The Zest and Zing of Spices

Istanbul Spice Market

How many times a week to we randomly put a bit of salt, pepper, basil or rosemary onto our food to give it a bit of flavor?  To think of all the spices and flavors that are out there to give rise and pleasure to our taste buds, why do we so often stick with the tired and true?
While we all can't spend a day wandering the spice market in Istanbul, this is an experience that should not be missed in ones lifetime.  The vast aromas and colors tempt the array of senses.  This seems to be a one of a kind place that tempts us to try a new spice, venture out into the mix of spices that come from the east.  I am sure that the great market places of India and China can rival Istanbul....but.  You lose yourself wandering, amazed at the baskets after baskets of curry...Who knew that there were so many?  It has always been my preference to mix my own curry, rather than buying a "curry" from a jar.  What color, what flavor, what aroma do you desire when mixing,

Baskets of Curry

  All of this goes to mind as I start to make my chicken curry....Growing up, curry was never one of my favorite dishes.  As with most people, this is due to an over abundance of Indian restaurants that abound in cities across America.  However, having been married to an Anglo-Indian, at one point in my life, I have experienced a turn around towards curry.  Curry is not a spice that should be bought in a jar and used singularly to flavor a dish.  Rather it is an abundance of spices mixed together to form a "curry".  This is something that all good Indian cooks know.  Being able to look back at the time spent in the kitchen with Andrew stirs of fond memories of out times together.  So as I mix together the tumeric, cumin, cardammon, cloves, cinnamon, fresh ginger and garlic, cayenne pepper and yes, a bit of that curry, I take the time to reflect on past years and where they have brought me in life...And I find that,  as with a good curry, the blend is what it is all about.
So find your spice market, take the time to savor the smells, colors and vibrance of it all, and enjoy!

The Arrival of Autumn

As autumn arrives, I find myself gazing longingly at my stash of yarn that I have accumulated over the summer months.  Colors and textures picked up and chosen on days when it was too warm to even think of beginning a project. But now with the crispness in the air, it seems to be the right time pick one of those skeins up and design the perfect cozy cowl, scarf or shawl. In this case, I will choose a shade of orange, mimicking the color of the leaves on the maple trees.  A lovely lace pattern will complete the design and all one needs is the choose how long you want the scarf to be.  I like to make mine extra long, as the double wrap keeps your neck cozy on cold autumn days. 

As the needles click together, knit, purl, yarn overs, the pattern begins to form.  Seeing the feathered lace start to appear, my fingers move more quickly, wanting to complete several repeats of the pattern.  The fire flickers in front of me as I become lost in the repeats of the pattern. Relaxation washes over me as the scarf grows longer.  While I carry my knitting with me always...it is the perfect companion at basketball games and practices, the time on the couch in front of the fire, is the knitting time I enjoy the most.  There is a zen like quality to the simpleness of each stitch.  It is not about the finished product but rather the process uses in getting there.