Julia's Coq Au Vin - Slightly Modified & Gluten Free

WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD MY BEST FRIEND'S MOTHER TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE THIS DISH - STEP-BY-STEP - IN HER KITCHEN. SHE WROTE THE RECIPE DOWN, AND I BROUGHT IT HOME AND COOKED IT FOR MY FAMILY. I WAS SO PROUD! LIKE SO MANY RIGHT NOW, I'M RE-INSPIRED BY JULIA CHILD. S. AND I COOKED THIS UP ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. ALL I HAD TO DO TO MAKE IT GLUTEN FREE WAS MAKE THE BEURRE MANIE TO THICKEN THE SAUCE WITH POTATO FLOUR INSTEAD OF WHEAT FLOUR. MY FAVORITE PART WAS THE FRIGHTENING IGNITION OF THE COGNAC!
(Thank you Janelle Branneky!)

My Nephew Is Getting Married

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT! THE BRIDE WILL BE WEARING BLACK . . . AND THERE'S A GLUTEN FREE ENTREE!

Have You Ever Seen a Lotus Pond?

I NEVER HAD, UNTIL A FRIEND BROUGHT ME TO THIS POND ON POMEROY LANE IN SOUTH AMHERST. YOU MAY KNOW THE LOTUS AS A SYMBOL OF ENLIGHTENMENT. ITS ROOTS HOLDING FIRM IN THE MUCK AT THE POND'S BOTTOM, IT RISES ABOVE TO CREATE ITS GLORIOUS, TRANSCENDENT FLOWER. WITHOUT THE MUCK OF LIFE, WHERE WE MUST PLANT OUR FEET, WE CANNOT WAKE UP TO THE FRESH, ASTONISHING PRESENT MOMENT.

CAN YOU GRASP THE SIZE OF THIS BUD? IT'S BIGGER THAN MY FIST.

THE OPEN FLOWERS . . .

. . . ARE JUST HUGE . . . YOU HAVE TO SEE THEM TO BELIEVE IT!

WHEN THE PETALS FALL, THE YELLOW CENTER TURNS GREEN, AND THE SEEDS CONTAINED INSIDE DEVELOP FURTHER. (I CAN'T HELP THINKING THIS LOOKS LIKE THE MULTI-NOSTRIL NOSE OF SOME CRAZY ALIEN, GENTLY SNIFFING THE SUMMER AIR.)

AS THE POD DRIES, THE SEEDS MATURE. EVENTUALLY, THEY FALL INTO THE POND, SEEDING THE MUD FOR NEXT YEAR'S SHOW.