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I was recently at a barbecue and brought an easy pasta salad with white beans and artichokes. It was tasty for sure, but also a cinch to make. I noticed a few people talking about it, asking, "Who made the pasta salad? Are those artichokes? This is delicious." It occurred to me just how much food can prop you up. I am not talking about depressed moments in which comfort food is sought to sooth, but genuine confidence boosters from its creation. I left the party feeling great, wine intake aside. It was like leaving a salon with your hair bouncing from a fresh blow-out. Those few whispers made me glow from within. With little effort, I had created a real crowd-pleaser, and that pleased me. Go ahead and try it. Cook something spectacular and let the crowd move you.

The Mighty Mid-Day Meal

Breakfast is for champions and dinner is historically the meal that brings families together. What then is lunch? It is often an afterthought that comes along around 11A.M. as the stomach starts to growl. Yet it is the fuel that gets us through what can arguably be the most demanding part of the day. In the U.S., bagged lunches typically consist of turkey and cheese or a scoop of tuna salad (neither of which I am necessarily opposed to). Travel abroad and you will see the day meal savored and prolonged. Is there a happy compromise? We think so. What are your thoughts?