Bring out the Hellman's???? Or Duke's???

 

Growing up on Long Island, there were basically two sandwich condiments in our fridge, Mustard and ketchup.  Mayonnaise was sacred because we hardly ate it. My Mom was the original "eat healthy guru".  There was no bologna and white bread but had there been it would have been made with mustard no mayo.  I still grew up in the north the mayo war was between Hellman's and Kraft.

I was driving to work one morning, listening to the Bob and Sherri Show on K104.7, my go-to- drive time station. A woman called in to speak with the hosts, and her voice carried so much sadness that it caught my attention. It turned out that she had just learned some shocking news: Duke’s, the beloved mayonnaise of the South, had been sold to a Northern company.

Ordinarily news about a food product being bought and sold would not faze me in the least.  It would go in one ear and out the other.  But in this case the sorrow in her voice and the fact that it was a very popular condiment that had been made by a company in the South made me sad as well.

Duke's mayonnaise stands out amongst the other mayonnaise brands not only for its bold taste but because of its rich history. The founder was Eugenia Duke, a very industrious woman who lived in South Carolina and was active in the passage of the 19th ammendment.

In 1917 Eugenia and her daughter began selling sandwiches at an army canteen as a way to help support their family. These were not your ordinary sandwiches. Each was generously slathered in her homemade tangy sauce.  She started bottling her mayo in 1923. Her condiment was so popular that she could not keep up with demand and she sold her company to C.F Sauer Company which by the way was a family-owned business for 132 years until it was sold.. 

But wait, there is more to Eugenia Dukes story. When her daughter moved to California, she followed. Once again, she used her entrepreneurial and founded a new company Duchess Sandwich Company as well as the Duchess Catering Company. Today we take what Eugenia accomplished as no big deal, but back in the day it was very unusual to have a company that was founded and run by a woman. This made her achievements even more impressive.

Recently Advent International purchased Sauer Brands Inc., the parent company of Duke’s Mayo, from Falfurrias Capital Partners.  Falfurrias Capital Partners is a Charlotte based equity. Advent is a private equity firm based in Massachusetts that focuses on international buyouts, growth and strategic restructuring. Although it is not readily apparent, they must have had a good reason to buy Sauer Brands.

As I get older it saddens me to see products I grew up with disappear or be "tampered" with, so it is no longer recognizable. Duke’s Mayonnaise, however, has been a staple for over a century, and its loyal fans are adamant that the recipe remains unchanged.  Hopefully, Advent International, please recognize the magic of what makes Duke’s so beloved and stay true to the brand.

Happy Mother's Day

 A warm and heartfelt Mother's Day for all of you with children and fur babies in your life.

Wine Club 1.0

 

A long time ago in what seems like a different life, I worked for a Home Health Agency supporting their computers and software. It was one of the best jobs I ever had.  The work was challenging, but more importantly, the people were fantastic. The staff got along well, which was a refreshing change from my previous job at a satellite company, where, putting it gently, the staff was not very nice.

One of our physical therapists received a diagnosis that included the dreaded "C" word: cancer. In a home health organization, everyone is geared toward taking care of others, so after her surgery, a group of us brought dinner to her home and spent the evening laughing for hours. We had such a great time that we decided to meet regularly. To make it even more fun, we turned our gatherings into a wine club.

 At first, we rotated hosting duties and met locally. But as luck would have it, Peg, one of our resident foodies, had a cabin in the mountains, and Sharon, one of our resident artists, had a beach house. .

The first out-of-town trip we took was to Peg’s spectacular cabin in the mountains of West Virginia. Since that adventure kicked off our tradition, we named our group the Wild Women of West Virginia Wine Club. We've been meeting ever since continuing the laughter, the friendship, and, of course, the wine. Now, several times a year we meet up at the cabin Moondance or at the beach house, Happy Place

I kept your warm tone while improving readability and transitions. Does this version capture what you envisioned? Happy to tweak it further if needed! The staff got along well, which was a refreshing change from my previous job at a satellite company, where, putting it gently the staff were not very nice.

One of our physical therapists, had received the dreaded "C" word diagnosis: cancer.  When you work for a Home Health Organization, where everyone is dedicated to taking care of others, the news hit hard. After her surgery a group of us took dinner to her home and just sat there and laughed for several hours. That night was so amazing we decided to make this a regular occurrence.  

To add a touch of fun, we transformed ourselves into a wine club. We have had many wine tastings with blind tastings and prizes for the most popular wine.

Thankfully our friend received good news. She had caught it early, allowing the surgeon to remove everything. Once she recovered and was allowed to drink, we became a dedicated wine club.  Initially, we rotated host duties and met locally. But it just so happens Peg, one of resident foodies, had a cabin in the mountains and Sharon one of our resident artists, had a beach house. 

Our first out-of-town trip was to Peg’s breathtaking cabin in the mountains of West Virginia. That adventure marked the beginning of a beloved tradition, and so, we named ourselves the Wild Women of West Virginia Wine Club. We generally spend Kentucky Derby Weekend at the beach. We’ve been meeting ever since, continuing the laughter, deepening our friendships, and, of course, savoring the wine.

I have moved making it difficult but never impossible to meet with my beloved sisters of the vine.  So, to fill the void I recently formed a new wine club.  I am so excited.  I will let you know how it goes.

Bakeries There is always Room for Cake and Pie

I grew up on Long Island in Oceanside.  My mom and dad loved entertaining, and they had a friends club comprised of friends my mom grew up with plus their husbands.  My Mom was one of those people who made friends for life, and they remained friends until their passing. Most of the women in that group had met in elementary school and remained friends up to the end of their lives.

Whenever my parents hosted, my mom would cook a delicious dinner. But the highlight of every meal was always dessert—a cake and pie from Ebinger's.

Ebinger's was a beloved New York bakery founded in 1898 by George Ebinger, a German immigrant. In their hay day they had about 50 locations.  The first location to open was the one on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge Brooklyn.  Since we lived on Long Island we went to the Rockville Center location.  I loved walking into the bakery with my mom.  The smell of freshly baked breads and pastries overwhelmed the senses.  It was a magical place. 

She would always buy the same two items, their glorious and decadent Blackout Cake and their creamy and citrus laden lemon meringue pie.   In fact, the Blackout cake was so delicious it was often featured in articles written for the newspaper, etc. You would think with a popular cake like that, the bakery would be around forever.  But sadly, (and I say that with a deep sigh) by 2005, Ebinger's closed their doors. Many fine dining restaurants and bakers have done a fine job coming up with an approximate copy, but somehow it is not quite the same.  developed a love for lemon cake and pie after eating it.  

We, the people, along with grocery chains in America, contributed to the decline of many beloved bakeries. When grocery stores added the bakery department, bakery products became more accessible and affordable leading to the demise of many traditional bakeries.  I miss those bakeries.  No matter what people say and think, the mass-produced products cannot replace those bakery items made lovingly by bakers using recipes passed down from generation to generation. Not really. Whenever I travel and find myself in a new city where a bakery still operates, I make it a point to stop in sample their goods. In future posts, I'll share my experiences when I discover a new bakery.

I am hosting my book club this month (April) and I am planning on baking my own dessert.  I have a hankering for lemon, and blueberries are in season.  I will make something that will include those two ingredients.

Spice up your Life

 

I have recently become obsessed with spices.  Now that I am semi-retired, I am focusing on improving my culinary skills and taking my time in the kitchen.  Gone are the days I have to worry about rushing to get food on the table because my daughter needs to eat something between field hockey and orchestra practices.  My husband is now fully retired, and he is just happy when dinner is served.  With so many of my friends being such great cooks, I feel inspired to step up my game.  Mastering the art of spices feels like the perfect first step in my plan. Pam and Peg, you are my gurus.

I buy my spices from a variety of places.  Penzes is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, the pandemic led to many closures of their brick-and-mortar stores Charlotte location being one of them.  Thankfully their online store is an excellent substitute. McCormick spices are also a staple in my pantry and buying bulk spices from Cosco helps me to fill in gaps and provides the foundation for some of my creations.

As with everything else in the grocery store these days, spice prices are climbing rapidly.  With spices already marked up, I just wonder how much higher they will go. Despite the fact that there is an initial cost in building my spice collection, I see it as an investment and just as important the greater ability to craft my blends, my way, no fillers or unwanted ingredients. I also hope to avoid duplicates and prevent spices from becoming too old and stale in my pantry.  

Herbes de Provence is such a delightful mix, and I love adding it to my dishes. It brings a distinctive aroma and flavor. There are many variations of the mix which are readily available online. Some are made with Lavendar and fennel, while others do not.   I am not trying to reinvent the wheel, but I am currently working on recipe that contains Lavendar.

Lavendar is not readily available in the market, so I have decided to grow my own alongside several other spices.  I think using fresh herbs that I dry myself will add more flavor.

So far this is what I have:

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried marjoram

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp rosemary

1 tsp savory

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp of dried parsley

1 tsp Fennel

1 tsp of dried lavender flowers

If you make your own blend of Herbes de Provence, please feel free to share.

And before closing, I just read that McCormick's, is adding a new set of spices.  Maybe I will try one or two. They are:

• Smoky Garlic & Rose
• Balsamic & Herb
• Brown Butter
• Zesty Lemon
• Watermelon Lime

If you make your own herb mixes and would love to share them, please let me know.

T

good Read - the Grey Wolf

 

I like reading books written by authors outside of the United States. They allow me to experience the life and culture of another country, all from the comfort of my home.   Lousie Penny has written a series of books that I absolutely love.  My favorites take place in a little town just outside of Montreal called Three Pines. You likely won’t find it on a map—perhaps because it exists only in Louise Penny’s imagination. The characters of Three Pines are wonderfully unique and delightfully eccentric, making it such a joy to read about them. In fact, I feel as though I’ve come to know them personally. I love reading about each and every one of them. With each new book, I get to discover all the changes they have experienced since the last book.

Back in September 2016, Penny lost her husband. She entered a period of deep sadness where she seriously contemplated giving up writing.  Sadly, several of my friends have suffered the loss of their husband and soulmate.  Even though I have suffered the loss of good friends and family, I cannot begin to know what it feels like to lose your partner in life.  

During the pandemic, I suffered a loss and stopped writing my blog. It was just a small blog on books I had read.  I had a few dedicated followers, and I thank them.  I have started writing again and I find it very cathartic.  I still share books I have read because I am frequently asked to recommend a book, but my focus has changed a bit. I find writing and sharing to be very personally fulfilling. Find your way back.

Good News for Louise Penny fans like me. She has written her 20th novel due out in October 2025.  I can't wait. And one last thing, if you write, if you paint, if you knit, if you sew, if you have done anything that gives you pleasure and stopped, find your way back.

If you have never read a Louise Penny book or have only read her more current ones, consider going back to the beginning and read Still Life. This is the first of her Three Pines series, and you get a real sense of her characters.

If you are interested, you can find her current book on Amazon. The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

 

The Dinner List by Rebecca Searle

Imagine getting the chance to sit down and have dinner with five people. They could be living or have passed away—it doesn’t matter. You get to choose the guest list. That was the game Sabrina and her friend used to play, and then it happened. On her birthday, her chosen guests were all there. It was an intriguing mix of people, leading to lively discussions and, at times, a bit of tension.

Who would I choose if there were no constraints?

It’s a harder question than you might think. The choices would need to be made carefully. Would you pick people who are important to you and complement each other? Or would it matter less if they got along, as long as you could spend time with them? For me, it would be all about the time spent with those I cherish. I wouldn’t mind if they didn’t get along—though I know they would—because, after all, it’s about who I want at the table.

My mix would most likely include two family members, a politician, and one or two celebrities. First, my mom. She was my biggest cheerleader, always making me believe I could achieve anything. She passed away in August of 2016, and I’d give anything for one more dinner with her.

For a politician, I’d choose former President Obama. He’s intelligent, trustworthy and has a wicked sense of humor—qualities that are refreshing and sadly, rare in modern politics.

As for a celebrity, I would pick Taylor Swift. She has navigated life in the spotlight with remarkable resilience and self-awareness. Over the years, she has remained true to her values, standing up for herself when needed while maintaining a strong connection with her fans. Her ability to evolve as an artist while staying grounded is impressive. Many musical celebrities in her position have crashed and burned.   Her sense of humor and poise make her an excellent dinner guest—she’d bring great conversation, insight, and probably a few entertaining stories!

I’d would also invite my grandfather, who was the center of my world growing up. He passed away before I could truly get to know him as an adult, and talking with him would allow me to bridge the gap between childhood memories and the conversations I never got to have as an adult. ’d love the chance to reconnect. Choosing my grandfather over my grandmother was a very difficult decision. She was a second mother to me, and I loved her dearly, but I would really love to know my grandfather from an adult perspective.

To round out my five, I would pick Meryl Streep—though Tom Hanks is a close second.  She has an extraordinary ability to transform into a wide range of characters, from the formidable Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada to the deeply emotional Sophie in Sophie’s Choice. Her versatility is unmatched, and she brings such depth to every role she plays. And let's just face it she is Meryl Streep and meeting her would be a dream come true!

So those are my five at this point in my life.  Ask me in another few years and maybe the Dinner List would change.

Who would you choose for your dinner? Let me know—and don’t forget to read the book and share your thoughts!