The Spice of Life

When I was little, the mother of my best friend said that in our friendship her daughter was the spice and I was the sugar. It was probably true. I think I was quite a sweet child, but it's not a quality I have spent the rest of my life nurturing. I hope that I have developed a lot more zest with age.

In case you are wondering about the plastic wrapped mounds, they are - from left to right - hot red pepper paste, sweet red pepper paste, tomato paste. Grape leaves for making dolmas in the foreground. Not a sweet in sight!