I remember you

For some unexplainable reason, I am feeling nostalgic today.  Lots of songs are running through my mind, all which trigger memories.  This one song in particular takes me back to February 2, 2002.  This is the song that the trio played at our wedding for our first dance as a married couple.  There are so many great versions of this song, but this one in particular is sung by Cincinnati's own Doris Day, a beautiful actress and singer.  Go to .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVUmBJt4vXM&feature=related

Flaky pie dough

This is a great recipe for a flaky pie crust. It is not a kosher recipe because of the lard content, but this recipe will produce the most delicious pie crust.

Flaky Pie Dough
10 oz. (2 cups) unbleached all purpose flour
7 oz. (1 cup) lard, chilled
Mix until dissolved:
6 T. (3 oz.) ice water
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt

Place the flour in a mixing bowl. Add the cold lard. Working quickly and lightly, mix with fingertips until it resembles coarse meal. The largest pieces of lard will be pea-sized.

Make a well in the center and add the ice water mixture all at once. With a fork, mix briefly by stirring in a circular motion until dough comes together. Form into two discs and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate several hours or overnight before using.

Yield: 2 single crust shells for 9" x 1 1/4 pan or one double-crusted pie

Note: Pie dough may be frozen, well wrapped , for 1-2 months

Wedding day

Yesterday, Chelsea Clinton was married in Rhinebeck, NY. She was a beautiful summer bride in a lovely Vera Wang gown. The setting of her wedding was idyllic; in fact, the loveliest wedding that I have ever attended was in Rhinebeck twenty years ago for the marriage of Mary Ellen Watzka and Alan Chardavoyne.

I always dreamed of a lovely summer wedding in a picturesque location, but in reality, I had a small wedding in a quaint chapel located in a mansion that had been converted to a church. The day was crisp and cool, but no major snowstorm. You see, I was a winter bride, married in the dead of winter (half way between the 1st day of winter and the vernal equinox). Although I didn't have a lovely summer wedding, I did get to wear a full-length white mink coat and not many brides get to wear furs on their wedding day. Unlike Chelsea who wore a strapless gown, I did get to wear a designer gown by Reem Acra that I had fallen in love with when I saw it on the Today Show.

So I never had and I never will have that beautiful summer wedding in a great location, but I did have a memorable wedding on a day that people remember. Guests still tell me that they can't forget our wedding. They remember it when they see that furry Phil in PA on Groundhog's Day because I was married on 02-02-02!