I wrote a post about Clara Cannucciari a few years ago. She had these wonderful little videos on how to cook simple, good food that she learned from her mother during the Great Depression (not to be confused with the Great Disaster that we are in now).
As you all know I love to cook and hate to go out to eat, since it’s usually expensive for what you get and I can just about always cook something better. Like Clara. I wanted to see what was new so I searched and found that her last clip is the one below.
She turned 98 this past August, so she has the right to stop doing anything she wants to, but just the idea that she won’t be around forever and there is an end to everything is a general concept that’s always been hard for me to “get” Sakshi just told me that we DO go on forever, and that what I just wrote is false. Hmmmm….
It’s Indian Summer where I live, with the most amazing sunny and blue sky days, with cool nights and foggy mornings. We’re eating soup for dinner just about every night though, and that is a sure sign of Fall. Working out in my garden today, I heard the sound of leaves falling from the old Dogwood trees. It was like music from a wind instrument… Winter is coming, but not quite yet!
The fear factor for this coming winter is high. With people saying things like, “It’s gonna be a bad one!”, or, “It’ll be the toughest and coldest one we’ve seen!”.
After finding three Wooly Worms in the garden, with each one having a different number and thickness of stripes (one had no stripes, one had a few, and another had it’s whole body striped) I am going to go the Zen way and just take it like it comes.
So here’s my top 10 Reasons to Cook at Home:
1. You don’t have to worry about parking.
2. You can get seconds without feeling foolish.
3. You can drink better wine with your meal.
4. You don’t have to dress up, or even wear a bra.
5. You don’t have to worry about slimy lettuce.
6. You don’t have to be tempted to have dessert, since if you are like us, we don’t have dessert made for each evening meal, just special occasions.
7. You don’t have to worry about being heard over the din of the restaurant.
8. If you are hungry, you don’t have to wait to eat.
9. When you are finished, you don’t have to wait for the check, and then drive home because you are already home.
And lastly,
10. You don’t have to worry about having overpaid for a meal that you didn’t like.
Clara is delightful. Thank you so much for the discovery of her videos.,. Loving you. Subs
@Sharon: oh so glad you enjoyed Clara! I’ve made tomato sauce before, many times, but will be trying her simple one just to see what makes Clara happy.
Sadhvi – Clara is WONDERFUL! And so is the editing on this short video. I love the pace and the message and the cooking tips.
@Monica: Good to hear that all is well with you and Steven. I really enjoy your posts on your blog too….makes me smile thinking of you two.
@Ramapada: Yes, that garden gnome IS wearing a NY Yankees hat. This picture was taken at Madhu’s house, and we were all having fun with that gnome, putting different props on him. I wish Ecuador were closer, but alas, it is not. I will be happy and content with the hibernation that winter brings, and the chance to “go-inside” more. Maybe one day…. 🙂
@Trudi: I wonder how many good restaurant choices there are for those that are on a strict, gluten-free diet? My guess is that there aren’t many. Maybe a few in Asheville, San Francisco, Boulder, etc.
@Genie: Clara is not exactly Grandma Carter, is she? But they both lived through the Great Depression, and even though Grandma Carter was always a little cryptic with her remarks, there was a certain feeling that she was right. Lots of love to you and Linda!
@Ellie: Yes, lunches are good, because they don’t cost as much as dinner, and you get the same amount and almost the same type of food. Where shall we go to lunch next?
@Krys: Yes, isn’t Clara cool and sweet and funny and…well, and full of wisdom and wonderful stories. There might not be new ones coming, but I can watch the old ones too, over and over again.
This video was so sweet. Thanks so much for sharing it.
I just lost my elderly friend, 91 years young last week. You know Sadhvi, I don’t like to eat out a lot either. I would rather cook because I do like my food better. However the reason I do go out for lunch once in a while is because then I do get out of the house for a little social life & relax. Besides of which we don’t go to expensive places – It’s all good for the soul!!!!!!!!!
Love ya and I love this weather. Ellie!
Hi Sadhvi…Genie Boy here. Thanks for the top 10!
Genie Boy.
Cute and so true!
Hi Sadhvi…is your garden troll wearing a NY Yankees hat? Have the Yankees invaded the gardens in the US? If the winter is bad, come down and visit us in Ecuador where winter is a rumor that never happens…no woolly worms here..besitos to you and Sakshi
So nice to hear from you, Monica! Glad to hear that the wooly worm’s stripes is not an indication of the winter’s cold.
Hi Sadhvi,
Thanks for this delicious post! Nice to hear from you. Steven and I are doing well.
Have a wonderful fall and hopefully the winter won’t be quite as bad as everyone says (we’ve been overrun with woolly caterpillars, black ones; but then we were last year, too, and last winter was quite all right, not too cold.)
All the best,
Monica Ferry