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Apple, Apple and More Apple

Autumn is the time of harvest, and there is nothing more potent than apples as a sign of the move towards winter — especially in Europe.  Tomatoes and pumpkins and squash are considered summer fruits which might overlap into autumn — but the apple harvest signifies that autumn is here and winter is approaching.

Thanks to my over zealous neighbors, I have had nigh on a hundred buckets of apples to deal with over the past few months.

First were these red — almost purple beauties. We have been unable to find what exact variety these are. We do know that they are classified as “Heirloom Portuguese” and that the trees they came from are over 50 years old.

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My Christmas Cake is Now Halfway to Toulouse

As you can imagine, living in a multicultural household where several languages are spoken there are a lot of opportunities for misunderstandings to occur over the silliest of things. This gets even more complicated when one party — me — is slower at languages. I try to think in Portuguese as this — I am told — is the easiest way to learn the language. I find myself saying “obrigada” which is thank you when I visit England and France — it always takes me a couple of days to adjust — normally a couple of hours before the return trip home!

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Cupcakes in Blackface and the Disgrace of Duncan Hines Racism

Duncan Hines have done the unconscionable with their new “Amazing Grace” — ooops, I mean, “Amazing Glazes” — instant cupcake frosting advertising campaign.  They have brought back the Blackface comedy routine for mainstream profit in the form of a dessert Minstrel show.

Continue reading → Cupcakes in Blackface and the Disgrace of Duncan Hines Racism