Joe Moylan, A Good Man

This week, the world lost a genuinely good man.  This man had a huge impact on the world around me. We go way back, to my first years teaching at DA, when his children were students at Durham Academy.  Most recently, he and I spent many sunny afternoons watching high school baseball, cheering for the team, my son, and his grandson.  He lived close to our upper school and he and his wife, Ann Carole, were often in the stands, cheering on our teams even when kids and grandkids weren't out there.  And, fittingly it seems, that's where he spent his final afternoon.  He had a "heart episode" while watching our lacrosse team play in the state play-offs.  The Ex-Ex helped his wife get him in the golf cart and up to the training room so that a parent who happens to be a cardiologist could take a look at him until the ambulance arrived to take him to Duke Hospital.  Everyone seemed to think that he would be fine and be able to attend many more games.  However, it seems that God needed him more than we do.  And that is hard to believe.
Dr. Moylan and his wife raised six children.  He was a Duke professor of surgery, chief of trauma services, and instrumental in the development of Duke's Life Flight program.  He and his wife left Durham for three years, but returned and had an even greater impact on our community.  He founded the Durham Nativity School, a tuition-free middle school for 33 inner city boys, grades 6-8.  As a matter of fact, according to the Durham Herald-Sun newspaper, Dr. Moylan visited "his boys" on the day he died.  Several of them were in attendance at our middle school end-of-the-year dance last night.  We always invite them and they show up dressed to impress.  These young men must wear a shirt, tie, and khakis every day.
I have volunteered at the Nativity School a couple of times in the past.  One time, the BFF and I went there to cook with the boys.  We made crêpes and tarte tatin.   At the last minute, I decided to bring along some whipping cream.  At their age, I didn't know about anything except Cool Whip.  I had no idea you could take liquid and make yummy fluffy stuff out of it.  I thought they would get a kick of that.  And they did, much to my delight.

According to one of his sons, Dr. Moylan carried a handwritten note in his wallet.  The note is a quote from Edmund Beck, a 20th century German Roman Catholic theologian.

5 Theological Truths

• Life is hard.
• You will die.
• In the big picture, you are not important.
• You are not in control.
• Life is not about you, it's about everyone else. 

That's today's recipe, friends.   The world would be a better place if we all carried these wise words around in our wallets and read them everyday, attempting to live our lives and help others the way Dr. Moylan did, without any fanfare and because we genuinely care about everyone else. 

We will all miss you, Joe.  May you rest in peace.

Bon appétit to all.

Mother's Day 2013

 

   

So, is it just another Hallmark Holiday, as the Ex-Ex calls some of them?  I think not.  I've been thinking about Mama Mildred all day.  I found some photos...

1958

Mama gave me a bag full of pictures a few years back and I am so glad that I have them.  Look how young she is!  Barely 18 here.  I am 6 months old.

1978

This one was taken right before I left for my first trip to France.  Mama is 38 years old in this one, I am 20.  Mere babies, both of us!

2010

This was on Mama's 70th birthday.  How could her firstborn be 52 years old?

I love you, Mama!

Here are your four babies, 1968-ish?

And since I am a Mom, too, here are my babies when they were babies-

They were cute then, they are handsome now.

They make me very proud.

To Mama Mildred and my boys--

Happy Mother's Day 2013!

I've made these brownies for Mama and for the boys.  Mildred likes the addition of coffee to the batter.  She is also a huge buttermilk fan.  She used to crumble cornbread into a glass of it and then eat it.  I admit that I have never tried it, so I will not comment out of respect for her.

Texas Brownies

2 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. strong brewed coffee
1/4 c. dark, unsweetened cocoa
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Frosting:
1/2 c. butter
2 Tbsp. dark cocoa
1/4 c. milk
3 1/2 c. unsifted powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and the sugar.
In a heavy saucepan, combine butter, shortening, coffee and cocoa.  Stir and heat to boiling.
Pour boiling mixture over the flour and sugar in the bowl.  Add the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla.
Mix well, using a wooden spoon or high speed on electric mixer.
Pour into a well-buttered 17 1/2-by-11-inch pan.
Bake at 400˚F for 20 minutes or until brownies test done in the center.
While brownies bake, prepare the frosting.  In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa and milk.  Heat to boiling, stirring.
Mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla until frosting is smooth.
Pour warm frosting over brownies as soon as you take them out of the oven.  Cool.  Cut.

Bon appétit to all moms!

Roses and Risotto

Life is not a bed of roses.  How many times have you heard that saying?  Roses are beautiful and they certainly smell nice.  I caught this one with my iPhone last Friday while standing around on carpool duty after school (I was watching the kiddies, too, I promise).  There are several lovely rosebushes on campus and they seem to bloom almost year round.  Here's another--

Back to the bed of roses thing, though.  They have thorns so I am not sure why a bed of roses would be seen as comfy in the first place.  But I didn't make up the saying.  Would you want your life to be a bed of roses?  No troubles?  No conflicts?  No sadness?  No weaknesses?  If life was were (Was or were?  Who the heck knows?) always easy, would we know how to appreciate the goodness and the simple pleasures that come our way?  Or how would we find success after a long struggle or even a not-so-long one?  How would we truly find out what we are made of?  Today's post on French Word-A-Day got me to thinking this morning.  I've read both of Kristin's books, most of her blogposts, and her writing has become more personal in the last few months.  She has shared her struggles as well as her joys in the life that most of her readers envy to the nth degree (I do not think that I am only speaking for moi here).  And I like her way more for sharing her struggles.  She is now a human to me.  Her life isn't a bed of roses.  The un-named book that I am reading now is just a little too perfect for me.  I don't relate to the author, even though she is in France, eating, drinking, and speaking French.  All the chapters wrap up a little too perfectly for my taste.  Even the fictional characters I love the most have their imperfections.  For example, Cara Black's Aimée Leduc occasionally breaks down and has a cigarette or she falls for the wrong "bad boy."  We all have imperfections and weaknesses.  Does that make us less than desirable?  Or bad, even?  Certainement pas.  Those roses aren't perfect either, but that doesn't stop me from photographing or smelling them!

I've been craving risotto for the past few days.  Am I in need of a comfort-food fix?  Probably.  I finally gave in and made it, using a recipe I found at allrecipes.com.  I do not understand why making it is called "painful."  Sure, you have to stand there and stir and add liquid, but what a glorious mix of smell and mindless work.  No multi-tasking allowed.  Well... I sipped a glass of rosé while making it.

 And I listened to Buena Vista Social Club.  (The Ex-Ex wasn't home yet so I could listen to whatever I wanted without explanation.  Guilty pleasure, I confess, oui.)  Chef Érick introduced me to this group back in 2008.  We also watched a documentary film about the members of the group, made by Wim Wenders and released in 1999.  If their music doesn't move you, chances are you have lost your soul...  Give them a listen.  Find your soul. Then download one a CD onto your music device of choice.  And turn it up.  Dance around the living room.  Or the kitchen as you stir the risotto.  Sing along.  As loudly as you want.



Gourmet Mushroom Risotto
6 servings

6 c. chicken broth
2 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
1 lb. portobello mushrooms, sliced and chopped
1 lb. white mushrooms, sliced and chopped
1 med. onion, diced or 2 shallots, diced
1 1/2 c. Arborio rice
1/2 c. dry white wine
Sea salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. finely chopped chives, optional
1/3 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1.  Warm the broth to simmer; reduce heat to low.
2.  Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 Tbsp. butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Stir in the mushrooms and cook until soft, about 3-5 minutes.  Remove mushrooms and their liquid and set aside.
3.  Add 1 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 Tbsp. butter to the pan and stir in the onions.  Cook about 3 minutes, until soft.  Add rice, stirring to coat with oil, about 2 minutes.  When the rice is pale gold, pour in the wine and stir until it is fully absorbed.  Add 1/2 c. of broth to the rice and stir until the broth is absorbed.  Continue adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 15-20 minutes.
4.  Remove from heat and stir in mushrooms with their liquid.  Add chives, if using, and Parmesan.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Serve immediately.

Bon appétit à tous!

La Fête du Travail 2013

(photo from I Prefer Paris)

May 1 is La Fête du Travail, Labor Day, in France.  They enjoy a lovely day off.  Some of them even make the bridge, faire le pont, as they call it and take the rest of the week off.  Pourquoi pas, hein?  The give little bouquets of muguet des bois, lily of the valley, to their sweethearts, on May 1.  It was my grandmother's favorite flower.  She wore perfume by the same name, launched by Coty in 1941.  Behind her house, she had a little garden and grew them, too.

May 1 is just another day closer to summer vacation for us.  More than one middle schooler has checked out of the hotel, as I call it.  Here's a hotel I would like to check into--

The Negresco in Nice on La Promenade des Anglais.  I love the pink roof.  And the palm trees.  And the blue chairs.  And the white chairs.  And the bar with the umbrellas.  And the drinks served in the outdoor bar at sunset.

And the Mediterranean Sea.

And the beach that is covered in stones.
I tried to capture the most beautiful shade of pale pink I've ever seen in 2006 during the Arles 6 trip to Nice.  I wasn't very successful.  But my mind can still see it.  That's what matters.

I have spent more time in the kitchen this week making dinner for the Ex-Ex and moi.  He gets more excited about the meat, but I found a keeper rice dish.  I am a bit addicted to First for Women magazine.  Good recipes.  Health and exercise tips galore (lots of stuff as of late about thyroid and gluten-free diets).  Affordable home decor and clothing ideas.  Not that I am either a decorator or shopper.  But the magazine is full of pretty, colorful pictures.  Just general feel-good stuff.  We all need that.  (24 more school days, but who's counting?)

Ginger-Lime Brown Rice
serves 8

1 small onion, chopped
1 red pepper, diced
1 tsp. olive oil or flaxseed oil
1 1/2 c. converted brown rice
3 c. low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger
1 lime, zested and juiced
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley and/or cilantro

1.  In medium pot over medium heat, cook chopped onions and diced red peppers in oil 2 minutes, or until tender, stirring frequently.
2.  Add brown rice, broth, grated ginger, 2 Tbsp. lime juice and 1 tsp. lime zest to pot.  Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer.
3.  Cook rice mixture 35 minutes or until rice is done and broth is absorbed, covering if desired.  Stir in chopped fresh parsley and/or cilantro.  Season with salt and pepper.  Spoon into serving dish and garnish as desired.

Bon appétit, May/Mai!

Caffeine, Andrea Bocelli, and Krispy Kreme

I ran out to the post office during my free period (shhhh) and grabbed a cup of coffee (café au lait, to be exact) from Bull Street Gourmet & Market which is right next door to la poste.  I am too proud of myself for mailing a box to Mama Mildred way before Mother's Day.  Go me.  I just hope she doesn't faint.
Anyway, when I returned to my desk to check emails, I saw my daily horoscope--

Leo

The emotional Moon meets transformative Pluto in your sixth house of health
and service, placing increased pressure on you to be responsible and
dependable. People at a distance may not be reliable, so if you're waiting
for someone else to come through for you, you need to investigate further.
Take care of yourself by avoiding caffeine, alcohol and anything that
disturbs your delicate nervous system.

Oops.  Too late.  The coffee is almost gone.  But I do not think that my nervous system is very delicate anyway.  

I am listening to Andrea Bocelli's CD Passione.  He is a new discovery for me.  I saw him on Dancing With The Stars recently.  (Yes, we watch this in our house... emphasis on we here-- the Ex-Ex is a big fan-- the secret is out.  Sorry.)  Absolutely lovely music.  I don't understand much of it.  Except for his rendition of Elvis' Love Me Tender.  Doesn't matter, though.  Music is like that. 



Well, sometimes it actually does matter if you understand the words.  I found that out recently.  The French kids brought me a DVD of photos from our visit with them in March.  It is fabulous.  All 29 of them signed the DVD.  

Three very talented jeunes filles, girlies, put it together.  I put it in the computer to watch, thinking how great it would be to show to the entire school during the assembly that I had just signed up for.  They even put it to music.  Song #1:  We Are The Champions by Queen.  Yoohoo! '70's music.  I can name that tune in 3 notes.  Song #2:  (and I only know this because I asked one of my advisees who actually listens to this stuff) Young, Wild, and Free by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa.  Not a good idea.  Drinking and getting high.  Not exactly the kind of music I would want the middle schoolers to listen to.  Especially the little innocent 5th and 6th graders.  I love my job too much to lose it.  So, I went into panic mode and grabbed Mme P and explained the situation to her.  She found the girls and I explained it to them.  I wonder if they were thinking What's the big deal?  Et alors, Madame L'Américaine?  Anyway, they managed to work around it and find a new song for the slide show.  I still have my job.  Moral of the story-- listen carefully.  Sometimes it matters.

Here's this year's group.  Yep, I introduced them to hot Krispy Kremes.  Love at first bite!

Nice to meet you!

Bon appétit, my Frenchies!  Vous me manquez...  À la prochaine!

Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Crack

I got up in this morning with an amazing amount of resolve.  Today will be the day.  I will give up sugar and gluten.  I will feast on oatmeal cooked with cinnamon and raisins, a salad for lunch, lots of good, cold water to wash it all down.  And then I got to school.  I went to the faculty room to check my mailbox and staring me in the face was what amounts to crack in my world of zero will power.  Never mind the kilo (or five) that I have promised myself I will lose before summer and swimsuit time rolls around.  And before I have my annual physical when I will be forced to get on a scale in front of a total stranger.  (Saying you have a few kilos to lose sounds easier to me than pounds... 1kg = 2.2lbs.  Call me crazy.)

Recipe passed on to me by Son #2's favorite teacher's wife.  She has been filling in in our office and this is her last week.  We'll miss you, PS!

Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Crack Bark

Small pretzels or pretzel snaps
2 sticks butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
Sea salt

Line a large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with aluminum foil.  Spread pretzels in a single layer to cover foil.  Melt butter in a small saucepan.  Add brown sugar and stir, stir, stir.  Allow to boil a little bit and continue stirring it until it gets darker brown.  You want to cook it almost to the point where you think you might have ruined it... that's when the sticky caramelly magic happens!  Pour over pretzels and bake in 350˚F oven for just 5 minutes.  Remove from oven and spread chocolate chips over hot caramel.  As they melt, spread them over the entire pan with a rubber spatula.  Sprinkle liberally with sea salt and let cool on the counter.  Put in freezer for one hour.  Remove and break into bite-sized pieces.  Yum!

Bon appétit to my fellow addicts!

Moussu T et lei Jovents Part Deux

Ok, so I posted the last blog entry on Facebook... and I got a comment back from the band!  Oui, yes I did!  And I played Bons baisers de Marseille for  my 7th graders while they took a nasty verb quiz.  The band sent me a new clip from Artemis.

Enjoy!  Bon appétit et aïoli!