"He always did know how to make the grand gesture. Like when he'd brought her three dozen pink roses to match her rose-colored chiffon prom dress. And then there was the crowning touch, a small box of fresh strawberries dipped in his family's legendary Vasser chocolate." Sandra Lee, "The Recipe Box" Meringues are feather light,… Continue reading Strawberry pavlova
JOY JOURNAL BLOG
Little dress, better world
"Together, we can make a difference ... one little dress at a time." Rachel O'Neill, head of Little Dresses for Africa, despair-defying firebrand If you have a lovely pillowcase, a summer afternoon and minimal sewing skills, you have the right stuff to make a difference in one little girl's life. That's all it takes to… Continue reading Little dress, better world
Faux Italian sausage
"Everything you see I owe to pasta." Sophia Loren, Italian actress, bombshell Italian sausage can do so many things. Top pizzas. Add a delightful savory layer to soups like the Olive Garden's beloved Zuppa Toscana. Bring some zip to pasta dishes of every sort. It's soooo tasty. But for those of us trying to trim calories… Continue reading Faux Italian sausage
‘Dune Girl’s’ missing wedding scene
Readers who are already familiar with my beach read, Dune Girl, may have wondered why I left out the main characters' wedding. Particularly since the book opens with another wedding that never quite happens and ends at a point beyond a wedding which is mentioned only in allusions. Want to read the whole story? "Dune… Continue reading ‘Dune Girl’s’ missing wedding scene
The last church lady
The last church lady of my childhood acquaintance died in May. She was 87 and still full of the mix of "Send the Light" mercy and sterner stuff that comedian Dana Carvey so brilliantly satirized on Saturday Night Live. Danger in a box -- unless one is a true church lady. When I first met… Continue reading The last church lady
Nora Edinger -- JOY Journal 