Recently I had the pleasure to meet the author of Table for Two, A Cook Book for Couples--Mr. Warren Caterson. He asked me if I liked to cook. Indeed I do and the more free time in the evening,  the more elaborate my dishes.

Alas my free time in evenings is dwindling and consumed with work or charity work which I take very seriously both the former and latter.

As a single person who loves to eat, I always cook for two, three or more people and therefore count on leftovers. Nowadays, cooking is about saving time than the culinary skill or the artistic blend of ingredients.

Upon slicing open the first pages, I discovered the succinctly informative opening chapters on measurements, cooking terms, and ingredients, there are 'kitchen cook friendly', step-by-step recipes from soups, salads, side dishes, and main entrees. Of special note are the chapters devoted to vegetarian dishes, desserts, and what to do with leftovers!

On the culinary scale, these are quality, gourmet recipes suitable for any couple, empty-nester, or voracious apetiter like me. Best of all the 235 classic and nouveau recipes can be prepared and served in about an hour. 

So explore this cornucopia with a special loved one. Cooking together along with dining together keeps the romance alive!

Years ago,  as a member of the Sexy Potato Peel Book club, I wanted to select a book that would be an unexpected surprise. Instead of turning to the NY Times  best seller list, I visited the local bookstore and eyed the book spines for something different, original, and enlightening where my fellow book mates would say "This was great--more than I expected!"  This World Cup season, whether you're experiencing soccer fever or are a pure novice drawn by this worldly sport, I highly recommend this book!

A book I thumbed upon was titled How Soccer Explains the World. The author, Franklin Foer, was a political journalist in Washington and took a six month sabbatical to embark on an odyssey to the soccer capitals of the world.

He set out to observe soccer as a way to understand the consequences of globalization -- the increasing interdependence of the world's nations -- by studying a sport in which "national borders and national identities had been swept into the dustbin of soccer history." The result is a travelogue full of important insights into both cultural change and persistence.

So does globalization, via soccer, ensure humane order? Liberate a nation from tyranny? Or wreak havoc like an organized cult? The result is a range of the good, the bad and the ugly. From Margaret Thatcher's cry of hooliganism that emerges from soccer fanatics and claimed it the "disgrace of a civilized society"; to the fans of Red Star Belgrade in Serbia who became, as Foer puts it, "Milosevic's shock troops, the most active agents of ethnic cleansing, highly efficient practitioners of genocide."; to the sophisticated FC Barcelona Club that redeems the game "by showing that fans can love a club and a country with passion" without stirring xenophobia and that patriotism and cosmopolitanism are compatible.

Even if you're not politically or socio-economically inclined, the real stories of players, a city, an entire nation are captivating sometimes nail-biting and well worth reading. Foer saved the best for last--the story of the country of Iran that hired a Brazilian coach, and the necktie he constantly wore was considered a European imposition. The women of Iran who risked their lives by penetrating the inner sanctum of the culture, forever a man's world, and secretly dressed as men to attend the soccer games. What happened to these brave women even after Iran captured the World Cup berth in 1997? You'll have to read the book.

From Brazil to Bosnia and from Italy to Iran, How Soccer Explains the World is an eye-opening chronicle of how a beautiful sport and its fanatical followers can illuminate the fault lines of a society, whether poverty, anti-Semitism, or radical Islam.

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I have a dream. A dream to build a cat Disneyland, a sanctuary.  While there are many organizations dedicated to rescuing and caring for dogs, there are fewer ones for cats.  But one man built his field of dreams! You're going to love these videos!

After watching this video, please consider a donation, perhaps more than you normally give. As a caretaker of 17 outdoor cats, it's a tremendous job. It's always a few people that carry the burden when caring for the cats that live in our community-- a result of irresponsible cat owners who don't take the time and the few dollars to spay/neuter their cats. 

There are two videos. Watch them both!


Feeding a colony of cats takes a lot of money and work. I know I do it almost every day in my neighborhood. I feed 17 cats which takes almost an hour. I can only imagine feeding 500!!!

The reward is great as you see the immediate results--animals living humanely, healthy and happy. If you do not have the spare time to help the cats in your neighborhood, please consider donating to the Cat Network or Caboodle Ranch.

For Cat Network send checks to 90 SW 3rd Street, #3905, Miami, FL  33131

Many blessings!