Save the Date! Hear the Song! Watch the Movie! Have a Crab Cake!
A sprinkling of metaphorical confetti to brighten up your week...
It’s been quite a while since my mood could be described as “carefree” (maybe 66 years, give or take?) But I’m writing this on a beautiful, sunny spring morning, and all is well (for the moment, anyway). In this relatively carefree spirit, I’m tossing some confetti in the air (Comedy! Music! A great short film! Yummy food!) and encouraging you to pass the joy along. The world needs all the confetti it can get, right?
COMEDY!
Tis the season for those Spring and Summer weddings! If someone you know is contemplating traveling a distance for their nuptials, I have some SUPER FUN suggestions for possible locations: “Save The Date for Our Dangerous Destination Wedding!”
MUSIC!
Some of you may not know this, but my Rose is (I think) a really fine singer/songwriter. I wish she had more time to write and perform music these days, but at least I have some recordings, like this one…
MOVIE!
The words “charming” and “public transportation” are not often paired (at least here in the US), but if anything comes close, it’s train travel. Here’s a sweet short film by the Chinese filmmaker Xu Zhang, “En Route” . It’s about the ways three sets of strangers connect without sharing a language, and I hope it will make you smile!
YUMMY FOOD!
My favorite dish to prepare in the summer at the Delaware shore, crab cakes are a pricey treat nowadays, but worth the splurge once in a while. I don’t even remember where the original recipe came from, but I’ve made a few tweaks over the years. The other day Patrick asked me for it, so he could put “my” crab cakes on the menu at his restaurant. Of course, he gussied them up with brioche buns and Calabrian chili aioli, but I’m still a little flattered that they meet Pat’s high chef standards:-)
Here you go! The quality of the crabmeat makes a big difference. For 4 servings…
In one bowl, mix 1 lb lump crabmeat (picked over for shell fragments) with 1/2 cup Ritz cracker crumbs. In another bowl, mix 2 Tb mayonnaise, 1 Tb Dijon mustard, 1 Tb minced parsley, 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning, a little salt and pepper, and 1 beaten egg. Stir this into the crab mixture. Form into 4 crab cakes and chill one hour. Sauté in butter about 10 minutes, until browned on both sides.
BLOG PREVIEW!
“Call and Response” is famously used in many settings, from military marches, to Scout hikes, to gospel choirs. Would a nice, energetic chant inspire the kids to pitch in more at home? Join me over at Working Title tomorrow and find out!
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Looking ahead to Earth Day on the 22nd)
“Avoiding climate breakdown will require cathedral thinking. We must lay the foundation while we may not know exactly how to build the ceiling.” --Greta Thunberg
Here’s to a week of cathedral thinking (big, bold and long-term) as we work together to make EVERY week a cause for celebration! Cue the confetti!
Nice to hear Rose's pretty Voice. I'll send to Winnie. And I can't wait to try your recipe for Crab Cakes. I'm a late comer to liking them. Thanks for your newsletter. I can tell it takes a lot fo time and writing. Count down til the book launch!!