Why I think people invite me to parties

Because I make yummy food like:
Indonesian Salad

This is from one of my many Moosewoods cookbooks.
It's the greatest meal on a hot day - fresh pineapple, brown rice, bean sprouts, veggies, snow peas, peanuts, all in an amazingly tangy/sweet sauce. YUM!

And for dessert - Coconut Macaroons

People BEG me for these. I got the recipe online from Allrecipes and modified it slightly. It's by far the easiest cookie to make... don't tell. Here's the recipe with my alterations:

5 1/2 cups Coconut
2/3 cup Flour
1/4 tsp. Salt
Dash of Nutmeg
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (You can use the fat free stuff)
2 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. Almond Extract
1 bag of Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

Combine all ingredients (except chocolate chips.) Mix well with clean hands. Use an ice cream scoop and place balls onto cookie sheet with parchment paper/silpat. Bake @ 350 degrees for about 15 minutes - or until nice an golden brown. (Sometimes it takes 20 minutes - watch closely.) Cool. Melt chocolate chips and dip cookies.

Want me to come to your next party?

History

(Photo: courtesy Columbia University)

1913

You all likely know how much I love history - this picture caught my eye.

Notice the lack of high-rise buildings all around.

Open space in NYC - crazy!