Author Archives: Sans Souci

469 Your book review: comments here, please

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Please leave your comments here. I’d love to hear your reactions and feedback. Please let me know if you have a favorite poem. [mp3j track=”ascension.mp3″] With gratitude. Sans Souçi             39 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 21, ’10 Mazel tov, cuz! I sat on my porch this beautiful afternoon with your book and read it cover to cover.  I found the autobiographical poems most affecting, maybe in part because I’m familiar with your cast of characters.  The memories of Stuyvesant Town and childhood friendships are so vivid.  I particularly admired the story-poem … Continue reading →

469. My book: Email from my cousin

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Mazel tov, cuz! I sat on my porch this beautiful afternoon with your book and read it cover to cover.  I found the autobiographical poems most affecting, maybe in part because I’m familiar with your cast of characters.  The memories of Stuyvesant Town and childhood friendships are so vivid.  I particularly admired the story-poem about your exhausted mother sending her two little girls downstairs for a birthday present.  What a wonderful snapshot of that time and place and those beleaguered men and women known as our parents.  Congratulations, dear Susan.  And thank you for your sweet inscription. Best of luck … Continue reading →

Theater: The Whipping Man: at what point does slavery end?

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Theater: The Whipping Man: at what point does slavery end? Recently my cold, snow-filled Winter was melted by the Manhattan Theater Club’s production of The Whipping Man, a new play by a new playwright, Matthew Lopez. Mr. Lopez, a New Yorker is the son of a Puerto Rican father and a Polish-Russian mother. His unusual theme about a Jewish Confederate soldier and the slaves who were raised as Jews is a gripping historic profile of possibilities. He raised the parallel between the Jewish and African slavery experience and shone a light on the Jewish presence in this country during the … Continue reading →

Theater: Good People: David Lindsay-Abaire/Manhattan Theater Club

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 Theater:  Good People: David Lindsay-Abaire/Manhattan Theater Club A fabulous play with a fabulous cast: Becky Ann Baker (stage, screen, TV) Patrick Carroll (stage, screen, TV) Tate Donovan (stage, screen, TV) Renée Elise Goldsberry (stage, screen,TV) Frances McDormand (stage, screen. TV: Academy Award for Fargo; Misssissippi Burning, Almost Famous, North Country) Estelle Parsons: (stage, screen: August, Osage County, Academy Award: Bonnie & Clyde, nominée for Rachel, Rachel. Inducted into the Theater hall of Fame in 2004) >>Link to Cast photos and bios<< >>New York Times article on the playwright, Pulitzer Prize winner, David Lindsay-Abaire<< What makes a person good? Are the … Continue reading →

Theater: Wit by Margaret Edson at Manhattan Theater Club

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Wit by Margaret Edson at Manhattan Theater Club [W;t] by Margaret Edson with Cynthia Nixon Pun Bandu Suzanne Bertish Michael Countryman Jessica Dickey Chické Johnson Greg Keller Carra Paterson Zachary Spicer   Directed by Lynne Meadow Scenic Design: Santo Loquasto Wit is one of the most difficult plays I have ever watched. It had some of the finest acting I have ever witnessed. It is one of the best plays I have ever seen. This was the third play of my five play subscription for the season. I had a vague idea of what it was about, but I wasn’t … Continue reading →

Time Stands Still, a play by Donald Margulies

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Time Stands Still, a play by Donald Margulies January 10, 2010 Manhattan Theater Club/preview The Samuel J. Friedman Theater, (formerly The Biltmore)       Time Stands Still Donald Margulies Cast: Laura Linney-Sarah Goodwin Brian D’Arcy James-James Dodd Eric Borgosian-Richard Erlich Alicia Silverstone-Mandy Bloom photos by the author I have been a member of The Manhattan Theater Club for about 15 years. The subscription gets me into the theater five times a year and new playwrights are featured; many go on to win awards; I joined initially because my cousin Donald Margulies’ work is often featured. He won the Pulitzer … Continue reading →

510. New York City Photo Journal: MoMA: Museum of Modern Art:Picasso to Warhol to People

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We have been visiting New York City’s Museum of Modern Art to catch up on some exhibits. Currently, the Matisse exhibit is hot, but no photography is permitted. I found a few great Picassos that illustrate my demeanor of late; with the construction–and lately, the lack of–going on here, this is me, by Picasso. I find it amazing that this genius could catch my essence long before I was born …       [click on photos to enlarge]   8 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded reply ladywolf11 wrote on Aug 16, ’10 i have to say I think People Watching is … Continue reading →

Recipe: Pizzelles

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Description: From Weight Watchers Magazine, September 1982 I loved this years ago and just found the recipe in an envelope. You will need a pizzelle iron for this; it’s worth the investment to make this classy cookie. Very enjoyable with a great cup of coffee or tea. Ingredients: 4 eggs, beaten 2 cups less 2 tablespoons enriched all-purpose flour 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract 1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel 1/2 teaspoon baking powder dash salt Directions: In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients until a thick batter is formed. Heat a … Continue reading →

Recipe: Vegetarian Dinner Loaf

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Description: This is an old recipe from the 1970’s edition of Cooking What Comes Naturally by Nikki Goldbeck. The book has been out of print for a long time, and although the pages are crumbling, I still go back to an old favorite. Makes a great side dish if you are not a vegetarian and it is a protein as it combines a grain and legume. Ingredients: Utensils: blender; 9X5X3-inch loaf pan Yield: 6 servings Prep time: 20 minutes Baking Time: 55 minutes Oven Temp. 350° 1 tablespoon oil 1 onion, chopped 1 cup cracked wheat (bulgur) 2 cups water … Continue reading →

Kale and Hearty: Make Kale Your Friend

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I have recently learned to appreciate how healthy this leafy green veggie is; it is very high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of calcium and phytonutrients. It is in the cabbage family, and according to this article (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38) it is a cancer preventative, can lower risk of cataracts, promote lung health, has anti-oxidants, can prevent rheumatoid arthritis, and has cardio-vascular benefits. Ingredients: KALE, well washed and cut up, stems removed olive oil minced garlic Directions: You can steam it, but that’s not fun. Cut it up, and toss it with olive oil and lemon juice, … Continue reading →

Chocolate Cheese Cake in memory of Linda Anderson

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Description:  The most delectable of all cheesecakes. Probably the richest and most fattening, too.  Cut thin! Ingredients:  Crust: 1-8 oz. package of chocolate wafers 6 tablespoons melted butter 1 tablespoon sugar Filling: 3 eggs ¾ cup sugar 24 oz. (1 ½ lbs.) cream cheese at room temperature 2 cups (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate morsels ½ tsp. almond extract dash salt 1 cup sour cream Directions: To Make Crust: Crush chocolate wafers in a blender or food processor In a medium bowl, combine crushed wafers, melted butter, and sugar Press around the sides of a lightly buttered 9“ spring form pan … Continue reading →

Creamy Thai Carrot Soup

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Description: I love carrot ginger soup. Try this Weight Watcher recipe for a healthy, low-cal variation. POINTS® Value: 1 Servings:  4 Preparation Time:  15 min Cooking Time:  25 min Level of Difficulty:  Easy We used tofu instead of cream in this mildly spiced soup. It adds a wonderfully creamy texture without all the calories and fat. Ingredients: 2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth, or vegetable broth 1 pound baby carrots 1/2 cup onion(s), chopped 1 medium garlic clove(s), peeled 2 tsp ginger root, freshly grated 1 1/2 tsp thai curry paste, red-variety, or curry powder 1/2 tsp table salt 6 oz … Continue reading →

Recipe: Creole Okra-Chicken

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Description: From Weight Watchers Magazine, August 1982 I enjoyed this recipe years ago and just found it in an envelope. A satisfying, guilt-free dish. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 1/2 cups sliced fresh or frozen okra 1/2 cup sliced onions 1 garlic clove, crushed 2 cups canned toamtoes, coarsly shopped Dash ground red pepper Dash salt 3 pounds skinned chicken parts, broiled until lightly browned Directions: In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil; add okra and sauté about 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Add onions and garlic and cook until vegetables are tender.  Add tomatoes, pepper and, if … Continue reading →

164. Poetry: On Leaves

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My last year working in the school system before retiring, was a year of transition; I actually didn’t know what I was coming back to.  I had been out of the classroom for 16 years testing children for special education services and writing educational prescriptions.  But suddenly 1,100 of us in that capacity lost our positions when the budget was cut and the education system went under a business model.  It was a nightmare.  We had to return to the classroom.  I lost my office, my balance, my grip.  But it ended up being a delightful year as things began … Continue reading →

450. NYC Photo Journal: In search of culinary perfection: From arepas to donuts

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The other day I treated myself to a manicure in a place where there is a small high def television at every nail drying station. In addition, the salon has a huge screen; all televisions are tuned to The Food Network. There are a  dozen or so lovely ladies with wet nails drooling over Paula Dean’s presentations, or Bobby Flay’s. I happened to hit Bobby on a good day: he was challenging the owner of Caracas Arepa Bar to a “Throwdown” challenge. Who can make the better arepas? Caracas won. Sorry, Mr. Bobby the Foodie Ego. You can’t beat this … Continue reading →

249. Celebrations: My son’s graduation

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I was away during the Memorial Day weekend to attend my son’s graduation (the 240th Commencement of Brown University). I thought I would do a post about the school and the incredible 2 day event to have as my own souvenir; you are welcome to share my happiness. Brown’s climate of openness and cooperation can be traced back to its founding over two centuries ago.  As the third oldest college in New England and the seventh oldest in America, Brown was the Baptist answer to Congregationalist Yale and Harvard; Presbyterian Princeton; and Episcopalian Penn and Columbia. At the time, it was … Continue reading →

561. On love and relationships: observations and segues, religion and Valentines

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This morning I came across an article in The New York Times that I felt was an interesting statement in terms of religion and marriage. To be more specific, the Jewish marriage certificate, known as the ketubah is being adopted by non-Jews. The ketubah is an embellished document that has been signed by marrying Jewish couples for centuries. According to the Times, the earliest known version dates to the fifth century B.C. in Egypt. The ketubah is a combination of a work of art and a document; it originally was meant to protect the wife financially in the event of … Continue reading →

Recipe: Sans Souci’s Famous Jewish Brisket: updated

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If you ever want to try a real Jewish brisket, you’ve come to the right place! Ingredients: You need: ● a roaster: stainless steel or cast iron. I use a Le Creuset oval roaster with lid ● an additional pan with lid if you decide to roast the veggies separately ● 1- first cut or thin cut brisket, about 2-3 pounds (it shrinks!) ● Pam olive oil spray ● olive oil ● 1 medium to large onion; I recently saw this on the Food network, how to French cut an onion: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-french-cut-an-onion-hom-109536 ● 4-5 potatoes figure 1 per person -wash … Continue reading →

[586.] NYC Photo Journal: A visit to the WTC site: Part a: The Guide

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On July 11, 2012 I visited the site of the World Trade Center; I had visited before when one could only peer through the fence and shudder, when foreigners would line up and take photos of one another against the background of devastation and restriction. I watched over the years as the debris was cleared. I watched every memorial, listened to every name. I cried for people I never met and for the families that will forever miss them. But visiting at this point, with the dust gone along with the shards and blood stains, was a surreal experience. One … Continue reading →

587. New York City Photo Journal: Part 2: Observations and Photographs

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In the preceding post, I replicated the guide to the World Trade Center Site. It contains a lot of fascinating information about what was, is and will be. The story of the survivor tree is one to be remembered. Just so you understand the sequence of the photographs there are three groups: A: a walk around Battery Park City and a visit to the atrium that has been reconstructed B: the visit to the WTC site: as you view the photos, just keep reminding ourself of the scale of the people against the buildings and the pools C: and Zucotti … Continue reading →