In a recent issue of Reader’s Digest, there was a column called “Finish this Sentence.” The sentence to finish was “The Most Beautiful Sound in the World is…” I found it interesting to read people’s responses that ranged from the sound of children giggling to frogs croaking in a marsh to silence in a war… Read More
What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness? ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau As a result of years of study, psychologist Dr. John Gottman can watch a married couple interacting (like at a party) and within three hours predict with 94 percent certainty whether that couple will stay married or divorce. Sound unbelievable? Well, in an Atlantic article, Gottman revealed the… Read More
Over the weekend I entertained a few friends and made a large pot of this hearty and rustic chili, a warm welcome when the cool days of late autumn arrive. To make it a full meal, I served this chili with moist cornbread—a slightly sweet family favorite made with stone-ground corn and flavored with a hint… Read More
Since antiquity, split pea soup has been a part of the cuisine of many cultures around the world. In Germany, Erbensuppe (split pea soup), used to be the food of men at sea as dried peas were easy to store and the soup was simple to make. Nowadays, the soup is quite common throughout the… Read More
When Leonardo da Vinci set out to paint his famous portrait, the Mona Lisa, he took much time to consider the most appropriate background. The scenery had to enhance her physical beauty, not overwhelm it, and it had to evoke the viewer’s idea of paradise. His solution was to paint the landscape dearest to his heart, the… Read More
I look for ‘drama in the mouth’ when eating…I am always on the lookout for bursts of pronounced flavors. – Yotam Ottolenghi, renowned chef and author I’ve been deeply absorbed in London-based, Jerusalem-born Yotam Ottolenghi’s new cookbook, Plenty More, since it was released earlier this month. Like Plenty, it’s filled with recipes that make vegetarian… Read More
PETIT WORLD CITIZEN 