Contemporary Art – A Musician's Travels

“French Tapestry” at the Clark and Pesto Chicken Kale, White Bean and Tortellini Soup!”

Outside the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, the hills in the distance were gray and foreboding and the wind chill was sharp and bitingly cold; what better time to be inside!

We were delighted to discover a special exhibition at the Clark: Wall Power! Modern French Tapestry from the Mobilier national, Paris. The exhibit displayed a wide range of tapestries created by contemporary artists from the 1920’s to today. Artists, weavers and dyers revived ancient techniques and created bold and daring new works of art. The room was full of brilliant colors and patterns; warming to the soul.

The beautifully curated exhibit included the following insightful commentary:

“Since the middle of the 20th century, the art of tapestry has continued to offer a vast field of expression to major artists, to the most varied trends and plastic research: Picasso, Matisse, Miró, Delaunay, but also to abstract artists (Hartung, Vasarely) non-figurative (Nemours, Bazaine), part of Minimal Art, new realism (Hains), narrative figuration (Erro, Aillaud) or the Supports-Surfaces group (Buraglio, Rouan, Pincemin). More recently, Louise Bourgeois, Bertrand Lavier, Sheila Hicks or Orlan have distinguished themselves with their woven creations. In perpetual evolution, the works created by the Manufactures nationales reflect the most diverse trends in contemporary art”.

“A Thousand Wildflowers” by Dom Robert, a Benedictine Monk, recalled wildflower fields that were popular in the Middle Ages.

*“A Thousand Wildflowers”- Dom Roberts* (1907-1997)

Several of the tapestries were designed from existing works of art and then woven. Designing a work and then weaving it with a team of weavers, can take up to 2 or 3 years.

“*Evening Music*“-*Pauline Peugniez*-1890-1987

*“The Woman with the Lute”- Henri Matisse* (1869-1954)

*“The Vines of Volnay”- Michel Tourliere* (*1925-2004*)

The French artist Michel Tourliere who lived from 1925-2004, came from wine country in Burgundy and specialized in designing woven tapestries. His works often depict landscapes from Burgundy.

We also viewed stunning contemporary works by the American artist Kiki Smith and the French artist Jean Messagier.

*“Seven Seas”- Kiki Smith (American-born Germany 1954)*

*“Red Flames”- Jean Messagier (1920-1999*)

At the end of the exhibit, it was fascinating to see the back of “Red Flames”; a work of art in itself!

And then, back home for some hearty soup!

I had roasted a chicken with basil pesto slipped under the skin and was looking for a use for the leftover chicken. I decided to make a quick stock with the remaining chicken carcass. I threw the chicken bones along with a carrot, onion, celery, thyme, peppercorns, salt and bay leaf into a big pot, covered it with water and let it simmer on the stove for a few hours and then strained the stock and discarded the solids. The result was a delicate basil scented stock, just right for beans and kale! I defatted the stock and added chopped, onion and carrot, a can of white beans and a small bunch of chopped lacinato kale. Along with bay leaf, dried thyme, dried sage and dill, I simmered the soup until all of the vegetables were tender. I added leftover chopped chicken and a small package of cooked tortellini. Sprinkled with freshly ground pepper and grated pecorino cheese, this was truly a heartwarming winter soup! ENJOY!!

Pesto Chicken, Kale, White Bean and Tortellini Soup

Ingredients for Pesto Chicken Stock

Leftover chicken bones

3 quarts water

one onion cut in half

1 large carrot roughly chopped

1 stalk celery with leaves roughly chopped

1 clove garlic peeled and smashed

2 teaspoons salt

10-12 whole peppercorns

2 teaspoons dried thyme

2 bay leaves

Ingredients for soup:

3 quarts defatted pesto chicken Stock (home made is best, but you can use store bought and add a tablespoon of pesto)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 medium carrot chopped

1 onion chopped

1 stalk celery chopped

leftover chicken cut into small pieces

8-10 lacinato kale leaves

1 can cannellini or great northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried sage

1 teaspoon dried dill

1 bay leaf

1 small package tortellini (I used Kite Hill tortellini with almond milk ricotta)

To Make Soup:

In a large pot, heat olive oil and add chopped onion. Saute a few minutes until onion softens. Add chicken stock and all other ingredients, except tortellini and cut up chicken.

Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook covered about an hour until vegetables are very tender. Cook tortellini according to directions on package and add to soup along with the leftover cut up chicken.

Serve with freshly ground pepper and sprinkle with grated pecorino cheese!

ENJOY!!

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”!

STAY WARM!

Troldhaugen (Grieg’s Home) and “Chip Shop” Curry- Norway: Part 3

Summer has ended and the fall is gearing up to be a busy one- my group Hevreh Ensemble is getting ready to travel to the west coast with performances in Portland Oregon in early November. We are excited to be presenting a concert for All Classical Portland and for the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education. The concert there will be for the commemoration of Kristallnacht– The Night of Broken Glass.

But first, a last fond remembrance of my trip to Norway this past summer!

Norway: Part 3

The morning we left Solvorn it was misty, atmospheric and peaceful with gentle calm water- so hard to leave a place of such natural beauty!

Our next two destinations, the small seaside village of Balestrade and a town high in the mountains; Stalheim were equally captivating.

From the porch of our hotel in Balestrade we looked over the water to a magnificent view of the mountains and the fjords. One evening we ordered burgers and beer from the hotel bistro to eat on the porch. We each had brought our books and after our feast, we sat and read to our heart’s content- with a bright sky even at 10 PM!

The next morning we donned heavy cumbersome wet suits and took a thrilling high speed motor boat ride through the narrow fjords.

On the way back, we could see our historic old hotel from the boat!

It was unseasonably warm for Norway as we set off to find our lunch destination- The Ciderhuset, an organic apple orchard with a cafe. After trudging in the hot sun for seemed like several miles, we were starting to wilt. We dragged ourselves slowly up a hill, with more than a bit of complaining on both of our parts, and then in front of us was a bucolic apple orchard and a quaint rustic cafe with a welcoming outdoor porch that looked over the mountains!

We sat on the porch enjoying local organic berry nectar as a refreshing breeze from the nearby hills washed over us; soft sounds of Ella Fitzgerald played in the background.

We ordered excellent fish cakes and an unusual sounding entree- a chicken wrap with “Chip Shop” curry sauce.

Both dishes were delicious and came with a spicy slaw topped with ground sumac.

After enjoying a piece of homemade apple crumb cake, which I am sorry to say we ate too quickly to take a photo, we thanked the gracious hostess. I mentioned that we had enjoyed the chicken curry wrap and I asked about the recipe. The hostess asked if I would like to speak to the chef and she introduced me to a lovely young man who it turned out was from Turkey! This explained the spicy Mediterranean flavors and the topping on the slaw.

The chef generously shared his method to prepare the sauce for the curry chicken wrap. I took mental notes as he lovingly described how he prepares the sauce in large batches based on sauteed onion, combined with coconut milk, a small amount of tomato paste along with cumin, ground coriander and cardamom. He then cooks the mixture down until it forms a velvety sauce, with no added thickeners.

After I got home, I decided to try to make the sauce from the taste that I remembered and my few notes. I was also curious about the name “Chip Shop Curry” and found that it is a sauce offered in chip and fish shops in England! I would imagine that this would have originated from the popular Japanese curry sauce.

I created a “Chip Shop” curry sauce that I mixed with sauteed vegetables and chunks of chicken and made my version into a potpie with an olive oil pastry crust. I am happy to report that I was delighted with the result; I hope you enjoy making this!

“Chip Shop” Curry Chicken Potpie

Ingredients:

Olive Oil Pastry Crust

1 cup whole grain spelt flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening (I used Spectrum Organic-All Vegetable Shortening).

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons non-fat yogurt

3 tablespoons ice water (more if necessary)

1 egg-lightly beaten for egg wash

Ingredients for Curry Sauce:

1 small onion finely chopped

1 clove garlic finely minced

2 cups canned light coconut milk

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon cardamom

pinch cayenne powder

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Filling:

2 cups cooked chicken cut into small pieces

1/2 cup diced carrots

1/4 cup chopped celery with leaves

5-6 chopped button mushrooms

1/2 frozen peas- defrosted (optional)

Make Pastry Crust:

Combine flours and salt in the bowl of a food processor.

Add olive oil, shortening, yogurt and ice water.

Process until the mixture forms a ball. You may need to add a bit more ice water, add 1 tablespoon at a time.

Wrap ball of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let gluten in the dough relax.

Bring dough to room temperature and roll out into a large thin circle.

Place dough on baking sheet with the parchment paper.

Trim edges to make a round circle.

Make Curry Sauce:

Heat olive oil in a medium sized pot with a heavy bottom.

Saute onion until soft, add chopped garlic and cook briefly.

Add carrots, mushrooms and celery- cook a few minutes until the vegetables start to soften slightly.

Add spices and cook about 2 minutes, stirring.

Add tomato paste and cook mixture until tomato paste start to lightly brown.

Add coconut milk and bring to a boil- reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered until sauce thickens enough to lightly coat the back of a spoon, aprox. 30-35 minutes.

Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. Add more cayenne if desired.

Add chicken and peas if using.

Stir mixture and pour into a large oval baking dish.

Pre-heat oven to 350 Degrees

Place prepared crust over top of dish, crimp edges and lightly brush with beaten egg glaze.

Cut a few slits in the top of the crust and bake in the middle of the oven until crust browns and sauce bubbles around the edges of the crust, aprox. 35-4o minutes.

Let cool about 10-15 minutes.

ENJOY!

After Balestrade, we traveled to Stalheim, high up in the mountains. The scenery was equally stunning.

We returned to Bergen and had the chance to visit Troldhaugen, Grieg’s summer home; an absolute thrill to see the Steinway piano that he played his compositions on! It was a lovely and fitting last day for an amazing trip!

AND- Here is the “Tree of the Week”

What do you see? I feel perhaps this tree is Edvard Munch like; with hands holding a face?

HAPPY FALL!

Fjords, Ferries, Tunnels and Mountains: Norway Part 2

NORWAY- PART 2:

We spent one more jam packed day in Bergen; a highlight was the Kode Art Museum which houses one of the largest Munch collections in the world. We discovered evocative works of art by the Norwegian Modernist painter Nikolai Astrup that depicted pastoral mountain scenes.

*“Barren Mountain”- Nikolai Astrup (1905)*

*“Evening with fruit trees in bloom”- Nicolai Astrup*

We took a fun ride on a funicular to the top of Bergen and were treated to a bird’s eye view of the city and harbor.

And, of course at the top, I had to pose next to a touristy and kitschy troll!

Afterwards, we treated ourselves to cups of bittersweet hot chocolate at Fjak, an organic chocolate shop.

It was located on the same charming side street where we had dinner reservations that night at Les Mathis, an excellent small French bistro.

We enjoyed pan seared cat fish with a caper vinaigrette and pickled vegetables served over greens along with a bowl of roasted potatoes. A wonderful day!

The next morning, we picked up our rental car. As we left Bergen, ahead of us were rugged mountains and the roads quickly became steep and narrow; the next part of our adventure began!

Fearless hang gliders were soaring down the side of a mountain!

Countless tunnels cut through ranges of dramatic and imposing mountains. One tunnel was over 20 miles long!

We were headed to the tiny harbor town of Solvorn on the innermost part of the Sognefjorden; about a 5 hour ride from Bergen.

The scenery was so breathtaking; it was hard to not stop the car every few miles to take pictures!

The road would abruptly end with signs for a ferry crossing.

At one crossing, while waiting to board the boat, I noticed a German license plate and van called a Burstner; I ventured out and had great fun practicing my German with the owner!

Solvorn is an exquisitely beautiful town on the innermost branch of a long fjord with breathtaking views in any direction.

Our destination in Solvorn was the historic Walaker Hotel; the oldest hotel in Norway, it has been operated by the same family since 1690.

From the window of our small cozy bedroom, there was a view of the harbor.

The room also included a four course dinner. Before the feast, we took a small walk to the harbor.

Just down the road was a lovely little cafe with a deck that extended out over the water.

We ordered two icy glasses of local organic blueberry nectar; we had arrived in heaven!

It was time to return to the hotel for dinner.

We were warmly escorted to our table in the charming small dining room and presented with an appetizer plate that included reindeer sausage, local cheeses, Norwegian crackers and a cream fraiche spread that was delicately flavored with nutmeg. Along with a glass of white wine, this would have been a delicious small supper!

The first course was a creamy but light carrot soup garnished with toasted coconut, scallions and a basil puree.

This was followed by poached cod with a delicate paprika sauce.

We were starting to be quite full, but somehow managed to find room to enjoy tender and succulent duck breast with potatoes Anna and a brightly flavored lingonberry sauce.

And of course, we were able to happily devour a dessert of warm chocolate souffles served with local strawberries and creme anglaise!

By this time, it was 10:00 at night and still light outside. Between the excellent courses, we had the luxury of talking to our heart’s content!

The next morning was misty and cloudy; stunningly atmospheric and beautiful!

After enjoying the plentiful breakfast buffet with homemade jam, it was time to move on to our next destinations; to Balestrade located in another small harbor village on the Sognefjorden, to Stalheim, perched high in the mountains and then back to Bergen with a visit to Troldhaugen, the Grieg home.

STAY TUNED for Norway: Part 3

AND: Of course, here is the “Tree of the Week”!

*“I feel like I may have a hole in my head!”*

A Winter’s Afternoon at MASS MoCA and Turmeric Chicken With Crispy Rice

A bitterly cold day with an icy wind chill- what better way to spend the day then safely inside, happily exploring MASS MoCA. Located in North Adams, Massachusetts and housed in an old factory, the quirky contemporary art museum has a seemingly never ending series of labyrinths and cavernous spaces. We viewed dynamic art work, some pushing the boundaries; other pieces stimulating and inspiring. We loved an exhibit of boldly colorful works by the visual artist, composer and musician Jason Moran titled “Black Stars-Writing in the Dark”. The curator’s text for the exhibition offers the following description: “Moran’s work registers the movement of the artist’s fingers across piano keys”.

Jason Moran- From “Black Stars: Writing in the Dark”

We also got a small day’s worth of exercise. The buildings span over 26 acres and without trying walked over 2 miles!

MASS MoCA sits on ancient ancestral grounds of the Mohican people (“peoples of the waters that are never still”) and the Wabanaki people. After the tribes were displaced, the site housed the Arnold Print Works from 1860 to 1942 and the Sprague Electric Company from 1942 to 1985. MASS MoCA opened in 1986.

Spanning over many city blocks, we discovered hidden nooks and crannies. On this visit, the sun was shining brightly; rays of light streamed through the ancient windows creating reflections of precise lines over the floors, artwork and on the old brick factory walls.

We walked down a hallway with an indoor bridge connecting two buildings; lights were hung from the ceiling, creating pointillistic patterns on the walls and windows. As the light shifted, the images were fleeting and temporary.

We enjoyed an exhibit titled “Deep Water” that featured photographs of famous black jazz and blues musicians from the 1950’s and 60’s, including Miles Davis. Once again, the light from the windows created a collage like effect reflecting on the art work.

Back home, it was time to think about dinner-the cold weather encourages one to make recipes that call for a very hot oven. We have made Turmeric Chicken with Crispy Rice several times this winter; the oven is heated to 450 Degrees F. filling the house with enticing aromas; resulting in moist flavorful chicken and irresistibly crispy rice. Based on a recipe form NY Times Cooking, I used boneless and skinless chicken thighs and brown rice in my version; this worked beautifully! This dish would be perfect to serve to company along with a green salad, a hearty red wine and plenty of crusty peasant bread! Enjoy!!

Turmeric Chicken with Crispy Rice (based on a recipe from NY Times Cooking)

INGREDIENTS:

Yield:4 servings

¼cup fresh lemon juice, plus more for serving
6garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
2tablespoons fresh ginger (from 1 2-inch piece), finely grated or minced
3teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal or use 1 ½ teaspoons coarse kosher salt, such as Morton), more as needed
2teaspoons ground turmeric
2teaspoons ground coriander
1teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
5cups cooked short-grain brown rice
1bunch scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
5tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, more as needed
½cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems

PREPARATION:

Place sheet pan on middle rack in oven and heat oven to 450 degrees.
While the oven is heating, marinate the chicken. In a large bowl, combine lemon juice, garlic, ginger, 1½ teaspoons of the salt, turmeric, coriander and pepper, and mix well. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the turmeric-ginger mixture to a small bowl and set aside for serving. To the large bowl, add chicken and toss until the pieces are well coated; let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
While the chicken is marinating, toss the cooked rice with the remaining 1½ teaspoons salt, scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil (the best way to do this is with clean hands). Add a little more oil if needed to fully coat the rice so that it crisps up in the oven.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the chicken pieces, tossing well to coat.
Use a large spoon to carefully spread the rice out on the hot sheet pan, then make divots in the rice for the chicken, making sure the sheet pan is exposed. Place chicken, skin side up, in the divots touching the pan. Drizzle the rice and chicken with a little more extra-virgin olive oil.
Roast until the chicken is deeply browned on top, cooked through and the rice is crisp at the edges, 40 to 50 minutes.
Stir a little more lemon juice and olive oil into the reserved turmeric-ginger mixture to thin it out. Use a spoon to dab or drizzle it onto the rice (not the chicken). Stir up the rice on the baking sheet, so the crisp parts get mixed into the soft part of the rice, and the turmeric mixture gets distributed. (Taste rice and add a little more oil, lemon juice and salt if necessary; rice can take a lot of seasoning.) Top everything with scallion greens and chopped fresh cilantro, and serve. ENJOY!!

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”!

STAY WARM AND SAFE!

Lemony White Bean Soup and Portland Maine Treasures!

During a time filled with strife and uncertainty, we can all use a bit of diversion. I hope you enjoy this entry and it helps to lighten your days!

It all started out with a short weekend jaunt to Portland, Maine for a well deserved rest after a few hectic weeks of teaching and rehearsals. For the first time since Covid, we planned to have dinner at one of all time favorites; Fore Street. I had quickly made a reservation for a hotel in Portland, not paying close attention to the details.

It was my turn to drive as we entered the Maine turnpike; happy memories of past trips to Maine occupying my thoughts as we sped past marsh land and waterways. My husband put the location of the hotel into the GPS and said: “It looks like we may have a bit further to go, maybe 3,178 miles”. I had inadvertently made the reservation for a hotel in Portland, Oregon! I pulled off at a rest stop and sheepishly made a call to the hotel. The kind receptionist said that this happened more often than one might expect! Luckily we found a hotel in the desired location for a very reasonable price that was not in downtown Portland, but next to the airport. It turned out to be quite decent and also included a great breakfast complete with an omelette station. And, it was only a ten minute drive to downtown Portland- crisis averted. In our topsy turvy crazy world, small victories feel all the more satisfying! After we checked into our hotel, we headed out to Fore Street and joined the daily line that forms at 4:30 PM to get a reservation for that evening. We got a coveted seat and were ushered into a large room that once was a factory with the original old brick walls and high wooden beams.

Friendly servers wear blue jeans with white aprons and you are greeted with a basket of delicious sour dough bread with a dish of excellent soft butter. The bread is from a bakery just downstairs, The Standard Bakery. With a glass of red wine, this could be a complete meal!

Fore Street offers locally sourced food with the freshest fish I have ever tasted; often the daily catch just brought in from down the street!

This evening we shared a salad with wild Maine blueberries, corn, Manchego cheese and chicory. The dressing was a lightly fennel infused olive oil. Eaten with another piece of the crusty flavorful bread and butter, this again could have been a complete meal!

There was much more to savor: in addition to excellent fish, the restaurant is also known for chicken and meat that is prepared on an open wood fired grill. We ordered rotisserie chicken that had been brined in salt, bourbon, molasses and juniper berries. Served with rich and flavorful coarse ground polenta and sauteed collard greens; the chicken was tender and succulent!

I ordered roasted pollack served in a cast iron pan that was topped with tender chunks of lobster, toasted garlic breadcrumbs, fresh corn kernels, mild shishito peppers; surrounded by a peppery fish broth and red pepper ratatouille- a lovely explosion of flavor!

After this meal, we were too full to order dessert, but managed to walk slowly to the nearby Portland Art Museum that offers free admission on Friday evenings!

This little jewel of a museum has been a long time favorite of ours with innovative and creative exhibitions that often feature works of artists with a connection to Maine. This evening, I was drawn to a few pieces of artwork that included a vibrant mosaic like painting by the American Abstract Expressionist artist Lynne Drexler. Born in 1928, she and her husband moved to Maine’s Monhegan Island in the 1970’s where she spent the rest of her life in this beautiful and idyllic location.

We also enjoyed a few works by Louise Nevelson. She was born to Jewish Ukrainian parents who moved to Rockland, Maine when she was a young child. Best known for her striking and bold sculptures, I was particularly drawn to a small painting entitled “Still Life.”

This day was truly a feast of the senses- we returned to our cozy room looking out over the Portland Jetport sated and content! The next day was spent walking around Portland and we had thought we could fit in a visit to Bao Bao Dumpling House, another favorite. We were sad to learn that they only served dinner and we needed to head back home. But, we learned that they had opened a small cafe that served lunch and is connected to an Asian grocery store in nearby Brunswick, Maine: to be continued in the next installment!

As always, when there is insurmountable trouble in the world, cooking is the tried and true remedy for me. My husband Paul found a recipe for an interesting sounding white bean soup in the NY Times Cooking column and I decided to try it. Easy to prepare and full of flavor, it was a perfect for a chilly weeknight. The first time I made the soup, I used turkey sausage and included the the grated ginger called for in the recipe. I also tried it without the ginger and added left over cubed chicken breast. I preferred this version; the flavors blended together nicely. I hope you enjoy this!

Lemony White Bean Soup (from NY Times Cooking- recipe by Melissa Clark)

INGREDIENTS:

Yield:4 servings

3tablespoons olive oil
1large onion, diced
1large carrot, diced
1bunch sturdy greens, such as kale, broccoli rabe, mustard greens or collard greens
1tablespoon tomato paste
¾teaspoon ground cumin, plus more to taste
⅛teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more to taste
½pound ground turkey
3garlic cloves, minced
1tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
1teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1quart chicken stock
2(15-ounce) cans white beans, drained and rinsed
1cup chopped fresh, soft herbs, such as parsley, mint, dill, basil, tarragon, chives or a combination
Fresh lemon juice, to taste

PREPARATION

Step 1 Heat a large pot over medium-high for a minute or so to warm it up. Add the oil and heat until it thins out, about 30 seconds. Add onion and carrot, and sauté until very soft and brown at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes.
Step 2 Meanwhile, rinse the greens and pull the leaves off the stems. Tear or chop into bite-size pieces and set aside.
Step 3 When the onion is golden, add tomato paste, ¾ teaspoon cumin and ⅛ teaspoon red-pepper flakes to the pot, and sauté until paste darkens, about 1 minute. Add turkey, garlic, ginger and 1 teaspoon salt, and sauté, breaking up the meat with your spoon, until turkey is browned in spots, 4 to 7 minutes.
Step 4 Add stock and beans, and bring to a simmer. Let simmer until the soup is thick and flavorful, adding more salt if needed, 15 to 25 minutes. If you like a thicker broth, you can smash some of the beans with the back of the spoon to release their starch. Or leave the beans whole for a brothier soup.
Step 5 Add the greens to the pot and simmer until they are very soft. This will take 5 to 10 minutes for most greens, but tough collard greens might take 15 minutes. (Add a little water if the broth gets too reduced.)
Step 6 Stir herbs and lemon juice into the pot, taste and add more salt, cumin and lemon until the broth is lively and bright-tasting. Serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and more red-pepper flakes, if desired.

ENJOY!

AND: The “Tree of the Week” has made a comeback; I could not resist this tree!

STAY SAFE AND WARM!

“Mann tracht un Gott Lacht”* and Baked Apple Cider Donuts

* “Man plans and God Laughs”- The old Yiddish expression took on new meaning this past week. The plan was this-my Birthday week was crammed full with students, an early rehearsal in NYC for a Salisbury Four Christmas concert, teaching at Hofstra University and getting ready for the release of my group Hevreh Ensemble’s new album, Meserole Street. I thought that I would be too busy to write much in the way of my blog and the idea of a guest blogger appealed to me. My husband took a walk at the Keystone Arches in Chester, MA and returned with beautiful photographs- he would be the perfect guest!

*“Keystone Arches”- Chester, MA- photo Paul DePaolo*

But as it happened, too much transpired that I needed to write about. I will look forward to featuring a Keystone Arches guest blog soon!

This year, my birthday fell on a Friday, the day I travel to New York to teach; Paul suggested waiting until Sunday to celebrate. The plan was to attend an Orchestra ONE concert at Bard College’s Fisher Center. A group of my talented Advanced Ensemble students from the Indian Mountain School were planning to meet us at the concert; being kindly driven by another IMS faculty member. After the concert, Paul and I would drive to nearby Rhinebeck, New York and have dinner at one of our favorite restaurants; Gigi’s Trattoria. I returned home Saturday night; tired but happy and inspired by the rehearsal I had that afternoon. Exquisite melodies from works by Schutz and Monteverdi were still dancing around in my head and for a brief time all felt right with our crazy world. At the rehearsal, we had all talked about the soothing power of music.

Then, Sunday morning after I woke up late, I came downstairs and my husband ominously said that his throat hurt and it felt scratchy. We both took Covid rapid tests and his came back with the dreaded 2 stripes! Quickly all plans were scuttled and we were thrust into the place where no one wants to go….

Feeling frustrated with the sudden change in direction, I decided to take a hike by myself. I made sure that Paul was comfortable with plenty of tissues and herbal tea nearby and I am so glad that I decided to tell him my planned destination!

I set out for The Drury Preserve in Sheffield, Massachusetts for beautiful solitude. My car was the only one in the small lot and this suited my mood just fine. Kicking leaves, I strode off on the trail that led through a pine forest. My thoughts were full of frustration, anger, worry about Paul and plenty of self pity! The trail leads gradually down into a swampy area with narrow planks of wood over the small marsh; the entire round trip is about 3 miles. As I tramped through the woods, gradually my mood began to lighten and I thought there might even be enough time to get back to The Bistro Box in Great Barrington to bring home chicken and falafel burgers and a salad with the freshest organic greens. Things were beginning to look brighter!

I crossed the last wooden plank over the marsh and looked forward to reaching a small idyllic pond with a small wooden bench that has a lovely view of Race Mountain in the distance. Somehow I got off the trail without knowing it, but I saw the pond in the distance and climbed up a small hill and then down to the pond.

I sat for a few minutes on the bench, breathing in the fresh fall air deeply and then started to head back. Very quickly I realized that I could not find the trail. The ground was covered with leaves and there were no blue blazes on the trees to mark the way.

I started off in one direction, realized it was not leading to the trail and went the other way. This did not work either, but I saw the pond peeking through the trees and headed back to the pond.

After a few mores tries to orient myself to the trail, I knew that I was completely lost and as the sun sank lower in the sky, a small amount of worry trickled into my mind and I decided to call my sick husband. With one bar of power on my phone, the call miraculously connected and I said “I think I am completely turned around, please come!! I had a good 45 minutes to wait for my rescuer and went back to the lovely bench by the pond; plenty of time to “cool my heels”, meditate and take pictures of the beautiful surroundings.

I even took a picture of a possible candidate for a “Tree of the Week”!

As I heard Paul’s voice calling out to me through the woods, I felt palpable relief. I bounded down the path towards him; Paul was so relieved to see me that he did not pay close attention to the way back and soon enough both of us were lost! Our friends Peter and Caroline were also coming to my rescue. Luckily, Paul remembered Peter’s advise to “cross the marsh and head east” after Peter had checked a map of the preserve. With great relief we soon saw the wooden slats of the trail in the distance and we headed back to our cars just as the sun was setting!

And best of all, my dear friend Carol created a beautiful piece of artwork, “Tree and Bird” for my birthday; this could not be a better birthday treat! To see more of her extraordinary artwork: Carol Ober.

As I write this post, Paul is recovering nicely and I wait to see if I will develop symptoms.

In the Fall, I often pass by farm stands that sell Apple Cider Donuts and I resist eating them because they are greasy, overly sweet, full of calories and I am often disappointed with the lack of apple flavor. I set out to find a recipe for Apple Cider Donuts that were baked and full of cider flavor and I think I may have found the trick! I adapted a recipe that I found online from Sweet Cayenne. The recipe calls for apple cider that is cooked down into a syrup and with the addition of allspice, cinnamon and ground cloves, they tasted light, delicious and best of all are guilt free! I liked them plain, but they could also be glazed or dipped in coconut sugar and cinnamon.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts- adapted from Sweet Cayenne

Ingredients

For the donuts:

⅓ cup neutral-flavored oil (canola, avocado, grapeseed, walnut)
3 large eggs
1/4 cup monk fruit sweetener
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1 cup applesauce ( I did not have a jar of applesauce on hand, so I just cooked down a few apples and mashed them up with some cinnamon).
½ cup apple cider, boiled down to about 2 tablespoons of syrup
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

For the glaze:

1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons milk or enough to make a spreadable glaze

Instructions

Making the donuts:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a non-stick donut pan with cooking spray. My pan makes 6 donuts, so I had to fill it twice.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, sugar, applesauce, cider syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder until smooth.
Add the flour, stirring until just smooth.
Fill a pastry bag or a sturdy gallon-sized plastic bag with the batter. Use scissors to snip off the tip of the bag, creating about an ½”’ hole.
Pipe the batter into the wells of the doughnut pan nearly to the rim. Or, just carefully spoon in the batter.
Bake the doughnuts for 12 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean. .
Remove the doughnuts from the oven, and loosen their edges by running a knife along the outer circle.
ENJOY!

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”

HAPPY HALLOWEEN AND STAY SAFE!!

Foodie Heaven! Iceland: Part 3

When planning our recent trip, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the restaurant scene in Iceland. I had heard that the food was boring and not very creative; I decided to plan with an open mind and with not very high expectations. What I discovered was a vibrant food scene that has changed greatly in the last few years. We found restaurants that used the freshest, often locally sourced ingredients; the food was creative and lovingly prepared.

The first day of our trip was spent in Reykjavik; we arrived early in the morning and dropped off our bags at the charming Apotek Hotel. We asked the desk clerk to recommend a good bakery and her eyes lit up. She said, “You must try Baka Baka for the most delicious pastries”. We decided early on that for this trip there were no holds barred; we were going to enjoy as much sugar and rich food as we wanted! We headed down the street, walked up a small hill and saw the open door of Baka Baka beckoning to us.

As we entered we were welcomed with the rich smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries. We ordered a yeasty fragrant Cardamom Bun filled with almond paste and enjoyed it with coffee and a pot of herbal tea that had the light delicate taste of currents.

The plan for our first day was to explore Reykjavik and at the the same time try to stave off jetlag. We spent the next few hours walking slowly around the quaint streets and adjusting gradually to the lovely cool windy temperature of 50 degrees F!

The time flew by and we were ready for our first lunch reservation at Hosilo, a small unpretentious restaurant on a quiet side street. The other diners were young Icelanders and as we waited for our food to arrive, we enjoyed listening to the lyrical sounds of the Icelandic language. The food was creatively presented; I started with an appetizer of “watermelon” sushi-cool, rosy slices of fruit in a savory gingery sauce. Expecting the taste of raw fish, my taste buds were jolted awake- a good remedy for my sleepy mind!

I had some of the freshest and most tender shrimp I have ever tasted with house made pasta, basil, tomato and roasted garlic.

It was all bathed in extra virgin olive and served with a slice of crunchy parmesan toast.

We were starting to fade quickly, but thought a walk down the hill to the harbor and to the Harpa Concert Hall might revive us.

Luckily for us, we discovered that there was a short interactive visual installation offered; Circuleight. As we entered a large gallery, we were surrounded by animations that were inspired by eight natural elements: lava, glacier, water, algae, micro organism, flora, basalt, and volcanic gas. If you waved your hand or came close to one of the images, the image would respond to the motion; it gave the effect of the artwork improvising. The installation was accompanied by a score written by the Icelandic composer Hogni Egilsson. I found a place to curl up, leaned against one of the walls and immersed myself in the experience; although I confess, I fell briefly asleep! It was time for a short nap at our hotel.

Just an hour of sleep and we were refreshed and ready to continue on our culinary adventures of the day! For dinner, I had a made a reservation at The CooCoo’s Nest. From our hotel, we walked a few miles to the quirky, newly developed section of the waterfront with art galleries, specialty food shops and restaurants. CooCoo’s Nest was opened in 2013 by Anna and Lucas Keller.

A passionate chef, Lucas is originally from California and trained and worked in Italy. Since opening, the restaurant has gained a loyal local clientele.

It was Taco Tuesday, so we ordered the sampling menu of 3 different tacos that included tequila marinated fish with guacamole, shredded cabbage and spicy sour cream; slow cooked lamb, salsa verde and pickled raddish; and a vegetarian taco with sweet potato, charred broccoli and a spicy romesco sauce. They were delicious and the flavors danced in our mouths.

We ate our dinner outside the restaurant at a picnic table and watched young families strolling by; several of which were licking ice cream cones. Glancing to our right we saw an inviting ice cream shop- well one more treat for the day!

An interesting flavor was listed on the wall that looked very similar to my last name- “Danskur lakkris”. I asked for a taste and the young clerk told me that the flavor was Danish licorice. Very nice, but I settled for a double dish with dark chocolate and lemon ginger crunch and then enjoying our ice cream, we walked oh so slowly back to our hotel; the sky still bright blue in the late evening. Shortly after we returned to our room we fell into a deep slumber!

Thus ended our first day in Reykjavik. Coming soon…. one more Icelandic blog detailing the other food highlights of our trip; some from restaurants where the food was simply but expertly prepared in lovely peaceful settings.

*Silfra Restaurant- Nesjavellir, Iceland*

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”!

HAPPY SUMMER-STAY SAFE AND COOL!!

The New Museum: An Excellent Art and Food Adventure!

While driving to teach at Hofstra University a few months ago, I heard an interview on WNYC about an art exhibit by the African American artist, Faith Ringgold at the New Museum in Lower Manhattan. Her work and life story sounded fascinating and compelling and I made a mental note to visit the museum soon!

Recently, I had a free Saturday morning before an afternoon rehearsal and saw that Faith Ringgold’s exhibit was still at the New Museum. I headed down in my car to the Lower East Side and ended up parking not far from one of my all time favorite places DiPalo’s Fine Foods, also close to the venerable Italian pastry shop Cafe Roma; this was going to be a wonderful food and art expedition!

The New Museum opened in 1977 and was the first museum devoted to contemporary art created by New York City artists. The mission statement of the museum says: “the museum is a catalyst for a broad dialogue between artists and the public by establishing an exhibition, information, and documentation center for contemporary art made within a period of approximately ten years prior to the present.”

Designed by Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa/SANAA the museum is a seven-story, eight-level structure located at 235 Bowery between Stanton and Rivington Streets in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Faith Ringgold at 91, has enjoyed a long career as an artist, writer, educator and activist. She was at the center of the Harlem Renaissance and her works document her struggles for social justice and equality.

I found the exhibit to be inspiring on many levels; as I viewed the works of art, I felt the rich legacy of black history. I also learned about the activism that Ringgold engaged in during her life in New York City.

I chatted briefly with one of the guards, a middle aged African American woman; she seemed eager to talk about the art work with me and seemed to show a special pride for the exhibition. She also shared information about a recent visit that Ringgold had made to the museum for a reception held in her honor.

I enjoyed viewing a series of works called story quilts that depicted the stories of important figures in the 20th century.

**The Sunflowers Quilting Bee at Arles- Faith Ringgold**

In “The Sunflowers Quilting Bee at Arles”, a quilt is surrounded by famous black luminaries including Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman. To the right stands Van Gogh holding a bunch of sunflowers!

In the story quilt, “Dinner at Gertrude Stein’s” from the French Collection, Part #9 991, the black writers Langston Hughes and Richard Wright sit along side Toklas, Gertrude Stein, Picasso and Ernest Hemingway.

**“Dinner at Gertrude Stein’s from The French Collection, Part #9 1991: Faith Ringgold**

“Bessie’s Blues” portrays the jazz singer Bessie Smith. For this exhibit, the work is own loan from the Art Institute of Chicago. I was drawn to the bold colors and patterns and found this description talking about the parallels between art and music compelling:

“Faith Ringgold employed thick lines and forms to portray the singer Bessie Smith, also known as “Empress of the Blues.” The deliberate dissonance between Smith’s melodies and their musical accompaniment finds a visual echo in Ringgold’s pared-down portrait of the glamorous Smith (known for bespangled dresses and sparkly jewelry). The subtle variations among the repeated portraits hint at the variations in pitch and rhythm in the choruses of Smith’s songs“. Art Institute of Chicago

There was a stunning view of Lower Manhattan from the 7th floor of the museum with the Freedom Tower in the distance. I reflected on our fragile democracy and on it’s resilience. Even with all of it’s flaws and challenges, change is possible; made so clear this past week with the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson!

After experiencing such a beautiful and uplifting exhibit, my spirits were soaring and I was full of energy; ready for the well anticipated culinary part of my expedition!

I headed towards Grand and Mulberry Streets and to Dipalos Fine Foods, which has served the freshest Italian cheeses since 1925.

I love the homey atmosphere of the store; customers range from ultility workers, tourists and fellow foodies! On this particular day, owner Lou Dipalo’s wife brought out a tray of freshly made riggatoni, Italian sausage and tomato sauce. A delicious aroma wafted into the air and there was a collective sigh of appreciation by all of us customers standing in line.

Big hunks of cheese line the counters. Before the pandemic, customers were often treated to tastes of each cheese that they ordered. I ordered my usual; parmesan reggianno and freshly grated pecorino.

The next step was to get a Bubble Tea across the street from DiPalo’s at Ya Ya’s Tea. Often times Bubble Tea is too sweet for my taste, but here they made freshly brewed camomile tea sweetened with a bit of honey. I ordered a large with plenty of ice and with the addition of chewy pearl tapioca bubbles it was irresistible!

My next stop was to Mimi Chengs Dumplings on Broome Street. The plan was to get some dumpling to take home for dinner; I ordered chicken and zucchini and vegetable dumplings; some made it home!

Almost directly across the street is one of the best Italian pastry shops in the city; Cafe Roma. The day had gone so well, I thought I would treat myself to a pastry to eat on the way home.

As I entered the cafe, I was greeted by the heady scent of espresso and pastries. There was quite an assortment of Italian delicacies, but this day I was drawn to the flaky sfogliatelle that sat on top of the counter.

There is a story that the pastry originated on the Amalfi coast and was created by a nun at convent with left over semolina, lemon liqueur, sugar and dried fruit.

Driving home, I enjoyed my sfogliatelle immensely. I bit into the crispy buttery crust; filled with ricotta cheese, semolina and flavored with vanilla and small pieces of lemon citron, it was one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted! I have to say, I did make a bit of a mess; the front of my jacket was covered with powdered sugar and bits of crisp flaky pastry!

Often times when I am walking, my thoughts turn to what I might make for dinner that evening. I will think about what ingredients are on hand and then go from there. On one cold blustery early spring day, I was thinking of making a middle eastern fish stew. I had a nice piece of cod and some oil cured black olives. But when I started to cook, my mood started to shift towards Italian spices and a way to use some of my pungent grated pecorino cheese that I had just purchased from DiPalos. I saw a jar of capers in the fridge and imagined my stew served over whole wheat linguini and in a flash Fish Soup ala Pantelleria was born!

Fish Stew Ala Pantelleria

Ingredients:

1 pound cod

1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes

1 medium red potato cut into small pieces

1 onion finely diced

2 cloves garlic finely chopped

4-5 mushrooms sliced

handful of green beans cut into small pieces

handful of lacinato kale, tough core removed and cut into small pieces

1/4 cup pitted oil cured black olives

1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup capers , rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried thyme

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

red pepper flakes to taste

water to cover casserole

1/2 box whole wheat linguini

freshly grated pecorino cheese

To Make Fish Stew:

Rinse cod and cut into medium size chunks- set aside.

In a large heavy cast iron pot, add olive oil and heat. Add onions and saute until softened and then add garlic, cook briefly for a minute or so.

Add all other ingredients except the fish and then cover with water. If you have a good white wine on hand, you could add a cup or so here! Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook about 30-40 minutes until the vegetables are soft.

Add fish and cook just a few minutes more until fish flakes easily. Do not overcook the fish!

Prepare linguini.

Serve with freshly ground pepper and grated pecorino.

ENJOY!!

AND: Here is the “Tree of the Week”

HAPPY SPRING AND STAY SAFE!!

A Joyous Outing to The Aldrich Museum!

**Jeff, Laurie and Paul at the Aldrich Museum: Ridgefield, CT**

What an exhilarating and joyous experience; this was our first visit to a museum since last March! It was also my husband Paul’s birthday and close friends and fellow Hevreh Ensemble members Laurie Friedman and Jeff Adler joined us. It was especially meaningful to visit the Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut and to have the opportunity to view a special exhibition by the kinetic sculptor Tim Prentice.

Sculptor Tim Prentice

For the last three summers before the pandemic, Hevreh Ensemble presented concerts at Tim Prentice’s idyllic West Cornwall, Connecticut barn. It was an incredible experience to be playing music surrounded by his lyrical sculptures moving gently in the breeze.

At the barn concerts, my main focus was on performing; seeing his work in a different context at the museum gave me the opportunity to appreciate his work more fully.

The exhibit also included a touching and very informative video with Prentice talking about his art and what inspires him.

Here is a description of his work and process in his own words:

“In my current work in kinetic sculpture, I am trying to concentrate on the movement, rather than the object. I take it as an article of faith that the air around us moves in ways which are organic, whimsical, and unpredictable. I therefore assume that if I were to abdicate the design to the wind, the work would take on these same qualities.”

“The engineer in me wants to minimize friction and inertia to make the air visible. The architect studies matters of scale and proportion. The navigator and sailor want to know the strength and direction of the wind. The artist wants to understand its changing shape.”

“Meanwhile, the child wants to play.”

After we viewed the exhibit, we walked around the grounds of the museum. Paul noticed bamboo plants that looked similar to the cane (arundo donax) that we use to make our clarinet and oboe reeds. I picked up a few pieces from the ground thinking that I would take some home and try to fashion an oboe reed from the cane. And then, the inner child came out in both Laurie and myself! It was so great to see Laurie in person that silliness just poured out of us. I think it was partly a sense of relief after the months of being cooped up and not seeing each other in person.

This summer, Hevreh Ensemble hopes to return to Tim Prentice’s West Cornwall barn at the end of August where we will look forward to sharing our music and also experience more of Tim’s inspiring and beautiful work!

The other day, we were in the mood for a light vegetarian dinner and Paul reminded me about a soup that I had made a while back that had both red lentils and quinoa. For this soup, I used mixed grain quinoa along with plenty of ginger, turmeric, cumin and ground coriander. I had onions and carrots on hand, but any vegetables would be good. I had made some hummus the day before and this along with a spicy mushroom shawarma spread on fresh slices of whole wheat sourdough bread from Bread Alone, made a delicious little feast!

Curried Red Lentil and Quinoa Soup

Ingredients:

2 cups red lentils rinsed

1 cup cooked mixed grain quinoa (any kind is fine)

1 medium onion finely chopped

1 large carrot finely chopped

1 tablespoon finely diced ginger

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

2 teaspoons ground tumeric

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 bay leaf

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

To Make Soup:

In a large pot, heat olive oil.

Saute onion until it is translucent and softens.

Add ginger, cumin, turmeric and ground coriander. Stir and cook for a few minutes.

Add carrots, bay leaf, salt & pepper and red lentils. Cover with water and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer until lentils start to soften, about 30-40 minutes.

Add cooked quinoa and cook for for 30 more minutes. If soup seems too thin, remove cover and cook about 20 minutes more over medium heat.

This soup tastes even better the next day and freezes beautifully!

Enjoy!

Mushroom Shawarma (based on NYT Cooking Recipe)

Ingredients:

3/4 pound mushrooms, stems removed and cut into large chunks. I used button mushrooms, but sliced portobello mushrooms would also be good.

1 medium red onion, halved and cut into wedges.

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

pinch of red pepper flakes or to taste.

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

To Make Mushroom Shawarma:

Heat oven to 425 degrees.

Place mushrooms and sliced onion on a large flat rimmed baking sheet.

Pour on olive oil and mix everything together with your hands.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Roast until tender and browned about 25 minutes, turning once or twice.

Enjoy!

AND: Here is the first wildflower sighting of the season!

**Bloodroot**–**Sanguinaria Canadensis**

HAPPY SPRING!!