I'm not Julia Child

Written on June 19, 2010


I've been too busy cooking all day for 2 days and one evening to reflect and write.  I've been preparing for a bridal shower and a dinner with friends.  I'm not a great cook, and I'm not sure I enjoy it all that much, but I did find joy.  It's a joy to make and share with friends.  It's a joy to easily buy fresh, delicious, healthy food and to prepare it in a kitchen that is outfitted with all the modern conveniences and decorated to my taste.  It is a joy to be healthy and strong and to feel it (except for the sore back and knee, but it's all good.) Bon Appetite.


To make up for no message yesterday, I'll send a second one this afternoon.  I attended a lovely piano recital this afternoon, another one where kids that I substitute taught earlier this spring were performing.  Some of them played like little professionals, and others played liked regular kids who take piano lessons, but each of them gave up free time to practice and to prepare.  As I listened, I thought, "I love my job."  I work so hard all year to make these performance opportunities happen for literally thousands of kids.  When I see them play and see their happiness when they achieve a level of artistry, I feel joy.  It warms my heart to the core.

The Circle of Life

Written on June 17, 2010

Today I had a wonderful visit from a former student and her 2 sweet little daughters.  I was delighted to see Jen.  I was her teacher for 10 years and have watched her grow from a little girl to a lovely young mother.  She was a joy to teach, and she is still a joy to see again.  Before she leaves town, she will stop by again, and I will teach her little girl a few notes on the piano.  Yes, I feel a little old, but mostly very complete.  Life is beautiful!

A Pattern

Written on June 16, 2010

I'm seeing a pattern in what I do for joy, and it's no surprise that it's music.  For today's joy, I practiced the piano for about the tenth day in a row, which is a real record for me these days.  I haven't done that in years, and although I'm awfully rusty, I still love it.  I also finished another year of teaching with a great lesson where the student is reaching that point where she loves to play and sees herself as a pianist.  I love that moment when a student "gets it"  and is ready for a bigger challenge.  So, that's my joy for today.  What's black and white and happy all over?  Mom at the piano.

White Bean Chicken Soup, and Piano Music

Written on June 13, 2012 

Once again, I found a message stuck in my outbox.  It is Saturday's.  Sorry to send out of order, but here it is:

Two joyful things to report today:

 

1.  I heard a lovely piano recital given by 2 girls at the tender age of 14 or 15.  They played beautifully, and I was pleased to be the teacher of one of them for 3 weeks this spring while her regular teacher recovered from surgery.  These 2 girls are truly gifted, and they work hard to develop their gift.

 

2.  This is much more practical and probably cognitively incongruent on such a hot day, but I found joy in making a big pot of a family favorite and my own original recipe.  Here is the recipe, in case you like soup on hot days, too.  It makes a big pot, but it's so good, you'll want to eat all of it, or freeze it for another day when you don't have time to cook.  Pretty much every day.

 

1 or 1.5 lbs, skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces. (I use kitchen scissors for this, and they work great.)

1 lg Vidalia onion, chopped ( a bag of frozen chopped onion works,too)

1 bunch of celery, washed and chopped, including leaves

6 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 Tbl. butter (I know, use olive oil, if you must.)

2 cans diced tomatoes, with juice

2 cans white beans (cannellini) drained and rinsed to remove excess salt

2 Tbl. chicken stock paste (or bullion or broth, whatever you have)

1/2  tsp crushed red pepper  (more, if you dare)

1/4 C fresh cilantro, chopped (I have great new multi-blade scissors to chop herbs.  I highly recommend them.   The fact that I can now harvest the herbs from my garden also gives me joy.)

Enough water to make the consistency that you want.  I add about 4 cups, maybe less.

 

In a big Dutch oven or stock pot, sauté the chopped veggies and chicken in butter until onions are translucent.  Add the tomatoes and juice, water, beans, and stock.  Stir in red pepper and herbs and simmer for a couple of hours.  If you're in a hurry, you can eat it when the veggies are soft, and the chicken is done.  It's healthy and delicious, and it gives us joy every time I make it, which is about once a month or so.