I had planned on taking a sabbatical for a few months so I could spend some time working on my book, but after conversations with a few of my readers, I have decided to take something else off my plate so I could reflect her and work on my book. To put it in food terms, I figured out how to have my cake and eat it too.

Today is Valentine’s Day, so I should be reflecting on something chocolate or the spiritual qualities of chocolate (yes there are numerous), but my heart (no pun intended) is just not there today. I have been thinking about how food can bring you back in time to memories and moments that are unique, powerful, and filled with love and emotion. It seems as if ever since yesterday I have so wanted to ask Zoe to take me to the store to get some TempTee cream cheese and smoked salmon. What started this craving was a comment by Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli on Facebook the other day when she wrote, “What's better than a warm toasted bagel smeared with cream cheese so that it melts slightly into the crevices topped with paper thin slices of smoked salmon and a little red onion? On the side, a super thick slice of beefsteak tomato with sea salt and cracked black pepper....”