of "Five Marks of Oft-Rejected Poems" from the Indiana Review. "Refusal to transcend" sounds like a comment on a poor-performing angel's report card; I just don't think it applies to every single poem. 

This article by Cord Jefferson on Gawker kind of blew my mind. 

My friend Amber Sparks just came out with her debut colleciton of short stories, May We Shed These Human Bodies. You should read it (and buy it).

Birds of Lace is putting out some incredible chapbooks this year, including ones by awesome writers Kari Larsen, Andrea Quinlan, and Jeanine Deibel. You can subscribe to all TEN (10!!!!) titles that editor Gina Abelkop is putting out for $75. More information on BoL's, Twitter, Etsy and website. 

My friend Austin Tremblay has a cool journal called Owl Eye Review. They publish poetry and nonfiction, and they're also raising money for their next issue. 

And a bit of self-promotion. Read an interview with me and poet Dan Magers! I should also mention that I'm no longer doing Eat of the Moment over at HelloGiggles. All of my recipe posts are still up, though, so take a peek at my archives if you're ever feeling bored. It was a fun time writing for HelloGiggles and I'm grateful to them for letting me wax poetic about tacos and tortilla chip pieces. 

eats and reads week of 6/11

a chicken I roasted during the paleo challenge

Interesting things to eat, read, and read about eating. 

EATS:

A nine year old in Scotland shamed school officials into making school lunches better by writing about them on her blog via Grist.

What should I eat for breakfast today? is a pretty new Tumblr I'm enjoying.

"Anyone that takes pride in what they grew up on and fights to tell that story is a hero to me." A fascinating conversation between two immigrant chefs about appropriation, immigration, eating and America via GiltTaste

Why do we write recipes? via Four Pounds Flour.

READS:

My friend Mike Meginnis is the writer-in-residence for June over at Necessary Fiction. 

I'm pretty obsessed with this poem by Mark Neely. 

The Hairpin books editor Nicole Cliffe on food and feminism via The Equals Record.

Erin Fitzgerald's awesome essay about being pissed off at Paula Deen and diabetes via The Rumpus .

national poetry month edition of eats and reads

Here is a special National Poetry Month edition of EATS and READS. It's pretty heavy on the poetry-related reads, including a bunch of links to poems I like.

And, because I feel these EATS and READS posts need some kind of visual accompaniment, here's a picture from when I attempted to make candied violets and they didn't turn out that well so I didn't blog them.

EATS:

Follow along with my friend (and writer featured in Writers Eat) Christopher Newgent as he embarks on a meal planning adventure. 

Foodieism as Youth Culture via NY Magazine

Fascinating review of Gustavo Arellano's new book, Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America via Slate

A unicorn cookbook was found at the British Library. A UNICORN cookbook!

All you need to know about icing, frosting, and glaze via CakeSpy

Good dessert recipes for one or two people via The Kitchn

READS:

What does tension mean, in poetry?

Yucca Mountain by Aubrie Martin in Sink Review

Say When by Sophie Klahr in PANK

Every Cupcake is an Act of Violence by Matt L. Rohrer in GlitterPony

I Don't Burn by Kevin Young in A Public Space

I have done a very half-assed NaPoWriMo this year (I've written maybe 12 poems so far for the month), but go check out Maureen Thorson's thoughful prompts if you want to write a poem but are feeling stuck. 

Different poets (part 1, part 2) answer the question "What kind of poems do you write?" via The Poetry Foundation's Harriet Blog

Also, my collection of poems, PRETTY TILT, has been released! It's available on my publisher's website and was just released on Amazon, too!

I went on a very mini reading tour last week and read in NYC with lovely Birds of Lace authors Rohin Guha, Niina Pollari, Jason Helm, and with Birds of Lace editor, poet, and my friend, Gina Abelkop. Gina, who you might remember from her Writers Eat post, just had a book of poems, DARLING BEASTLETTES, come out with Apostrophe Books. Gina and I also read in DC with Joe Hall and Eugene Cross. Then we hopped a plane and read in Durham, NC with Kate Zambreno (who put us up in her airy, gorgeous house, fed us a delicious vegan breakfast and has the cutest puppy ever).

EATS & READS roundup week of 3/23

EATS:

Four Tips for Baking Better Cakes via Saveur

A Food Blogger's Dilemma This piece posits that many food blogs are espousing prepackaged, unhealthy foods in the disguise of creative, easy recipes. Thoughts? via HuffPo 

The Runcible Spoon Food Zine has a new issue out! I contributed to the last issue and can't wait to get my hands on their new one. Buy one for $3 via their Etsy Shop.

Are you watching the premiere of Mad Men on Sunday? I will be, if I can find somewhere to watch it (I don't have cable, sadly!) The Baltimore Sun has some suggestions on what to make for a 60s-inspired dinner party. via Baltimore Sun

READS:

I've been reading the book Letters to Kelly Clarkson by Julia Bloch, which I picked up at AWP this year. I'm pretty much obsessed with it. Check out some excerpts here, via Sidebrow.

My book is coming out in a week!

I am kind of a title snob, so I didn't expect to love this poem, "Our Song", so damn much. I mean, "our song?" Blah. But such a gorgeous poem. via Verse Daily

50 Notes on, against, and around the lyric essay via We Who Are About To Die

Read any worthwhile stories, poems, books, articles? Made any awesome recipes? Link them to me!

eats and reads

Way overdue for one of these posts, right? Here's what I've got for you:

EATS:

South Korean cake shops are causing economic problems. via The Economist

Cheesecake-Stuffed Strawberries via The Sweets Life

I've never made crepes and I imagine it takes some practice, but here's how. via Eating Well

10 foods you didn't know you could freeze via The Daily Meal

READS:

I randomly decided to tweet a link to a poem I like every day for a month, beginning February 8th and ending March 8th. If you like, you can follow along. A hashtag would probably be easiest, but I haven't thought of a good one yet.

Fashion-related essays, art, poetry and more at The Blind Hem.

Shit Poets Say (on Twitter)

Ethel Rohan shows you how to answer when people ask you how much of your writing is autobiographical. via The Chattahoochee Review

EATS & READS roundup week of 1/13

EATS

I made these Crispy Pan-Fried Beans with Wilted Greens the other night for dinner and whoa. Just whoa. Also makes surprisingly tasty leftovers. via The Kitchn

A quick way to caramelize onions via Diner's Journal 

Funny cooking videos for the beginning and intermediate cook via Hilah Cooking

I'm a cauliflower hater (other than cauliflower pizza crust which is GOOD) but I think I'd like to try this crispy cauliflower recipe. via The Boot

READS:

Tim Jones-Yelvington reviews Kate Zambreno's Green Girl via The Lit Pub. I'm reading the book right now and I have to agree with Tim that it certainly is a "necessary" book.

You can submit art and writing to Gigantic Sequins until 2/1.

I like this poem from Anne Marie Rooney. via Verse Daily

Writers, editors and publishers shared their New Year's resolutions with the LA Times. I like Elizabeth Crane's resolution. Coincidentally, I read her book of stories, When the Messenger is Hot ,when I was 16 and it blew my teenage mind. And she just started a funny Tumblr called Daily Cardie, so look at that, too. via Jacket Copy

EATS & READS roundup week of 12/2

I guess I'm still doing these little link roundups, although as you can tell, they won't be appearing weekly. These are cool though, right? I should keep doing these?

EATS:

The Best Ways to Store Food via LearnVest 

Vegan GF Sweet Potato Brownies via Apronstrings 

Apple-Oat Muffins (recipe by me) via Zestes De Mode

Are you following former Gourmet magazine editor Ruth Reichl on Twitter yet? I love her tweets. They're kinda corny but also poetic and heartwarming. I'd like to have her life. 

READS:

Roxane Gay on Twilight: Breaking Dawn aka hilarity via I Have Become Accustomed To Rejection

Some insight into WHY DOWNTON ABBEY IS THE BEST THING EVER via Anne Helen Peterson

A poem I like, "You As Bottle," by Rose Hunter via killauthor

The literary magazine Uncanny Valley, edited by my awesome friends Mike Meginnis and Tracy Bowling, needs submissions. Send them stuff. 

Read or eaten anything good lately?

new-to-me food blogs you should be reading

Instead of regular (although I'm sure you've noticed, not actually posted regularly every Friday) Friday links, I wanted to share some food blogs I have been digging lately. Go forth and read and eat.

Pantry Confidential: a brand new blog that features interviews with people who are passionate about food.

Ezra Pound Cake: Um, a literary pun blog name? I'm sold just on that. But this blog also features terrific recipes and gorgeous pictures. Check out the apple fritters below:

Oh Ladycakes: I love the simple design and funny, snarky tone of this vegan blog. 

So Delushious: Christine Teigen is a model (like a real, John-Legend-dating-Sports-Illustrated-appearing model) who is obsessed with food and has one of the funniest blogs I've seen in ages.

all photos taken from their respective blogs

friday links! week of 10/14

EATS:

-12 ways to stay on a food budget via 100 Days of Real Food

-Tips for buying organic on a budget via The Kitchn

- On HelloGiggles, I posted recipes for granola bars (last week) and hangover soup (yesterday).

-Mung Bean Hummus? I've never tried mung beans, but I would. via FitSugar 

-Easy Rosemary Lemon Chicken Bake. Definitely making this soon. via Harper's Happenings 

-The Vegan Stoner is a cute blog I just discovered. All of the recipes are hand-drawn! 

READS:

-The food issue of Australian lit mag The Lifted Brow looks awesome.

-Uncanny Valley issue 0001 is now available! Get this awesome journal edited by my friends Mike Meginnis and Tracy Bowling and including work from Robert Alan Wendeborn, Roxane Gay, Brian Oliu and Gabriel Blackwell.

-The Grand Canyon Brings People Together by Molly Prentiss in the latest issue of >killauthor

-One of my favorite poets, Richard Siken, is interviewed on the BOMBlog. What the interviewer says about Crush is so true; I read that book my senior year of college and I totally feel like it broke me and put me back together again in a new way. My writing, too.

-Poetry Is Not a Project by Dorothea Lasky

friday links! for the week of 9/23

EATS:

-Lean Cuisine-A-Day is not recommended.

-My Food Lush post this week was about the common foods I dislike. Many people chimed in to tell me the foods they dislike, so I felt less weird for hating stuff like mayonnaise and roast beef.

-My new favorite food blog: Everyday Southwest.

READS:

-Apostrophe Books, helmed by my former professor Richard Greenfield, is accepting poetry manuscript submissions until October 31st.

-My other former professor, Sheila Black, coedited a new anthology called Beauty is a Verb: The New Poetry of Disability. It's coming out on September 25, and you should get it. The book features work from Rusty Morrison, Danielle Pafunda, Cynthia Hogue, C.S. Gisgombe, Jill Alexander Essbaum, and other poets.

-The most engrossing and beautiful thing I've ever read about villanelles (or breakups).