564137 Sat Oct 11 22:29:06 -0700 2008 11 29 Not About Food 0 4098713 Dear Hounds: I am getting married in a month or so, and my fiancee and I are searching for a food/cooking/eating-related wedding reading and are having some trouble. Can you help? A reading that expresses the importance of food in a beautiful or humorous way would be sufficient; a reading that also alludes to marriage or to love would be an added bonus. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Sat Oct 11 22:29:06 -0700 2008 16451 mhoffman 1 4098790 I have nothing that comes to immediate mind other than the Swedish Chef playing basketball with the chicken muppets, so I will instead suggest that you might get some literary suggestions from the crew at Kitchen Arts and Letters on Lexington. Nach the owner and everyone else so completely care and know about about their 10,000 titles. Indeed many of the works in the place have nothing to do with a recipe, just the concept of the joy of food and wine (if you drink), cultural history, and overall society. And love, of course. Believe me, they could completely get into helping you search. When I was going to make a eulogy for my beloved grandmother, a woman of so many amazing things, I knew I needed to find a poem. So, I asked a poet friend who steered me to another poet's anthology and there was the perfect work. I bet that the pros at Kitchen Arts will be able to steer you to anything from Beard to a poet who just wanted to eat a sandwich on a Welsh moor. Just as long as you don't show Mr. Creosote exploding on the big screen you should be fine with the inlaws. Happy hunting for readings and happy life to you both. Sun Oct 12 01:10:41 -0700 2008 4098713 157425 BratleFoodie 1 4098966 Something from the Song of Solomon 2? http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Solomon%202;&version=31; Sun Oct 12 07:23:14 -0700 2008 4098713 10480 Siobhan 1 4098993 or maybe this from Hindu wedding vow? “Let us take the first steps to provide for our household a nourishing diet, avoiding foods injurious to healthy living. Let us take the second step to develop physical, mental, and spiritual strength. Let us take the third step to increase our wealth by righteous means and proper use. Let us take the fourth step to acquire knowledge, happiness, and harmony by mutual love and trust. Let us take the fifth step so that we will be blessed with strong, virtuous children. Let us take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity. Let us take the seventh step and be true companions and remain lifelong partners by this wedlock.” Afterwards, the wedding vows traditionally include the following speech: “We have taken the Seven Steps. You have become mine forever. Yes, we have become partners. I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are though and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us and the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us; may the sun be all honey for us; may the cows yield us honey-sweet milk. As the heavens are stable, as the earth is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our unions be permanently settled.” Sun Oct 12 07:45:44 -0700 2008 4098713 10480 Siobhan 1 4099296 Thanks for these great suggestions so far. Perhaps I should provide a bit more information. The ceremony is basically secular, with some Jewish elements. I'm hesitant to use any religious text that is not Jewish, and all-in-all I'd probably rather not use a religious text. Sun Oct 12 10:53:50 -0700 2008 4098713 16451 mhoffman 2 4099370 Song of Solomon is Old Testament. Sun Oct 12 11:42:10 -0700 2008 4099296 12123 Cathy 1 4099516 I'll keep trying??? The Love Cook by Ron Padgett Let me cook you some dinner. Sit down and take off your shoes and socks and in fact the rest of your clothes, have a daquiri, turn on some music and dance around the house, inside and out, it’s night and the neighbors are sleeping, those dolts, and the stars are shining bright, and I’ve got the burners lit for you, you hungry thing. Sun Oct 12 13:25:56 -0700 2008 4098713 10480 Siobhan 2 4099776 I like that poem! Perhaps a bit racy for purpose at hand, however. It's awkward enough seeing all those old relatives as it is. And yes, please keep trying if you're willing! Sun Oct 12 16:11:08 -0700 2008 4099516 16451 mhoffman 1 4099861 my first thought was "Valentine" by Carol Ann Duffy...until i remembered the "lethal" line at the end... Not a red rose or a satin heart. I give you an onion. It is a moon wrapped in brown paper. It promises light like the careful undressing of love. Here. It will blind you with tears like a lover. It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief. I am trying to be truthful. Not a cute card or a kissogram. I give you an onion. Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, possessive and faithful as we are, for as long as we are. Take it. Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring, if you like. Lethal. Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife. ok, so myabe not so much :) Pablo Neruda has written some great food-centric poetry, though i'm not sure it's what you're looking for...but you should be able to Google them pretty easily. best of luck with your search, and mazel tov! Sun Oct 12 16:58:41 -0700 2008 4098713 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 4099938 Hey, all. As so often happens in life, asking for help has led me to find a solution on my own. Here is what we've decided to use as our food-related reading. It's an excerpt from the introduction to Volume One of Mastering the Art of French Cooking: -------- Pay close attention to what you are doing while you work, for precision in small details can make the difference between passable cooking and fine food. If a recipe says, "cover casserole and regulate heat so liquid simmers very slowly," "heat the butter until its foam begins to subside," or "beat the hot sauce into the egg yolks by driblets," follow it. You may be slow and clumsy at first, but with practice you will pick up speed and style. Allow you self plenty of time. Most dishes can be assembled, or started, or partially cooked in advance. If you are not an old campaigner, do not plan more than one long or complicated recipe for a meal or you will wear yourself out and derive not pleasure form your efforts. If food is to be baked or broiled, be sure your oven is hot before the dish goes in. Otherwise soufflés will not rise, piecrusts will collapse, and gratinéed dishes will overcook before they brown. A pot saver is a self-hampering cook. Use all the pans, bowls, and equipment you need, but soak them in water as soon as you are through with them, Clean up after yourself frequently to avoid confusion. Train yourself to use your hands and fingers; they are wonderful instruments. Train yourself to handle hot foods; this will save time. Keep your knives sharp. Above all, have a good time. Sun Oct 12 17:46:45 -0700 2008 4098713 16451 mhoffman 2 4100068 Perfect. Sun Oct 12 19:19:30 -0700 2008 4099938 12123 Cathy 3 4103265 mhoffman: How about talking about how one's bashert can be comparing to finding that one special "ingredient" and go from there. Improvise. Hatzlacha (power to ya), girl! Love to hear good news 'bout my peeps! Tue Oct 14 09:12:05 -0700 2008 4100068 229681 chocolatebirthdaycake