I've been on a serious cooking jag. I was inspired by, Cannelle et Vanille (nominated for a James Beard 2012 Award for Individual Food Blog). My husband said, that the Fish Tacos with Yogurt-Dill Sauce, Avocados, and Cherry Tomatoes (below) and Gluten-Free Apple and Strawberry Crumb Cake (above) were some of the best dishes he has ever had (courtesy of me) under our roof. A high compliment indeed -- and I'll take it! The recipes are healthful with beautiful photos and stories!! Aran, over at Cannelle et Vanille, has a cookbookcoming out sometime in the near future and I will be -- not so patiently -- waiting for my copy.
One of my favorite memories was walking barefoot in our apricot orchard. That was some 37 years ago, and it's still one of the first things that comes to mind when searching my life's memories.
It is unbearable for me to think about my beautiful orchard and the many others that surrounded it now only exist in my memory -- long ago replaced by houses. I prefer to keep those images in my mind as if it were only yesterday...
It's a beautiful summer morning, I'm 12 years old, outside my cat Peewee (a big yellow tabby with a bobbed tail) greets me. I head straight out into the orchard. The branches overhead hang low and heavy -- and the sweet smell of apricots fill the air. Running faster and farther with each step -- the seemingly never-ending rows of trees stretch out before me. I can feel the warm sun on my face and the cool feel of the dirt under my feet. ~
"Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever."