Sometimes English doesn’t possess one word that conveys a specific concept. That's why I use the German word Gestalt all the time. The closest English equivalent is the phrase "greater than the sum of the parts". Yet that only scratches the surface. It’s not just the sum…it’s about being a unified whole. Alas, that’s still not quite it. So I use gestalt and then spend time … [Read more...]

Peter Piper may have picked a peck of pickled peppers…but I’m willing to be there were a lot of bad ones. I’m mean, we’re talking about 2 gallons of peppers! Honestly, what was he going to do with all those pickled peppers? While it’s a funny tongue twister, it's something to remember at the store. Remember my nagging about having a plan for what you’re going to buy? That … [Read more...]

It’s bitter cold here in Kansas. Last week we had a couple of days that were really pleasant, mid-50’s and above. I foolishly got my hopes up for Spring. Then the weather turned on me. It’s frigid outside. We're lucky to have temperatures above two digits Fahrenheit! This nasty cold snap has me digging through my recipes for things to make in the slow cooker. I want to … [Read more...]