Columnists

James M. Cain's original 1935 novella "Double Indemnity" (the 1944 movie starred Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray) spun a tale of intrigue, adultery and murder. He was a master of edgy, noir and suspenseful plots like "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (the 1934 movie starred Lana Turner and John Garfield and the book was banned in Boston) and "Mildred Pierce" (the 1945 movie starred Joan Crawford and Zachary Scott).

I have long been a proponent of meat, often expounding on the virtues of pig fat and beef cheek. However, I do not hesitate to declare, in black and white, that there is very little more delicious than a perfectly ripe pear or local ear of corn in season. In an interview with "60 Minutes" last year, my friend and constant inspiration, José Andrés, called meat "overrated." He added, "I believe the future is vegetables and fruits."

Forty three years is a long time. That's how long my parents, who celebrated their anniversary this week, have been married. I wonder - more in amusement than in awe - how two people can put up with each other for that long and be as content as they are.

The holiday festivities seem long past and most of us have settled back into our regular work routines. This is a great time to think about where to place your new calendar to minimize the risk of neck and back strain. The more often you need to look at the calendar, the more important it is to place it where you can easily see it without twisting, leaning or straining.

Dear readers, I present to you, Mr. Charles Dickens, a man of his time, the time of the Victorians - and also a man of our own modern time. Allow me to have the portentousness to suggest that Mr. Dickens, that titan of Victorian literature, if he were alive today, would find in our age a blend of social commentary and larger-than-life characters to fill a hundred great novels.

I just had the pleasure of hearing lots of raindrops falling on our roof. Whew - I thought it might never rain again. Driving out of the house to see the wet streets and plants perking up with the moisture was a welcome sight indeed. I may be imagining it, but I'd swear that my lawn was already greening up. We love a good soaking that provides enough water to green things up without causing major flooding.

On a recent tour in Central America and the Caribbean, I was struck by each of the tour guide's pride in their country's high literacy rates and quality of their country's schools. Observing classes and viewing schools supported their claims. Each guide spoke of their nation's support of the educational system and reinforced the high standards, rigorous curriculum and importance of educating their country's youth. Students were learning five different languages in elementary school and spending all but six weeks in the classroom. Teachers were well compensated for their work and were highly regarded in the community.

For the next 12 months, I'll be inviting you to my table. Sharing stories, anecdotes, lessons from the kitchen and, of course, recipes from my new cookbook, "Molto Batali" (ecco, 2011). And it's all about family meals.