A Second Spring

              ”It is spring again.  The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”                                                       —Rainer Maria Rilke

Here we are in Wisconsin where Spring is just beginning.  Green leaves are small but intense, tulips and daffodils are on full display, and bunnies are out and munching.  Such a privilege to see life blossoming, first in California, now in the Midwest.

And true to Madison’s nature, things of all sorts are a-buzzing…collegiate bike races, crew teams training on the lake, tons of students walking to class, the Saturday Farmers’ Market vendors encircling the Capitol, neighborhood art walks, and every cuisine imaginable available in nearby restaurants.  So far, we’ve had the pleasure of food from Laos, Tibet, Belgium, and grilled cheese sandwiches from the United States!               .  

Plus, we have had the pleasure of returning to a favorite restaurant of ours—Deliciouser. We sat at the kitchen counter so we could see/hear/smell each dish being made and watch the care and speed of the cooks.  And what’s nice for the patrons is that all the chef/owner created spices used in the dishes are for sale in the restaurant (or on-line).  I’m again inspired to become a little more adventurous in my use of spices in my cooking.👩‍🍳  To check out some of the Deliciouser recipes and spices, you can go to thedeliciouser.com or follow the restaurant on Instagram.

Another recent inspiration is a book called Watercolor Feast: Learn to Paint Simple Fruits, Vegetables and Little Flowers by Erin Gleeson.  The author and her family lived in the Santa Cruz mountains until last year when they moved to Madison!  

The book is a little gem of her watercolors, photographs, and lessons for painting fruits, vegetables and flowers, and includes recipes for the fruits, vegetables and edible flowers.  

I have already tried my hand at her method of painting a banana, strawberry and orange—I have much to learn!;  Next challenges: lemons, bell peppers, carrots.  And her other Forest Feast books, which I’ve mentioned before in the blog, continue to inspire with simple, visually appealing recipes, like the four- ingredient baked Accordion Zucchinii—fun and tasty. 

Also on my book agenda is Stanley Tucci’s book called What I Ate In One Year.   I am getting tidbits of family meals and restaurant gems, and glimpses of what his family, professional and travel life is like.  And as it turns out, I started reading the book, which begins with Tucci going to Rome to begin work on the movie “Conclave”  just before we watched the movie.  And now, the church is involved in an actual conclave.  Ah, timing.

And so, dear friends, I hope you are enjoying spring wherever you are and that your culinary adventures are a nice combination of good taste and beauty.  Food + Art…now that’s a good way to live.

                                                                                                                 YUM!!