41 Comments
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Gary Young's avatar

Amazing writing, Richard. This is beautiful. The connection to the bard is 100 percent justified. Happy Sunday to you and yours.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Thank you Gary. And to you and yours!

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Maryline Noel's avatar

Estuve cocinando todo el día hasta la ceremonia de cierre ;) curry de verduras para la semana, cannelloni de acelgas… use 4 clavos de olor en la compota de manzana además de canela ;)

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Que rico!

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Jim Kasson's avatar

I love that one.

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Geoff's avatar

What? No Jalfrezi? I spent a lot of time in the subcontinent including time in India and Pakistan. However, my longest single stint was in Bangladesh (2001 to 2005). I lived in Gulshan, an upmarket area with lots of diplomatic buildings. I cannot tell you how fantastic the food was there. There were some very snazzy restaurants with celebrity chefs, but even the more modest restaurants were fantastic. It is not widely known, but in the UK many so called "Indian" restaurants are actually Bangladeshi, with immigrants from Sylhet being very numerous. I confess to having become a curry snob and deeply miss that cuisine.

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Geoff's avatar

Another use is in a cocktail. Look up clove bitters.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Cocktails and me... splitso.

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Jane L's avatar

Glad you are managing sobriety! Mocktails might be a use for cloves too!

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Richard Shindell's avatar

I am. This project helps, and drinking a lot of water. And chocolate.

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Jane L's avatar

Lots of us are virtual supports rooting you on. You may stumble, but you can just get back up afterwards...

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Good to know you're all out there.

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Maryellen Collins's avatar

Love the shout out to Frank’s Pizza. Linda Colombo and her sister, Lucienne, are good friends. I live in Port Washington, and I still miss Franks. They had the best Caesar salad in town. But Linda is living her best life in retirement. Cheers!

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linda Given's avatar

nice - and as for "Of course, I could be talking about anything: coffee spoons, the oak tree in the front yard, the whole world." - so true, think that way often .. .

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Richard Shindell's avatar

There's no end to it. And good thing too!

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Elizabeth P's avatar

A man of infinite jest.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

who could sing once.

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Tom Merolla's avatar

Saag or saag walla? I never quite figured it out. Lamb saag and chicken saag walla.... I love them both, my entry into Indian cuisine. Care to share your recipe......

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Sadie Horton's avatar

https://colorful-crafts.com/2014/12/19/oranges-and-cloves-pomanders/

please share that spinach chicken curry recipe (if you can!)

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Richard Shindell's avatar

I can share it up to a point. But the home stretch is all improv. And not funny!

But I'll see what I can do.

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Kath Whiting's avatar

Delicious and relatable. Will any of us ever read all the books we’ve purchased or use all the art/stationary supplies stashed away? As to ‘vintage’ cloves, I estimate the open box of Bell’s Seasoning on the rack above my Grandmother’s stove was about the same age when I was 12. Perhaps a batch of homemade pomanders this holiday season might make a dent in their remaining numbers…

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Richard Shindell's avatar

You've gotten me thinking that upping the clove consumption just to get through the jar is a false foray on the order of things. I should cook what needs cooking, at a taoist pace, then let the cloves fall where they may. ;-)

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Geoff's avatar

I suggest you don't compete with your cloves regarding expiration. Can I suggest you treat yourself to a new, possibly smaller, jar this Christmas.

https://www.stilltasty.com/Fooditems/index/16901

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Richard Shindell's avatar

But then I would have even more cloves to deal with!

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Carla Davidoff's avatar

Exactly what I was thinking. Don't be a horse's ass, Richard. Though I do enjoy following a couple of YouTubers who toy with expiration dates. They open military rations (blanking on technical term) that I think were dropped from planes. Those peaches in syrup are as good as the day they landed on the beaches of Normandy.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

First of all, I can't help it. Second of all, those are the cloves I bought and by gum I'm sticking with them till the bitter end!

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Carla Davidoff's avatar

And, while you are at it, by gum, you could by that Adams brand Clove Gum. Still made.

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Jonathan Byrd's avatar

Sal’s in Mamaroneck! I smelled it when you said it.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

You know the place! Emelin between soundcheck and showtime I'll bet.

I usually stop there on my way to JFK. So good.

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Jonathan Byrd's avatar

My baby mama grew up in Westchester and her aunt lived in Mamaroneck. Sal’s is a gem.

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Carl Bolin's avatar

The importance of small things in our lives

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Mark Hardy's avatar

Thanks Richard, never thought about measuring time and a life full of experiences by a jar of cloves. Do you like mulled wine in Winter? Best wishes

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Richard Shindell's avatar

My wine-mulling days are over. ;-)

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Kath Whiting's avatar

Warmed, spiced apple cider.

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Jacquie Roecker's avatar

Thanks for the smiles and giggles. You’re writing is amazing.

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Richard Shindell's avatar

Thanks Jacquie!

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