Ladles & Linens Kitchen Shoppe L & L Blog By: Fayeruz Regan blog: 4th of july, 4th of july party, al fresco, almond cracker recipe, alternatives to plastis and more

by Fayeruz ReganSep 05, 20240 comments

The ultimate back to school breakfast trick

There's no way I haven't complained about this before. I am incredulous when I see the way weekday breakfasts are portrayed in movies and on TV. Both working parents look incredible in tailored suits, and the table is laden with fresh-squeezed orange juice, eggs and toast. The father has time to read the paper and the mother managed a professional-level blowout. In what world? We are not morning people Even families with one working parent sees the mom in yoga pants, dad shouting for the kids to hurry, and the family grabbing a granola bar on the way out the...

by Fayeruz ReganAug 01, 20240 comments

In my chia pudding era

If you follow this blog, you know that TikTok and Instagram influence a LOT of the chances I take with cooking. My poor, sweet husband plies me with gorgeous cookbooks, but nothing compares to a sleek thirty-second video that moves so quickly you don't know how labor intensive the recipe...

by Fayeruz ReganJul 19, 20240 comments

Cruel summer cure: Seasonal cocktails

As I write this, the United States is in the midst of a heat wave. Here in "River City" we can't even cool off in the James because of the E. coli levels. Corn is literally popping off the stalks in corn fields, and D.C. broke a heat record on...

by Fayeruz ReganJul 11, 20240 comments

No lettuce? No problem! Cool off with easy kitchen sink salad.

I want to be clear that no kitchen sinks were used in the making of this salad, or any salad by this name. The very thought makes me shudder. For those who don't know, "kitchen sink" refers to "everything but the kitchen sink," when the cook takes leftovers and odds...

by Fayeruz ReganJun 27, 20240 comments

The socials made me do it: The viral Dubai chocolate bar

I couldn't take it anymore. Maybe it's because I love pistachio. Maybe it's because of the crunch the bar makes when people bite into it. Though it's a chocolate bar, it gives an extended crackling sound when bitten. I am talking about the Dubai chocolate bar, and the world is...

by Fayeruz ReganJun 14, 20240 comments

I finally tried Kava - it was worth the wait.

Much ado has been made about KavaClub. Before this hotspot opened on Main Street, Richmonders were treated to a year's worth of headlines detailing the bureaucratic hold-up, courtesy of the Virginia Department of Health. I had been dying to try Kava for years. An old boyfriend of mine came home with a...

by Fayeruz ReganMay 23, 20240 comments

Feeding the neighborhood

It's that time of year again. It's warm outside, but still too soon for humidity and bugs. It's a fleeting window of opportunity, and I encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy it while it's still comfortable. It's also that time of year when all the neighborhood kids are playing...

by Fayeruz ReganMay 09, 20240 comments

Las Vegas: A journey of culinary excess

Now that I'm older, I realize there are two versions of Las Vegas. There's the Vegas of my youth, where my girlfriends and I would split a room four ways, play penny slots, and frequent clubs where, if we were lucky, men bought our drinks all night. Now that I'm...

by Fayeruz ReganApr 25, 20240 comments

Men, hot sauce, & the transcendent pepper

Anyone else notice the strange thing that happens with men and hot peppers? It starts out innocent enough. The gateway drug to both men and women is usually Buffalo wings, which leads to them picking up Texas Pete at the grocery store. Then, as you appreciate the different flavor profiles of...

by Fayeruz ReganApr 12, 20240 comments

Slumber party highlight: The pleasure dome

That's right, my friends and I still have slumber parties. I highly recommend it. When I host, there's homemade food, romantic comedies, and for some reason, we end up doing elaborate photo shoots. My friends allow me to experiment with make-up, fit them with wigs, and position them atop our...

by Fayeruz ReganMar 27, 20240 comments

Simple and elegant: Brown butter sage sauce

In the world of Italian food, two sauces reign supreme: marinara and Alfredo. The latter is an American iteration and can be found on menus across the country. The former comes with a variety of add-ons. Add ground meat and your marinara becomes Bolognese. Add heat and it's arrabiata. But people...

by Fayeruz ReganMar 12, 20240 comments

Road food: High desert edition

The term "food desert" started in the 1990s, and is meant to describe underserved communities that lack access to healthy and affordable food. I'm all about urban farming and accessibility, but sometimes I think...poor deserts. While it's true deserts lack lush vegetation, a lot of life is hiding in plain...

by Fayeruz ReganFeb 27, 20240 comments

Buttered rum...but make it poundcake!

I realize that I should be writing about Valentine's day before Valentine's Day, to get the inspiration flowing. This year it crept on me, but I whipped up a rum poundcake for my husband so delightful, I would be remiss not to share. On this feast-for-a-martyred-saint-turned-Hallmark-holiday, we stay low key, but...

by Fayeruz ReganFeb 27, 20240 comments

What is mukbang?

The internet is a strange place right now. My Instagram feed displays two distinct, and very different types of content. The majority is news from the Middle East, and the rest consists of extremely filtered videos of Asian women picking up giant items with their chopsticks. They chew and swallow as quickly as they...

by Fayeruz ReganFeb 16, 20240 comments

A love letter to comfort food

Sweater weather (AKA "swetta wetha" - I knew you were thinking it) is something one gets excited about in the fall. It's not eagerness for the cold so much as a respite from humidity. The longing for crisp air. But by the time January rolls around, the "wetha" isn't much...

by Fayeruz ReganFeb 11, 20240 comments

Making vegetables happen: Stuffed mushrooms

I had no idea stuffed mushrooms were considered upscale. That’s what the recipe websites say anyway. But making stuffed mushrooms is simple. In fact, it’s akin to deviled eggs. You pop out the middle (yolk/stem), mix it with other ingredients, then stuff everything back in. Both dishes require cooking. Only...