Some children like to make castles out of their rice pudding, or faces with raisins for eyes. It is forbidden -- so sternly that, when they grow up, they take a horrid revenge by dying meringues pale blue or baking birthday cakes in the form of horseshoes or lyres or whatnot.

Once you have mastered a technique, you barely have to look at a recipe again

Fat gives things flavor.

I had my first French meal and I never got over it. It was just marvelous. We had oysters and a lovely dry white wine. And then we had one of those lovely scalloped dishes and the lovely, creamery buttery sauce. Then we had a roast duck and I don't know what else.

The dinner hour is a sacred, happy time when everyone should be together and relaxed.

Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.

In spite of food fads, fitness programs, and health concerns, we must never lose sight of a beautifully conceived meal.