My old high school friend, Mary Ellen, contacted me on Facebook to let me know that she was helping to plan our 50th high school class reunion, which will take place in October. She wanted to let me know early because I live out of state and would need to make travel arrangements. I attended Mt. Savage High School in the state of Maryland, nestled in a valley of the Allegheny Mountains. It is a small blue-collar community with a population (based on the 2010 census) of 873.
One of my earliest TV memories was watching the original “Flash Gordon” show every week after Sunday school. I was fascinated with outer space and the idea that life beyond Earth may really exist. Later, one of my favorite movies was “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” I loved the handsome alien and his reason for visiting our planet – to insist that earthlings stop the wars and violence and learn to live in peace for the sake of all planets in the galaxy.
It might seem difficult to think of the 1990s as the “Golden Age” of anything. No offense to the ’90s, but they just don’t seem so long ago.
“You’re going on a journey. A journey through memory. Your destination? A place and time you’ve been before. To reach it, all you have to do is follow my voice.”
There always seems to be something in the air in September.
On our first night in Rome, we were tired. The journey had included two masked flights, two times through airport security, a tense Customs experience with lots of verifying COVID vaccination and testing. So, by the time we landed in Italy, arrived at our hotel (via disgruntled taxi driver), checked in and unpacked, we were completely exhausted. And hungry.
Ratatouille is one of my favorite fall dishes – it’s hearty and warm and uses the late summer vegetables that are hanging on into the cooler weather. A traditional French dish, it’s pretty straightforward to make. The key is taking the time to sauté the veggies so they are almost cooked. Also, don’t skip the step of salting the eggplant – it’s the secret to removing the bitter taste and making it the star of the dish! Enjoy these simply stewed veggies over rice or quinoa for a hearty meal or as a side dish for chicken or beef.
What a great idea! Way to go! You can do it! You’re getting better every day!
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recently announced an extension to the eviction moratorium purportedly to slow the spread of COVID-19. This moratorium cannot be justified on economic grounds and is likely to harm the housing market.
Historically located just off Campus Drive (formerly Mill St.) near the campus of UM-Flint and behind the United States Post Office building, the Cornwall Whip Socket Factory, also known as Flint Specialty Co., was the world’s biggest supplier of whip sockets from 1905-12. (A whip socket is a wooden or metal holder, usually mounted on a carriage or buggy dash, to hold the whip that drivers used on their horses.) The company excelled after being purchased in 1901 by English immigrant, John Cornwall whereby he promptly changed the name and output.
When my son was in his early twenties, he worked in the fulfillment area of Macy’s Department Store. When the large delivery trucks would arrive with shipments, countless boxes of goods were placed on conveyor belts. My son and his coworkers would unpack the boxes, mark the goods with the destination department name and send them down the line. He loved that job. “We didn’t know what was in the boxes until we opened them. It was like Christmas morning every day, Mom,” he said.
To me, the height of summer produce is pepper season. Beautiful red horned peppers are a nice variation from bell peppers and you’ll find them to also be much sweeter. One of the best ways to enjoy them is roasted with olive oil. With many colors and old varieties of Italian sweet peppers finding their way into local farms, it’s a great time to make roasted pepper soup. Roast some extra peppers, freeze them and enjoy this soup through the winter!
