Intentional. To kick off the new year, my friends at PostScript asked me to be their guest writer for their lovely blog, In the Loop. This month’s theme is coffee but I was encouraged to write about anything so I did both. If you’re interested …
Like most people, the fairy tales read to me were the mostly sweet versions. Sure, women were hexed by nefarious enemies, harassed by wicked step-relatives, or resigned to a permanent dormant state with the bite of a crimson apple. Overall, though, they ended with our …
Many moons ago, I spent a few glorious weeks in Spain and I tasted everything I could imagine. I mean everything. I could write a book on the dishes and drinks I enjoyed, each day brought one revelation after another.
When I think of that first trip, I remember countless moments and foods. A favorite combination of red pepper, onion, and tomato has become a tried-and-true addition to most dishes, Spanish or not.
Like most versions, my paella always begins with that mix. Saffron, of course, gives the characteristic color and inimitable flavor. The trinity provides the backbone. Oh, what a backbone!
For more than twenty years, we’ve celebrated Christmas Eve by celebrating with Seven Fishes, an assortment of fish dishes sometimes in the double-digits. This year, all seven dishes were snug in a golden bed of bomba rice. Please tell me what you think.
“There’s beauty in the day. There’s beauty in the night.” ~ Claudette Dudley Living a life of wonder seems to be a good bet: an interesting corner, path, neighborhood, town, or city— wonder leads to wandering that often leads to something quite magical. Here’s to …
Ain’t life grand? In the image above, a boy and his bubble are captured by photographer, Marvin E. Newman, in 1950s Chicago. Immediately coming to mind at first glance was the moment of both intention and anticipation: chewing the gum so one can blow a …
Onion Dip for Breakfast is taking a class at the University of Chicago. By that, I mean that the women of this site are jointly enrolled in this class, Explorations of Mars, together. Each week, we learn, listen, and share our ideas on the limitless fascination with our neighboring planet. Is there life on Mars? Has there been life? Could we live there?
When one thinks of living elsewhere, of course one’s mind wanders to the question of what a good life is in the first place. Are we just existing, making do, thriving, or dare we say it, flourishing?
One thought on my mind for years has been whether some of us have given up on Earth, ready to move on to new lands as if we’re planetary pioneers going west. Or wayyyyyy north…
That idea suggests that it’s too late to care and nurture this place we call home. As billionaires launch plans in outer space, we earthlings navigate the natural and built environments.
This planet, with all of its flavors, fascinates, inspires, nurtures me. I love it here.
As long as I can remember, I’ve been told that I am my mom’s copy. It was always understood that they meant I looked like her (which was the highest compliment) but what I always wished was that my heart was like hers. There is …
This month the Black Garden co-sponsored a monthlong film festival by the nonprofit, HotHouse, featuring Afro-Cuban women. Each documentary highlighted a different woman’s story and I was reminded once again that not all stories are told and certain ones are perennially left out of history. …
As a kid, traveling meant using every single mode of transportation and exploring both the new and familiar. We were just as likely to visit the other side of the city where we were living as we were to be in San Francisco, Venezuela, Boston, or Montreal. Who didn’t want to follow the drama of the highly competitive but amiable koi competition in your hometown? We spent much of our time trying to figure out why one fish was deserving of the blue ribbon over all of the seemingly similar fish. If someone came to visit, there was no shortage of sights, sounds, and tastes to share because we were forever tourists and residents simultaneously.
Before I lived in Italy, I visited. Eager to test out my fluency, I longed to experience first-hand what I had learned about its art, food, literature, architecture, history, music, and more. And yes, I was amongst the throngs of people in Venice, Florence, Siena, and magical places featured in plays, paintings, and operas.
Before there were digital cameras and smartphones, I had one of the best trips of my life to the island of Sicily. I went with visions of The Leopard, Ancient Greek cities, and, of course, the Godfather. I had gone with the promise of lemons and bright citrus, marzipan, fresh seafood, chocolate bars punctuated with interesting ingredients, and brioche with ice cream for breakfast!
What I hadn’t imagined, but in hindsight is quite obvious, was the North African influences on the island. There was that familiar seafood I had expected but it was mixed in and topped tomato-sauced couscous, making something delicious and akin to paella. Otherwise, the fish was grilled or sautéed and kissed by wild fennel, briny capers, and sour citrus.
What is liberation? Is it lying on a beach, eyes closed, resting? There will be endless images of sunsets and lovely views but for now we’re exploring some of that Hawaiian bounty. As we enjoyed the markets, restaurants, and cafes, two thoughts kept coming to …
