I’ve been kind of scattered lately – my passion for travel, food and photography remain and I’ve been actively pursuing them, but I’ve been experimenting with various websites and posting the results all over cyberspace. “Get a grip”, “consolidate”, I decided. Besides I have a new purpose. So, after about a year’s absence from this site, I’ve decided to come home and blog with purpose and consistency, so please visit often. I promise it’ll be worth it.

So where have I been you might ask?
Good! I’m dying to tell you. Since visiting Thailand in March of ’07, I’ve been to places as far away as Italy, Greece and Spain and as near (relatively) as Canada, New York, Puerto Rico and New Orleans.

…And I’ve been building my Traveling Sisterhood website, learning the settings on my latest camera (the third in 2 years), and participating in family “food fights”. You must check out www.foodfight.tumblr.com and see how Jimmy, Cassie and I pass our Sunday afternoons creating, concocting and consuming!

My New Purpose
I want to share with you by way of photos and suggestions some ways to liven up your home menus…make them more interesting, more healthy, and more attractive with just a few ingredients and, like the wildly popular RR, in under 30 minutes. I don’t care what they say, I’m older than she is (see About Me) and that just isn’t a new idea! I’ve always been about creativity and versatility in the kitchen in the least amount of time and with minimum clean-up. That’s why you won’t see any baking or frying recipes here — too messy.

And I’m going to introduce you to products I find in the market which I consider great “staples” and from which you can always build a meal. You’ll find my taste tends toward the Mediterranean cuisine so there will always be things like nuts, tomatoes, spinach and olive oil. Be ready for lots of veggies with suggestions on how to make them the dominant item on your plate, especially when paired with pasta which I refuse to give up. I’ve just taken to reducing the portion and I make the dish so tasty and interesting, I don’t even miss those extra carbs. I almost always use the new whole grain pastas. Just wish they’d come up with more shape varieties.

Of course, I plan to continue to muse about travel, particularly as it relates to the food and culture of a place. Check out “first blog” post under labels — it’s a culinary adventure down memory lane. You can also visit my prior posts for travelogues on Cuba, Chile, Argentina, and New Mexico. But, most importantly, please visit FOODalogue often.

Coming Soon: Wake Up to Something Special, Healthy Pastas, Finishing Touches, Miami de Noche…and more!