Todd Bruney’s (Grandmother’s) Fig Cake

Todd Bruney’s (Grandmother’s) Fig Cake

Todd is a true Southern gentleman for sharing his Grandmother’s delicious family treasure. Your house will smell like the comforts of fall when this cake is baking. The final outcome is dense, moist and packed with flavors of autumn. *Note: you can replace equal amounts 

Arenberg Abbey

Arenberg Abbey

They are mythical creatures. You know one when you see one; their habits flutter with the slightest breeze and rest just above sensible rubber soled shoes. They often have a strand of beads dangling from a hip pocket and the shine of their hair remains 

Escoffier

Escoffier

“I wouldn’t consider a program to be serious if it didn’t teach Escoffier, or classic French techniques” Julia Child  (The following is a memory from 2016.) Nicknamed “King of Chefs and Chef of Kings”, Georges Auguste Escoffier’s list of loyal followers included royals, writers, movie 

My German Gingerbread (Recipe)

My German Gingerbread (Recipe)

This cake is pure comfort and purely comforting. Be prepared, it will ensconce your home with the soothing aromas of Autumn. Enjoy. ½ cup white sugar ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce 1 lg. egg 1 cup molasses 1 ½ cups spelt flour (*See Note) 1 cup 

On the Heels of Hildegard of Bingen (Recipe)

On the Heels of Hildegard of Bingen (Recipe)

We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use our own voice, to 

Rosa Lewis: The Queen of Cooks & Cockney

Rosa Lewis: The Queen of Cooks & Cockney

   The lady from Leyton was notoriously elusive, especially in death.  My only means to get close to the woman newspapers hailed in the 19th century as, “the greatest woman cook in the world” were three parchment remnants.  Two books accompanied me on this journey, 

Château de Malmaison: Where Roses Reign

Château de Malmaison: Where Roses Reign

Many tourists traveling to Paris look for a dose of sugar coated history by heading to the Palace of Versailles or Fontainebleau. Both famous residences are dripping with opulence, but there is a hidden gem waiting patiently to be unwrapped by those interested in the 

Barefoot in Paris: Père Lachaise 

Barefoot in Paris: Père Lachaise 

Cemeteries train the eye to glance downward. As if the thought of death weren’t somber enough, most are flat and gray.  The only breath of life – occasional wilting flowers that rest beside headstones. If you have the opportunity to visit the cemetery, Père Lachaise in Paris, you’ll find it 

Expat Observations: An American Among Germans

Expat Observations: An American Among Germans

  It’s been two years since I moved to the land of lederhosen and schnitzel from Austin, Texas.  In no certain order, below are my observations….      – Germany has an equivalent to the Mason-Dixon Line, and dialects change accordingly – Germans have an aversion