For me, there is nothing like stepping out of the airline terminal when traveling back to New York and listening to the cacophony of sounds, all in harmony while trying to compete with one another.  Loud, harsh,

melodious but familiar sounds of the city to let me now that I am home. And it might seem odd to many but our children who were not raised in the city, as my husband and I were, love it as much as we do. They love going back and it helps that we have family there. Some hope to live there someday and one fulfilled that dream for a few years.

So, as 9/11 approaches I mourn for the city that was when I was growing up.  The city where you could leave your sleeping child outside the neighborhood storefront in the carriage while you shopped.  Where people said Merry Christmas and God Bless You.  Where we lived together, Christians, Jews, Italians, Germans, Irish, Polish and many others who made up the fabric of the city.  It didn’t matter; we were New Yorkers. We joked about Manhattan being the real New York City to those living in Brooklyn or the Bronx.  Staten Island was a foreign country!  But in the end, we were all New Yorkers.

What savagery, what inhumanity!  Although the pain was deep, I was so proud of my city in the days following 9/11.  The strength, compassion, patience, promise and determination of the people just gave the assurance that New York was going to survive.  But, of course, New York without a doubt, would survive! New York had gumption! New York had savvy!!  New York had courage, New York had spirit! New York had grit. New York had moxie!

The Memorial is built, and it is a beautiful tribute to the men and women and children who died that day.  The courage and perseverance of the policemen and firefighters cannot be applauded enough.  It honors them too. It’s difficult to visit the Memorial without shedding tears.

Of course, New York is going thru problems of a different sort now. It’s disheartening to read about this troubling time in New York City.  I still love New York although I must admit I am not very proud of it right now. But New York will figure it out and it will heal and overcome and become whole again. I pray for that to happen.

No matter where I live or where I travel to, I encounter New Yorkers.  People who love this City and are also proud to say, “I am a New Yorker”.  Yes, I, too, am a New Yorker.  I may live elsewhere, but I love New York.

God Bless America and God Bless our Troops.

God Bless all those who serve so that we may be free!

God Bless the New York Police

God Bless the New York Firemen

And God Bless New York and make it heal and great once again.

Sorry to say but it does need a little help right now!

Let’s Roll!

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING SWEET TO EASE THE PAIN!

CARDAMON PECAN POUND CAKE

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

makes an enjoyable easy to make pound cake

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350º

BUTTER AND FLOUR 9-INCH LOAF PAN

2 CUPS CAKE FLOUR

1 TSP BAKING POWDER

1 TSP CARDAMOM

½ TSP SALT

1 TSP VANILLA

½ CUP YOGURT

¼ CUP WHOLE MILK

1 ½ STICKS BUTTER – room temp

3 EGGS – room temp

½ CUP CHOPPED PECANS – or more to taste

Whisk the flour, baking powder, cardamom and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

Whisk the milk yogurt and vanilla together and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to blend between additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Add a handful of chopped pecans and mix in. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Scatter the chopped pecans all over the top. 

Bake the cake until golden brown and done, about 55 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then gently remove it from the pan and transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely. 

NOTE: For a nice effect mix some powdered sugar together with a little bit of milk and stir until creamy Pour over cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.

BUON MANGIATA!