Hello!
It’s been a whirlwind few days with a trip to Northampton, MA with some good friends and packing for my trip to Atlantic City tomorrow with my college bestie.
Today’s 5-senses Sunday is gonna be quick and dirty like the martini I plan to down in Atlantic City tomorrow.
Ready?
Taste:
Little ingredients / BIG flavor
My Mom, a gourmet chef of 30+ years in Manhattan always told me: A dish is nothing without great ingredients with flavor that packs a punch. It’s why some of the simplest meals are so outrageously good.
I thought I’d share my Mom’s greatest hits of little ingredients with BIG ole flavor bound to improve any dish you plan to make.
Mustard
Ketchup
Miso
Salt
Spices
Anchovies
fish sauce
Olives
Pickles
Garlic
Onions
Ginger
Soy
Vinegar
fresh herbs
Capers
Parmesan Cheese (especially using the rind of a fresh parm round in soup!)
What would you add to this list?
Scent:
Sandalwood's scent is a captivating embrace of the earth and the heavens. It exudes a warm, creamy, and woody aroma, laced with subtle hints of balsam and a delicate sweetness that lingers in the air. The fragrance is both grounding and ethereal, evoking a sense of serene tranquility and timeless elegance.
Sandalwood primarily hails from India, specifically from the Mysore region in Karnataka. It has been revered for centuries not only for its enchanting aroma but also for its numerous benefits. Inhaling sandalwood can soothe the mind, reduce anxiety, and promote a deep sense of calm. Its scent is often used in meditation and spiritual practices, believed to enhance clarity and focus, allowing one to connect more deeply with their inner self.
Sound:
Sound-suppressing silk is now a thing that can help people with different tolerances for sound and noise. This new invention can help create quiet spaces even in large rooms.
Touch:
In 1997 I went cross-country skiing and quickly fell on my ass with my left hand (I’m a leftie) stretched behind me in an attempt to break my fall. I ended up with a severed ligament in my left thumb that needed prompt surgery.
After my surgery and after the stitches had been removed I began physical therapy to help restore normal movement in my hand and be able to use my left hand again to write. (imagine 3 months of writing with your non-dominant hand - spoiler: it sucked!)
One of the things that luxuriously stood out the most to me was when I got paraffin treatment and massage on my hand during PT
They had me dip my hand into a vat of oozy, thick, soft paraffin several times until my hand was completely coated. The therapist then removed most of the paraffin and massaged my hand and thumb using the residual soft waxy substance. Let me tell you that it was HEAVEN! It felt like dipping my hand in a bowl of warm melted candles.
Sight:
Ivy
My husband and I met up with some friends in Central Mass over 4th of July. We visited Mt. Holyoke and Smith Colleges and walked around the hip and beautiful neighborhood of Northampton and had a chance to see the spectacular Botanical Gardens that Smith College boasts on campus.
I saw many buildings with Ivy growing up and spiraling around the brick in a circuitous but purposeful way and it gave me the epiphany of just how beautiful it is to watch the trail of Ivy make its journey across a brick building each in it’s own unique way.
Tell me. What is rocking YOUR 5-senses this week? I’d love to know. Share a comment below.