the perfect metaphor for this story - to reveal Here's a little story about revelations. Everyone's lives have them, be they large or small. On a daily basis, I find myself in wonder at the pervasiveness of posts on my social media featuring snippets of life in my favorite outposts "on the continent". In the early morning, I'm greeted by chefs and celebrators in Paris, Provence, Florence, Rome, Milan, Sardinia, Sicily, Tremezzo, … [Read more...]
Bellinis for Breakfast – The Bellini Dirt Bomb
Not one to feel abashed about wearing a thickly-settled mustache of cinnamon-sugar? Read along here...... Yes, I have sat in Harry's Bar in Venice and sipped the most famous Bellinis in the world - and with my two kids which made it totally special! I've savored every single second of that magical place. When returned stateside, I have re-created my own, sadly, never to have quite the same essence and dreamy feeling that sitting at … [Read more...]
Fifty Shades of Sunshine – Meyer Lemon and White Peach Scones with Lemon Verbena
on a day like today there are at least fifty shades of sunshine When you get to my age, one of the vagaries you tend to recognize in the corners of your mind but prefer to ignore, is the process of repeating yourself. So it goes with my constant iterations of scones. If you love a crusty, on-the-drier-side, light scone with a delicate flavor profile, follow along here..... There is nothing more invigorating on a beautiful early … [Read more...]
Summer is Here and the Fruit Pickins are Irresistible! – Strawberry-Rhubarb Scones with Two Gingers
Who can resist these beautiful offerings? It's no secret that this is indeed my favorite time of the year. Summer fruit is beginning to come into market - and even here in NJ we have some beautiful local crops coming in. Yesterday, I was over at Wightman's Farm buying tomatoes to make the Lentil and Tomato Salad recipe which is on Epicurious. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/lentil-salad-with-tomato-and-dill-232495 This is … [Read more...]
The Für Elise Cake – A Sweet Cherry and White Peach Cake Dedicated to the Love of Great Moms
In June, thoughts for me turn to the long-awaited array of beautiful stone fruits that are coming into market. It is also a month that I think a lot about my Mom whose 94th birthday will be on June 22nd and how she would have been in her own kitchen baking up a storm of peach pies and cherry pies and cakes. Today, I have in my thoughts, a friend of mine, with whom I share many sentiments and passions, among them a love of nature and baking. … [Read more...]
Another Stellar Day at NYBG in the Rose Garden; A Word about the Ironies of Life
"Joyful, joyful we adore thee." Can you hear what calls to you? Will you honor it? This is the true essence of spirituality and thankfulness for me……. Far be it for me to self-annoint as a Renaissance Woman. Mine is the orientation of the opposite, working always from the net-deficit position in life. So, I'll go as far as to say that I am, yes, obsessed with all things of a Renaissance-orientation - including music, art, … [Read more...]
Recipe In Three Pieces – The Fresh Apricot Tart with French Almond Cream and Almond Crust
luscious organic apricots from California courtesy Frog Hollow Farm and Eataly Today's post is a follow up to yesterday's - where I was waxing poetic about the virtues of fresh apricots…….. Sometimes a dessert has to come together in distinct recipe pieces. You're in experimental mode and you're working on instinct. You pick what your palate calls you to. While the combination of apricots and frangipane (French Almond Cream) is not … [Read more...]
Quest for the Perfect Apricot – Worth Its Weight in Gold
photo courtesy freshplaza.com and Stemlitz photo courtesy Frog Hollow Farm Today I guess I won't be working or wandering in the gardens outside, near or far. It's raining here. For now, it seems like a good day for wandering elsewhere - into the world of the apricot. We are sailing right along into the wonderful world of the stone fruit season right about now - well sort of. The first cherries have arrived here on the east coast … [Read more...]
All the World’s a Stage – Do Flowers Perform A Shameless Show? Pollinators Know the Answer
If flowers were dresses, what a wardrobe I'd have! (my something akin to: If wishes were horses, beggars would ride circa 1600s) Question of the Day: Do flowers instinctively perform a shameless show? (pollinators know the answer). I think I can actually feel that this morning! They seem to be boastfully popping and parading in a state of unbridled glee. And, this brings me to the very same state. While I'll sit here and be silly … [Read more...]
Everything’s Coming Up Roses
Gypsy - Ethel Merman Circa 1959 Mine is a very specific form of insanity. I'm insane about flowers. I don't really think this disorder shows up in the hallmarks of traditional psychology, does it? I'll have to ask my two nieces who have PhDs……. I am guessing it shows up somewhere as a subset under the heading: too-far-gone-obsessions. Further, I don't know what it says about me in that I am perfectly ok with being this far gone down … [Read more...]
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