September Song

These precious days...

As I write this, we’re coming off a week-long heat wave here in Philly. Autumn feels far away; still no sign of ripening pumpkins or falling leaves. But the calendar tells me September is nearly half-over. The year will be picking up speed soon, down the hill to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and then it’ll be Happy 2024. As my Grandpa would say, “Whoa, Nellie!”

Steve and I were in Venice, Italy in 2018. It is such a magical place, filled with beauty and history and culture. Part of my love for Venice is knowing that it is so fragile. That gorgeous floating city is slowly sinking, and has been for quite awhile. Massive flooding occurs from time to time (a significant flood happened not long after our visit), and climate change is hastening Venice’s demise (which scientists think could happen within 75 years). Our gondola ride is a memory I will cherish forever…and remember never to take life’s joys for granted…

And speaking of Venice…

NEW MOVIES:

This year’s Venice Film Festival, which ended on Saturday, included premieres of two movies about music and music makers that I’m very excited to see. You’ve likely heard of Maestro, Bradley Cooper’s new film about Leonard Bernstein, focusing on his marriage as well as his music…

But you may not have heard about Opus, an extraordinary filming of the renowned Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s final performance before his death last year. I love Sakamoto’s film scores very much, and it looks like this movie is a wonderful tribute, directed by the composer’s son, Neo Sora. Take a look at this really beautiful trailer:

ESSAY:

In my newest essay for Gather Magazine, I write about my tiny kitchen, source of so many meals to nourish the ones I love. In Scripture, Martha was the sister who bustled around getting dinner ready, while Mary sat listening to Jesus. Confession: I’m a Martha, and I honestly think that’s OK…

"I'm a Martha. My Kitchen is my Holy Place."

And that’s a segue to…

RECIPE (and of course there’s a story with it):

When I was 12, my mom and dad went on their one and only vacation (ever). We three girls were too young to be left alone for a week (I was the oldest), so my parents hired a sitter, a lovely girl named Stephanie Schultz. Everyone called her Stevie, and she was SO much fun. She was also a terrific cook. I was the family chef by then, but Stevie taught me how to prepare several new recipes. I still make her cherry pie today.

Side note: not too long after she babysat for us, Stevie decided to become a nun. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.

Check out Stevie’s Catholic school penmanship on the ancient recipe card!

Here’s the recipe in a readable form:

Cherry Pie

Two unbaked pie crusts, rolled out

2 1 lb cans tart cherries packed in water

1 cup sugar

½ cup flour

½ tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp cloves

¼ tsp nutmeg

Red food coloring

Line 9” pie pan with one crust. In a saucepan, mix sugar and flour, add juice from one can of the cherries. Cook on low heat til thickened. Add spices and a few drops of food coloring. Drain the second can of cherries, and add both cans of cherries to mixture. Pour into pie crust, top with second crust. Crimp the edges, and prick the top of the pie with a fork in several places. Bake at 425 degrees for approx. 35 minutes, until golden brown.

BLOG PREVIEW: My word! Whaddaya know? I am the queen of the radio quiz show (as long as I’m not actually on the air)! Puzzled? Check out Working Title tomorrow!

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“It's around the table and in the preparation of food that we learn about ourselves and about the world.” —Alice Waters

Here’s to a special meal shared with those YOU love this week, wherever you gather, and whatever the menu may be!

Seafood feast at Osteria alla Frasca in Venice!