Wednesday, December 7

'When Walt Whitman said that who touches this book touches man, I feel that he could have been speaking for me. I like you to open my door the way you open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in your

imagination. I created this bookstore (Shakespeare & Company in Paris) like a man would write a novel and the people who come in here are coming into a novel.' - George Whitman

Tuesday, December 6

Throughout most of its history the American Academy in Rome has sponsored summer programs. Consistent with the Academy's mission, these programs are intended to provide American scholars the opportunity to experience and draw upon the resources of Rome and help found an understanding of the growth and development of the city of Rome through a careful study of material remains and literary sources.

Monday, December 5

Mom’s Sponge(Yellow) Cake with Cream –

Makes two cakes - cut each in half to make a three layers cream cake.

Grease and flour two cake pans and set aside.   

Preheat oven to 375.

12 eggs at room temperature

2 c. sugar

2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

·       Mix flour and baking powder and set aside.  Separate whites and egg yolks into two bowls.  

·       First beat egg whites until it forms a nice peak, set aside.   (This step needs clean blades or it will not peak.)

·       In a large bowl beat egg yolks, gradually add sugar and beat until well mixed.

·       Gently fold in egg whites into batter.

·       Then gently fold in flour mixture a bit at a time so as not to form lumps.

Pour an equal amount in each pan. Bake at 375 for 30 min. or when center of the cake is cooked. (Insert toothpick to test it.)    Depending on stove temperature…it could also bake at 350 degree!

Vanilla Cream

3 egg yolks

1 egg white

3 Tbs. flour

4 Tbs. sugar

1½ cups milk

Mix together first four ingredients, add milk and cook on medium heat. 

Stir constantly with a whisk until it thickens.

Remove from heat and add lemon peel.

Chocolate Cream

2 egg whites

2 Tbs. flour

1 Tbs. sugar

1 Tbs. Nestle Quick

2 cups milk

Mix together first four ingredients, add milk, and cook on medium heat.

Stir constantly with a whisk until it thickens.

Remove from heat and add orange peel.

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Sis’s modified version

7 egg yolk

7 Tbs. sugar

7 Tbs. flour

2 ¼ whole milk

Add lemon or orange peel. 

Sunday, December 4

I am delighted to have discovered that one can get jelly filled donut holes at Dunkin Donuts.

Saturday, December 3

Living with a beagle now we can better appreciate the humor and charm of why Charles Schultz called the beagle in Peanuts, Snoopy.  He must have lived with one or more beagles and certainly was a keen observer of their wonderful penchant for sticking their nose in every room, closet, cabinet, drawer, bag of groceries, purse, package or envelope you are opening, garage, trash can, car and they sniff everything on walks, constantly.  They may be where the expression "nose for news" came from. 

Friday, December 2

Launched in 1953 by Harold L. Humes, Peter Matthiessen, and George Plimpton, The Paris Review is considered by many as the nation’s preeminent literary journal and as they themselves state, “the defining voice of contemporary literature.” Published four times each year, the Review today has original writing, including fiction, poetry, and commentary by established writers from around the world.

Thursday, December 1

Ever just stare at the Google world webcams for awhile? 

Take a tour to Oneonta, New York; Portland, Maine; Konan, Japan; Brookings, South Dakota; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Marzano, Italy; Interlochen, Michigan.

Look at a passing car; cafeteria; wharf; building; something obscured by the night and poorly lit; a newborn baby in a hospital; a woman walking on a gray day.  

Ever stop to consider this?