It Begins with the Larder, My Love

"...Somebody poured me a little glass of wine and I took a big gulp.

Christian was startled. “Non, non, non,” he said mellifluously in that voice that folded thirteen year old hearts into origami rosebuds. “You must sip a wine. Little sips. Savour it.”

Then he did the most amazing thing. He extracted a clam from its shell, dipped it in the garlicky butter and said, “Here, eat this and then take a sip of your wine and see how perfect it is.”

What recourse did I have but to timidly extract the trembling clam from his little fork and chew? I did and then I sipped as instructed and it was a revelation..."

"...There should always be libation - wine is good, champagne better, or an exotic, homemade cordial, but this could also be non-alcoholic: fruit juices and sparkling water making something rosy with a litchi nut or a frozen kumquat at the bottom of the glass, for example - and whenever possible, favourite recipes should be noted, prised from mothers (or fathers) and perfected because ‘favourite recipes’ is the definition of arsenal and the universal interpretation of ‘secret weapon.’ "

From a Windowsill

"...I did it furtively even though I knew the children were off in the distance playing. I could hear them whooping like coyotes. There was a nice warmth, a morning warmth, with the front door held open by the old cow bell and the verandah door held in place by the rounded stone. There was a new jar of something very good in the cupboard. I had hesitated, hungry for something, I think companionship, when I remembered it was there. The thought squeezed that particular muscle sending a shiver up my spine. Oh, the intrigue! There was a baguette still warm from Serge’s bakery. The cap was off the jar, my knife skimmed the swirl off the top. Quickly, quickly, I spread the milk chocolate butter onto a tag of bread..."

A Boy, A Boat and Grasshopper Pie

"...I was fourteen the first time I fell in love. Biology 101, freshman year, 5th period. Cupid did not pierce my heart with a long slender arrow, he bludgeoned me on the head, ka-bam! Blond-haired, blue-eyed, lips the colour of plums, Alan H- was the closest thing to a Greek god I imagine I have ever seen. I was skinny, I was a tomboy, I was invisible. He moved away sophomore year and took my heart with him..."

Pink Tacos

"...I woke up one morning feeling giddy with emotion. This guy had to be mine, or else. I remembered something K- had said about some kind of shrimp taco or Mexican food. I thought to myself if I could somehow duplicate that damn taco, or do something that would resemble food from south of the border, I might just have a shot at this guy. Bingo!!!!!! I did, he did, we did and the rest is history. If you ever have the slightest opportunity to recreate something that will rock his world, I suggest that you do it. . . immediately and like gangbusters..."

Tajine for Many Hands

"...I was like a heated gold wire. I had become a flame, new, fresh and golden. Quite suddenly, I was unconditionally female. Woman in the body of a girl child, circuitry on course, circuit board lit up, I was embraced, I was embracing the first man I would ever fall in love with..."