Home At Last! with Patty Gironda

Life is a little hectic these days and like a lot of people I'm struggling to keep up with projects; work, emails, blogs, wifely duties, laundry . . . on and on the list goes. Excuse me-I'm in my "will winter ever end" phase of lunar phases. Moving on . . . I tend to keep things in the kitchen fairly simple in the winter. The days are too short to spend two or three hours at night making dinner and then cleaning up my mess. My show this week reflected that sentiment with a simple New Orleans-style Stuffed Artichoke and an original cocktail called " "Pret ty In Pink". Some of the ingredients can be prepared ahead and already in the cupboard-so it's pretty easy. The recipe is online . . . try it-you'll like it! The recipe that isn't online and is really worth a try is the Pretty In Pink Cocktail . Great for parties with a pink theme! Perfect for spring . . . ( there I go again!) The key ingredient is the prickly pear- common to many...

Another favorite winter pastime is bi-weekly trips to DeKalb Farmers Market, just outside Atlanta. Notoriously cold inside the market, I layer a light sweater over another light sweater, followed by a comfy lightweight coat and fuzzy gloves. I know one of you is shaking your head saying, "dummy, it's good for the vegetables and other perishables" but I have to wonder if it isn't a little sadistic entertainment for the office personnel-hovering high above the veggies-in their warm, cozy offices. Whatever. . . Last trip I was totally outwitted, peeling off layer after layer . . . on with the gloves-off with the gloves. The management had turned the heat up! I think they were having fun with the shoppers! No worries, I'm hardcore and over the years have adapted by packing an extra change of clothes-stuffing them in the 99 cent recycle bags-which are never in use for their intended purpose. If we have another freeze like last week I swear I'm wearing my fleece r...