French Women

 

I can't believe I've only just discovered this book, especially since it's been out since 2007! I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed it—especially because the author herself narrated it. Her lovely French accent added to the charm. More importantly, I found the content incredibly insightful; it made so much sense. 

Recently, I visited Paris, and having read this book, I found myself observing French eating habits in real time. Portion sizes in restaurants may or may not be smaller than in the U.S., but one thing is certain people walk everywhere.

The metro is fantastic but reaching your train requires climbing up and down steep steps.  Driving in Paris whether day or night is a nightmare, so we walked.  In my mind, I just assumed I would gain a pound or two during my stay.  Who can resist all the amazing foods served in their cafes, or the gelato and pastries? Certainly not me!  However, thanks to the significant increase in exercise and the fact that we really only ate twice a day, I was shocked to find, that by returned home, I had lost three pounds.  I know, AMAZING!

But back to the book, the author really doesn't necessarily share any new information, but she offers valuable insight into the mentality of the French woman.  As I said before, listening to the book read by her was a pleasure.

How To Stop Time

 

Imagine living for hundreds of years, your cells aging so slowly that you barely look your age? At first, it might seem like a gift—witnessing history unfold, meeting countless people, experiencing groundbreaking innovations. But eventually, reality sets in. You have to hide the fact that you are not showing signs of aging.  People become suspicious and target you because they can. You fall in love, and your partner ages, leaving you behind. You watch your children grow old and pass away, while you remain unchanged. 

Eventually, the excitement dulls, and you become a loner, merely going through the motions of living. This is the fate of Tom, the main character in How to Stop Time. His life follows a repetitive cycle of love, loss, and loneliness—until one day, a revelation changes everything.

When you are in your 20's, 30's and 40's you feel like you can live forever.  Why because your body is in pretty good shape.  I used to dance, and I exercised regularly.  Despite two horrible back surgeries I was doing ok. I truly hope the surgeon Dr Paul Mcafee has left the medical profession, because he may have once been good at what he did, but he was more invested in investing than he was invested in his patients.

Fast forward to your late 50's and 60's, things get harder.  Your body starts to age more rapidly.  You exercise but it doesn't seem to get the same results.  Once my thought was to live for a very long time, now I am not that sure.

I don’t even remember how I came across How To Stop Time. It wasn’t quite what I expected, but it turned out to be a compelling read. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. If you are going on vacation, consider taking this book along with you.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

          

The storylines in this book immediately resonated with me, as many of us have experienced the heartache of losing loved ones too soon, especially our significant others.

On Lydia's birthday. she is planning on having dinner with her fiancée Freddie and some friends. Freddie calls to say their friend's car broke down, he is on his way to pick him up promising to be on time for their dinner reservations.  

Shortly after the phone call there is a knock on the door.  Instead of being the love of her life, it is the police telling her there has been an accident. When Lydia rushes to the hospital, she learns that Freddie didn’t survive the accident, while their friend escaped with minor injuries.

Lydia can't sleep can't eat, can't cope.  The doctor prescribes little pink pills to help her sleep, but when she takes them her sleep state becomes an alternative universe. In her "asleep" life Freddie is alive.  But that life is very different from her real life and she has difficulty reconciling the two lives.  

Struggling to cope, Lydia can’t sleep or eat, and her doctor prescribes pink pills to help her rest. But sleep becomes its own escape—an alternative universe where Freddie is alive, yet her 'asleep' life is vastly different from reality. Reconciling these two worlds proves increasingly difficult.

This premise intrigued me, as dreams have always fascinated me. Often, my dreams feel richer and more vivid than real life. I’ve talked to friends and family about their own dreams and nightmares—many of which seem like they could form the basis of an incredible novel. (Pam) I’ve always meant to keep a notebook by my bed to jot them down, but somehow, I never do.

The author narrative does a wonderful job of exploring Lydia’s 'awake' and 'asleep' lives, which kept me hooked until the very last page. The clever premise and emotional depth make it a book worth trying—you might find yourself just as captivated as I was.

Grill Baby Grill - cookery Mojito marinade

There is something about Grilling, gotta love it! I know I love this time of year because, one, I am off the hook for preparing our meals at least twice a week.  My husband happens to be an excellent grill master.  He likes grilling so much that he took a grilling class. 

Second, the food tastes incredible.  We throw practically everything on the grill including vegetables.  Zucchini, eggplant, corn and onions are my favorites.

Third, using different marinades changes up the flavors.  Whenever I prepare chicken, I create a new marinade, since they're so easy to throw together. I can let my creative juices flow so to speak. 

I know for many of us living with COVID has driven us to drink.  I came across this Mojito Marinade and I just had to share it with you . Here it is and I have added a mojito cocktail recipe after the marinade.

• 6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup minced yellow onion
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™) (optional)
• 1 cup olive oil
• 
  

Pulse the garlic and onion in a blender until very finely chopped. Pour in orange juice, lime juice; season with cumin, oregano, lemon-pepper, black pepper, salt, cilantro, and hot pepper sauce. Blend until thoroughly incorporated. Pour in the olive oil, and blend until smooth.

Mojito Cocktail

10 fresh mint leaves

1/2 fresh lime cut in quarters

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 cup ice cubes

1 1/2 ounces white rum

1/2 cup club soda

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.

Have a wonderful BBQ!

Last Flight Out

 Two woman who do not know each other meet in an airport. Their encounter wasn’t just coincidence, Eva specifically sought out Claire. T They have one thing in common; they do not want to be living the life they are living and need to make some changes. Each woman has a plan to change her life, but even the best-laid plans can take unexpected turns. 

They swap airline tickets and from that minute on both their lives change.  It's a good read.

The idea of two strangers crossing paths and swapping lives on a whim brings a thrilling mix of mystery and transformation. It’s fascinating how a single decision—like exchanging airline tickets—can set off a domino effect that reshapes everything.

Savannah Nah Nah Nah

Savannah

Before I retired, I found myself reflecting on what to do in the next chapter of my life. I didn’t have a clear direction, but one thing I knew for sure—I wanted to travel. Not out of wanderlust; I had already explored much of the world in my twenties. But this time, I wanted to create new memories with my daughter.

Years earlier, I had promised her a special graduation gift: a mother-daughter trip to Europe. Our two-week adventure to France and Belgium was planned, and we couldn’t wait to immerse ourselves in the culture and history. Then, COVID struck. The world shut down, and so did our plans.

As time passed, the vaccine was developed, and restrictions eased. It felt like something out of Brigadoon—the world reappeared, vibrant and inviting. Yet, there was still uncertainty. Traveling overseas seemed daunting and not safe yet, so we chose to stay closer to home. For her birthday, my daughter had the honor of picking our destination, and she set her sights on Charleston. I asked if would be ok if we also went to Savannah and she said yes.

Charleston-Rainbow Row

 We had an incredible time on our trip. Savannah immediately stole my heart it was so charming. If I could recommend one thing, it would be the hop-on, hop-off bus tour. We stayed on for a full loop, using the ride to plan our stops. The drivers were amazing—they had fantastic humor and a deep knowledge of the city's history, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Saying goodbye to Savannah was difficult, but we had already committed to visiting Charleston.

As much as I appreciated Charleston’s charm, it didn’t hold the same magic for me as Savannah did. By the end of the trip, we both agreed: we should have spent the entire time in Savannah. My daughter even asked if we could go back someday.

While I’m open to revisiting Savannah in the future, there are so many other places to explore right now. We’ve started making two lists, new cities to explore and those to return to, and Savannah will definitely be at the top. For now, I’m excited to discover new destinations and create more unforgettable memories.

My daughter shot a short video of Savannah and Charleston, click on the link to watch. 

And now for my book recommendation one that has been around for awhile but I was inspired to read because of my Savannah trip. The book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is set in Savannah and really does bring the city to life with its rich storytelling and atmospheric setting. It felt incredible to walk through those same streets, seeing myself in the places described in the book.

The book has been out for a while.  If you read it tell me what your thoughts are.  If you haven't read it yet please put it on your must read list. 

Blue Plate Special--The magical meatloaf

 

Back in the day, diners and some restaurants had what they called blue plate specials. For all you youngsters out there me included, blue plate special is a term that was used in the early part of the twentieth century to describe a low-priced daily special that typically included the entire meal.  None of this nonsense about ordering the entree and paying for a side separately.  How ridiculous!

As you can see from the menu at Ari's Diner (no idea location of Ari's), Monday's special happens to be Meatloaf a dish which was a very popular choice at diners when I was growing up.  Even today, meatloaf and mashed potatoes remain a beloved comfort food for many. Before Jake’s Good Eats (featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) was torn down to make way for a Publix here in Charlotte, one of its specials was meatloaf and mashed potatoes. 

My Mother was obsessed with meatloaf.  She would make it once a week using a different recipe or one, she made up in her head.  Each recipe was worse than the other and finally my father told her to stop making meatloaf. 

A little back story here. My Father loved my mother more than anyone on the planet.  He basically ate anything she made. They rarely if ever argued, a miracle in itself.  However, one day, with firm yet diplomatic honesty, he gently asked her to take a break from making meatloaf. For him to actually request that she not make it again, it must have been truly bad. I can attest to that. it was.  My mom took a break for a while, but she went back to her meatloaf mission, and in later years her meatloaf actually was edible.

 These were examples of meatloaf recipes my mom made:

    Meatloaf with hardboiled eggs

    Meatloaf with cheese

    Meatloaf with tomato sauce

    Meatloaf with brown gravy

With the exception of meatloaf with whole hard-boiled eggs, we always had high hopes that each variation would turn out well. Unfortunately, the ground beef portion often ended up hard and tasteless—but I have to give her high marks for effort

My Mom passed away in 2016 but I felt her quest for a decent meatloaf recipe should live on so I now carry the torch. I figured since I am now semi-retired, I have the time. I found this recipe which I made, and I got a thumbs up from the family when I served it. I did make a slight change.  I started with a layer of the ground seasoned beef, added a layer of Swiss (grated or sliced), then spread the mushroom mix on the cheese.  I repeated this one more time ending with ground beef.  You can just make it as written if you want to keep it simple. Here is the recipe.

   

Mushroom Swiss Cheese Meatloaf

Hearty Meatloaf with Savory Mushrooms and Melty Swiss Cheese

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 cup mushrooms, finely chopped

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 cup Swiss cheese, grated

1/4 cup milk

1 large egg

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

In a skillet, sauté the chopped mushrooms, onion, and garlic over medium heat until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms have released their moisture, about 5-7 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, sautéed mushroom mixture, breadcrumbs, grated Swiss cheese, milk, egg, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined; avoid overmixing for a tender loaf.

Transfer the meat mixture to a loaf pan, shaping it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 60-65 minutes, or until the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (70°C).

Let the meatloaf rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 65 minutes | Total Time: 80 minutes

                                        Susan's Blue plate Special

If you make this recipe let me know how you like it.

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.